Pork tenderloin is a quick-cooking lean meat that is also extremely versatile. The tenderloin can be sliced before cooking or roasted whole. Pork can be used as a main entree, sliced for sandwiches or chopped and added to a stir-fry or kebab-style dish. Because it has little fat, pork is a good alternative to red meat for people who are trying to improve their diet.
Preparation
The key to a delicious pork tenderloin is the preparation before you cook the meat. Add flavor by brining, marinating or covering the pork with a dry rub. Brining adds moisture into the meat, along with taste. Add 1 quart cold water, 1/4 cup of salt, and 1/2 cup of sugar to a large plastic bag and seal the pork tenderloin inside. Let the bag soak in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to eight hours, depending on how strong you want the flavor to be. Add lemon juice or spices to the water for added flavor. If you are using a dry rub, apply the rub a few hours before cooking to allow the spices to soak into the meat.
Cooking the Pork
Pork tenderloin can be roasted in the oven or grilled outside on the barbecue. Before roasting, use an ovenproof skillet to sear the tenderloin in oil on the stovetop. Let the meat cook for about five minutes on medium-high heat, making sure all sides are browned. After searing, you can apply a glaze to add flavor while the pork cooks in the oven. Barbecue sauce and various fruit juices or jellies are some of the more common ingredients in pork glazes. Cook the meat in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes at 425 degrees Fahrenheit. When it is finished cooking, remove the skillet from the oven and let the meat sit for five minutes before serving. When grilling pork tenderloin on the barbecue, sear the meat over the flame for one to two minutes on each side, then slide it to the side of the flame and cook for another two to three minutes per side.
Flavor Suggestions
Almost any style of cooking can be represented with a pork tenderloin marinade. For an Italian taste, marinate the meat in a mixture of garlic and rosemary before roasting. You can also add a bit of sweetness by roasting chopped fruit in the skillet along with the pork. Apples, peaches, pineapples and cherries all go well with pork's mild flavor. Ethnic favorites such as an Asian ginger sauce or Indian tandoori also work well with pork tenderloin.
Tags: with pork, pork tenderloin, along with, before cooking, five minutes, into meat
