Lemon Salt Marinated Pork Tenderloin

Recipe courtesy Michael Chiarello

Show: Easy Entertaining with Michael ChiarelloEpisode: Cool Weather Comfort

Rated: 4 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (38)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(38)

Cook Time:
15 min
Level:
Easy
Yield:
4 servings

Times:

Prep: 10 min
Inactive Prep: 5 min
Cook: 15 min
Total:: 30 min

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Ingredients

6 lemons
1 1/2 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Freshly ground black pepper
2 pork tenderloins (about 1 1/2 pounds total)
Honey Roasted Applesauce, recipe follows

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Finely zest the lemons.

Using a mortar and pestle, work the salt and lemon zest together. Add a few turns of black pepper and 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Stir to blend. Rub the lemon salt mixture all over the pork.

In a large saute pan heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil until hot but not smoking, add tenderloins to pan and sear on all sides, about 5 minutes total. (If you have a small pan, sear 1 tenderloin at a time.) Move pan with pork to the oven and cook until a meat thermometer reads 155 degrees F, about 6 to 8 minutes.

Remove pork from the pan and let rest on a cutting board for about 5 minutes. Slice the tenderloins against the grain on a diagonal bias, fan out on a plate, and serve with Honey Roasted Applesauce.

Honey Roasted Applesauce:

6 apples, Gravenstein or McIntosh
2 tablespoons sweet butter
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon finely ground sea salt, preferably gray salt
1/3 cup honey

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Peel the apples with a vegetable peeler, remove the core and cut into 1-inch chunks.

Heat a medium saute pan on medium-high heat with the butter in it. When the butter begins to brown add the lemon juice and cook for 30 seconds. Stir in the apples and salt. Saute for 3 to 4 minutes until the edges just begin to color. Add the honey and put in oven for about 15 to 20 minutes until the apples are soft and lightly caramelized.

Mash with a fork for a chunky version, or put in food processor for a smoother sauce. Serve warm, room temperature or cold.

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

Cook's Notes: Most applesauce recipes call for cooking the apples on the stovetop from start to finish. I prefer to start them on the stovetop and then finish them in a hot oven. The oven heat concentrates their flavors by drying and caramelizing them slightly. Although I have suggested a couple of apple varieties, you can use what good cooking apples are available in your area.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Lemon Salt Marinated Pork Tenderloin
Camilo Birmingham, AL 01-25-2010
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Very Good Pork Dish but... ...Even Better Applesauce!
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

I made this dish as the entree of a four course dinner for friends. It got raving reviews from the guests. They liked the... pork, but they absolutely fell in love with the applesauce. I highly recommend it. In general, it took my pork longer than expected to cook. This was not a big problem.Read more
recipe Lemon Salt Marinated Pork Tenderloin
jessica portland, OR 01-21-2010
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cooking time confusion question
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

I'm not sure what I did wrong, but it took my tenderloin (I used one big 2 lb one, instead of two 1 lb ones) much longer than... 6-8 minutes to cook. It took more like 20 minutes, at least, to get it up to 155 degrees! Because this is a top rated recipe, and no one else seems to have had this problem, I'm assuming I've made a mistake. Is it because I used just one tenderloin? If anyone can help me out, please let me know! I'm sure it'll be delicious, I love the simplicity of salt and zest rub; I'm planning on using the zested lemons to make lemon bars in the next few days. Should make for a great lemony meal!Read more
recipe Lemon Salt Marinated Pork Tenderloin
Kelley Turner, ME 01-03-2010
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definitely lemon
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

The pork was very tender and the applesauce ws great. I did not have any issues with too much salt, as some commented,... though I wonder if they substituted ground salt for the rock sea salt. I had ground sea salt and use 1 tsp, The lemon flavor was slightly overpowering alone, though with the applesauce on the pork it did adjust well. Based on some prior comments I also used only have of the lemon zest indicated in the recipe. This was extremely easy to make and must have been good as there are no left overs.Read more
recipe Lemon Salt Marinated Pork Tenderloin
Dot McDonough, GA 10-27-2009
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Extremely Easy and Good
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I love this recipe. I have made it 4 times in last two months for both family and friends.
recipe Lemon Salt Marinated Pork Tenderloin
Kathy Johnston, IA 09-30-2009
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Confused
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

I don't get the reviews on this website. Looking for info on how the recipe turned out and often a recipe is given 4 or 5... stars, and then the reviewer explains all they to to change up the recipe. So it's not really this recipe at all they are reviewing. Good recipe, good flavor and easy. Kathy, Des Moines Ia 09-30-2009Read more
recipe Lemon Salt Marinated Pork Tenderloin
Carole Johns Creek, GA 09-25-2009
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LOVED IT!!!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

My family loved this recipe!! The tenderloin was so tender and the lemon flavor added amazing flavor. I am making it... tonight for company. It is a great Fall dish!! I'm even making the applesauce with it tonight!Read more