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Moroccan Roasted Pork Tenderloin

Moroccan Roasted Pork Tenderloin

I’m doing the naming here and although this one may not pass an authenticity test for cultural lineage it passes the ‘oh my god they ate it all’ test.

I am routinely (and generally pleasantly) surprised by the memories that food evokes.  This dish emerged late on a weekend in which we roasted a leg of lamb with a Moroccan spice rub served with roasted root vegetables.  While preparing the spice rub for the lamb I was struck by fragrance of the toasted cumin and coriander.  It took me back to a dish that I made routinely many years ago which came to be known as ‘Pork out of body’ which as I recall was a take off on Pork Adobada.

The recipe and exact preparation for what was then a signature pork dish has vanished into the crevices of time.  I typed the recipe for this up and marched upstairs and laid it down.

Moroccan Spiced Pork after browning After browning - before glazing

The key to this dish is the toasted spices ground up before browning the pork.  The combination of coriander and cumin activated with a light pan toasting and ground up packs a potent punch of flavor.

With glaze - emerging from the oven (and badly out of focus d With glaze - emerging from the oven (and badly out of focus d’oh)

Ingredients

  • 2 tsp salt
  • black pepper
  • 1 tsp coriander seed
  • 1 tsp cumin seed
  • 2 tbs minced garlic
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 2-3 tbs olive oil
  • 2 pork tenderloins

Glaze

  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tsp tabasco

Directions

  1. toast coriander and cumin over medium heat, stirring to avoid burning
  2. Remove from heat
  3. Transfer to coffee grinder, mortar and pestle or mini-food processor
  4. Add Salt and pepper
  5. Grind to fine powder
  6. Mix in small bowl with garlic and chili powder

Pork

  1. Preheat oven to 350
  2. Divide spice mixture and rub all over the pork loins
  3. Heat a few tablespoons of oil in dutch oven or other oven safe pan
  4. Brown pork in oil, turning 2 or 3 times to brown all sides
  5. while the pork browns, mix the tabasco into the brown sugar in a bowl
  6. Remove pork from stove top and apply glaze
  7. I roughly pile it down the center of the loin. It will melt and carmelize over the pork as it bakes
  8. bake for 20 mins check for 140 internal temperature
  9. let the pork rest for 10-15 mins
  10. slice thinly and serve
  11. This is also quite excellent if allowed to cool and sliced very thin

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