Marinated Pork and Mango Skewers with Coconut Rice

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[dropcap]T[/dropcap]his is the time of year that images of sandy beaches and turquoise oceans dance in my head.  The chill of winter is gone and spring fever is upon us once more.  With the spring comes warmer temperatures (or with the hope of warmer temperatures) and a new season of lush and exciting produce. Grills begin to get dusted off after a long winter and cuisine blooms into festive tastes and colors.

[custom_headline type=”center” level=”h2″ looks_like=”h4″ accent=”true”]The Inspiration[/custom_headline]

Nothing feels more like spring break than a cocktail in one hand and a grilled skewer of deliciousness in the other.  These flavorful Marinated Pork and Mango Skewers are a cinch to prepare and they look like spring break on a plate.

For these skewers I typically use pork loin cut into 1 inch or 1 1/2 inch cubes.  Marinating or brining leaner cuts of pork, like the pork loin, will give you much better texture and flavor.  The leaner cuts of pork typically have less fat for infusing flavor and keeping the meat moist during cooking.

Like always, purchasing the highest quality pork will consistently result in a delicious dish.  I feel fortunate to live in a region where I can find locally raised, free-range pork.  The hogs are fed a non-GMO high quality feed as well as allowed to forage on the pasture, roll in the lowland mud and be happy little pigs.  It might sound silly, but a happily raised animal makes for flavorful food.  So if I can get all “Portlandia” here, try to find locally raised pork or at least pork that has been humanely or naturally raised.

[custom_headline type=”center” level=”h2″ looks_like=”h4″ accent=”true”]The Takeaway[/custom_headline]

If there is one pairing I adore most it’s pork and tropical fruit.  Pineapple, mango, papaya, bananas, plantains… and the list goes on.  I’ve even paired pork with star fruit and kiwi.  However, I’ve found the best tropical fruits for grilling are definitely mango and pineapple.

For these skewers I used mostly mango, but added some pineapple for the pineapple lover in my family.  Red onion, colorful peppers and even mushrooms also compliment the marinated pork and tropical fruit.

I love to serve this dish with coconut rice – which seems to make all those sweet and savory flavors dance so beautifully together. Cheers! To a new season!

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