It is easy to cook, as it isn't very thick and will cook quickly. It may be oven roasted, grilled, or even sautéed. And its mild flavor makes it a natural to pair with almost any ethnic seasonings: Indian, Asian, Italian, French, or even with fruit such as a raspberry sauce.
Pork tenderloin can be an elegant dish when accompanied by a rich sauce, or a casual entree slathered with barbecue sauce.
Prep Time: 8 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour, 10 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour, 18 minutes
Yield: 10
Ingredients:
- 2 1/4 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 1/2 tablespoons dried thyme
- 3 pounds pork tenderloin (will probably be in 3 pieces)*
Preparation:
Pork tenderloins range from 3/4-to-1 1/4 pounds. They are often pre-packaged with two tenderloins in a package, usually yielding two pounds total. This recipe uses a sort of dry rub, consisting of thyme, salt and two types of pepper--the use of 2 or more types of pepper being typical of Cajun cooking. Pork tenderloins may also be marinated, however the meat is very tender so it shouldn't be marinated for more than an hour or so, especially if there is any acid in the marinade. This could cause the meat to become mushy after more than an hour of marinating.
I like to cook pork tenderloin at 350 degrees rather than at a higher temperature, as it is so lean that it can dry out if cooked at a higher heat. I take the meat out when it reaches an internal temperature between 150 degrees and 160 degrees. Allow the meat to rest for at least 5 minutes, during which time the temperature will rise about another 5 degrees.
Instructions:
Mix together the salt, pepper, and thyme and roll the tenderloins in the mixture, pressing the seasonings onto the surface of the meat. Place meat on a rack set in a roasting pan and bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 1 hour to 1 hour and 20 minutes, depending on thickness. It will usually reach 160 degrees after one hour of roasting.
So, if the meat is taken out of the oven when the temperature is:
...145 degrees it will be about 150 degrees when you serve it, and the slices will be somewhat pink and moist;
...150 degrees it will be about 155 degrees when you serve it, and the slices will be just a bit pink and moist;
...160 degrees it will be about 165 degrees when you serve it, and the slices will not have a pink tinge but the meat will be moist.
Slice across the grain to serve.
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