It may sound a little odd, but coffee adds a wonderful deep savoury flavour to sauces. Coffee beans develop their rich, complex flavours and aromas through a long fermentation, drying and roasting process that can be used in many different ways. Try using instant coffee in sauces and dry rubs for something a little different.

Ingredients:

1 small sweet potato, washed and cut into 2cm cubes
1 green capsicum, core removed, cut into 2cm dice
½ red onion, peeled, cut into 2cm dice
1 teaspoon instant coffee
2 tablespoon BBQ sauce
2 pork chops
Crumble feta to serve (optional)

Method:

1. Cover sweet potato in a pot with water and bring to the boil, cook for 5-6 minutes or until just tender. Drain and set aside.
2. Heat a fry pan with a drizzle of oil over medium high heat. Cook pork for 4-5 minutes on each side or until cooked through, remove and keep warm.
3. Return the same pan to the heat, add vegetables including sweet potato and season well with salt and pepper. Cook, tossing regularly for 5 minutes or until onion has softened and sweet potato is browned on all sides.
4. Divide vegetables between plates, return pork to the pan over medium heat with sauce to glaze before serving., scatter with feta.

Serves 2

TIPS:

• Finely ground coffee can be used however, it will not dissolve as instant granules will.
• Adding the sauce at the end of the cooking as a glaze prevent it from burning before the pork cooks through

SUBSTITUTIONS:

• White potatoes can be used in place of sweet potato
• Red, yellow or orange capsicum (peppers) can be used in place of green
• Chicken breast can be substituted in place of pork