Mojo Roasted Pork Tenderloin and Sweet Potato Quesadillas with Salsa Verde Crema

Emeril Lagasse

Recipe courtesy Emeril Lagasse, 2005

Show: Emeril LiveEpisode: Southwestern Flavors

Rated 5 stars out of 5
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  • Read 15 Reviews
Total Time:
1 hr 45 min
Prep
50 min
Inactive
10 min
Cook
45 min
Yield:
8 servings
Level:
Intermediate
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Ingredients

  • 1 jalapeno, stemmed, seeded, and coarsely chopped
  • 1/4 cup coarsely chopped onions
  • 1/4 cup chopped green onions
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 2 pork tenderloins, 1 1/2 pounds total, trimmed
  • 1 tablespoon Emeril's Southwest seasoning, recipe follows
  • 2 sweet potatoes (about 1 1/2 pounds total), cooked until tender and peeled
  • 8 (8-inch) flour tortillas
  • 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • Salsa Verde Crema, recipe follows
  • Chopped fresh cilantro leaves, for garnish

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F, and line a baking pan with aluminum foil.

Combine the first 6 ingredients in a food processor and pulse several times to make a smooth paste. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt and pulse to combine. Set paste aside.

Place the tenderloins on the prepared baking pan and season evenly with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 2 teaspoons of the Southwest seasoning. Spread the mojo paste mixture on each side of the tenderloins. Bake uncovered 25 to 30 minutes, or until and instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part reads 150 degrees F. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the pan juices, including any of the paste mixture that ran off the tenderloins. Allow tenderloins to rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Slice into 1/4-inch thick, diagonal pieces.

Place the warm sweet potatoes in a medium bowl and mash until smooth. Season with the remaining teaspoon of Southwest Essence, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and 2 tablespoons of the reserved pan juices. Stir well to combine.

Lay a tortilla on a clean work surface and sprinkle 1/2 cup of the sweet potato puree evenly over the tortilla. Place 6 to 8 slices of pork on top of the sweet potato and sprinkle with 1/2 cup of cheese. Top with a second tortilla, pressing gently to stick together. Repeat with remaining tortillas and ingredients.

Spread the butter evenly over the outsides of each quesadilla. Heat a large, nonstick skillet or griddle over medium-high heat. Cook quesadillas, 1 at a time, until golden brown and heated through, about 2 minutes per side. Repeat with remaining quesadillas.

To serve, slice the quesadillas into quarters and serve immediately with Salsa Verde Crema. Garnish with freshly chopped cilantro, if desired.

Emeril's Southwest Seasoning:

2 tablespoons chili powder

2 teaspoons ground cumin

2 tablespoons paprika

1 teaspoon black pepper

1 tablespoon ground coriander

1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 tablespoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon crushed red pepper

1 tablespoon salt

1 tablespoon dried oregano

Combine all ingredients thoroughly.

Yield: 1/2 cup

Salsa Verde Crema:

1 cup sour cream

1/4 cup salsa verde

2 teaspoons fresh lime juice

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro leaves

Whisk together all of the ingredients and chill until ready to serve.

Yield: about 1 1/4 cups

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Newest Ratings and Reviews

Read all 15 reviews

  • on May 22, 2011

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    OMG! This is one of the best meals I have ever eaten! The sweet potatoes combine nicely with the pork, but the salsa verde crema makes it perfect. Thank you, Emeril!!

    people found this review Helpful.
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  • on April 19, 2011

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    I loved this recipe! I actually used some taco seasoning I had handy instead of making the Southwest Essence and it seemed just great to me. Can't wait for leftovers tonight!!

    people found this review Helpful.
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  • on January 16, 2011

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    Absolutely loved it! My husband doesn't care for sweet potatoes and still loved it. Next time I might make a black bean paste instead of the potatoes to suit his tastes, but we will definitely be making this a staple in our home. I made it for his buddies for a big football game and they all raved about it. I used wheat tortillas and grilled the quesadillas in my panini maker to eliminate the need for butter (and flipping which is always a disaster for me. Additionally, I used fat free greek yogurt instead of sour cream to make the sour cream salsa a bit healthier.

    people found this review Helpful.
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