It's a busy summer weeknight- what's for dinner? Asian Grilled Pork Tenderloin! It's crazy easy to make and and full of unexpected but delicious flavor!
This recipe is part of my Dump it 'til it's hot series of dump recipes. It's all about making delicious food with minimal prep, no pre-cooking, the ability to freeze for a good make-ahead meal. And trust me when I say, easy never tasted so good!
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Other great pork tenderloin recipes include:
Asian Grilled Pork Tenderloin
This recipe came from one of those fantastic church cookbooks. You know the ones, that have a variety of recipes from each parishioner and are bound at a local Staples or Office Max. Those are a goldmine of great recipes and I always buy a bunch of them each year at our church rummage sale.
This particular recipe was of interest to me because some of the ingredients seemed like an odd fit and not the kind of thing you'd typically find in pork tenderloin recipes (I'm looking at you, cinnamon!). I was curious to see how it would all shake out and I figured I'd give it a shot. I'm totally glad I did because this one is a total keeper!
Tips for grilling this pork tenderloin
- Be sure to spray the grill well with cooking spay to prevent sticking.
- I like to pull my pork from the fridge before preheating the grill to help it get a little closer to room temperature before hitting the heat.
- I also rest the pork for 5-10 minutes after grilling to allow the juices to redistribute before carving.
- This recipe has a lot of sugar (the honey!). The first time I made it, it got seriously charred because I kept it on direct heat for the entire time. Don't do this! Sear it quickly on each side and then move it to the top rack and reduce the heat a little for the remainder of the cooking time. This will help getting it to temp without burning the outside.
- Be sure to carve against the grain.
How long do you marinade pork tenderloin?
You can marinate it up to 5 days (as long as it doesn't put you past the use-by date). In my opinion, it's best to marinate pork tenderloin from 1 hour - overnight if you're not freezing it right away. Any longer could adversely affect the texture.
Is there a difference between pork loin and pork tenderloin?
Although they aren't located too far from each other on the pig (both from different parts of the loin muscle). Pork loin is larger, wider and thicker than a pork tenderloin. It's a lighter meat with a fat cap on top and has a mild flavor. It can be bought bone-in or boneless.
Pork tenderloin is long and skinny. It's a more delicate muscle and is one of the more tender meat's you'll find. It's also a bit darker and color and a bit pricier to purchase.
How do you keep pork tenderloin from drying out?
The marinade with be the first step in helping with keeping the pork tenderloin moist. But most importantly, don't over cook the meat! Use a meat thermometer.
What temperature do you cook pork tenderloin to?
Pork is best served and safe to consume at an internal temperature of 145 degrees. The meat will be a tiny bit pink in the middle, and that's ok. And be sure to rest the meat so the juices don't come spilling out- you want those to stay in the meat, not on your cutting board!
How long do you grill pork tenderloin?
I start by grilling for around a minute or two per side over high heat and then reduce the heat and place the pork on the higher rack for another 10-15 minutes or until it reaches the internal temperature just under 145 degrees.
Can I freeze pork tenderloin?
Yes, either freeze it right after you place it in the marinade or freeze after cooking and cooling. Thaw before cooking.
How long does pork tenderloin last?
Leftovers last around 3-4 days covered in the refrigerator.
What goes with this grilled pork tenderloin recipe?
Ingredients for making this pork tenderloin marinade
- Pork tenderloin
- Ground ginger
- Crushed red pepper flakes
- Ground cinnamon
- Olive oil
- Honey
- Soy sauce
- Jalapeno pepper
- Fresh chives
How to cook pork tenderloin on the grill
- Mix all marinade ingredients.
- Submerge pork tenderloin the marinade.
- When you're ready to cook, grease the grill with cooking spray and preheat to medium high heat.
- Sear each side of the pork tenderloin for a minute or two and then move the tenderloin to the top rack (off the main heat).
- Reduce the heat the just below medium and cover the grill.
- Cook for around 10-15 minutes more or until the internal temperature is 145 degrees.
- Remove the pork from the grill and rest of a few minutes.
- Carve and serve.
Helpful tools:
- Gallon freezer zipper bags
- Measuring spoons
- Measuring cups
- Chef's knife
- Cutting board
- Whisk
- Mixing bowl
- Grill tongs
- Meat thermometer
It's a busy summer weeknight- what's for dinner? Asian Grilled Pork Tenderloin! It's crazy easy to make and and full of unexpected but delicious flavor!
- Pork tenderloin
- Ground ginger
- Crushed red pepper flakes
- Ground cinnamon
- Olive oil
- Honey
- Soy sauce
- Jalapeno pepper
- Fresh chives
-
Mix all marinade ingredients.
-
Submerge pork tenderloin the marinade.
-
When you're ready to cook, grease the grill with cooking spray and preheat to medium high heat.
-
Sear each side of the pork tenderloin for a minute or two and then move the tenderloin to the top rack (off the main heat).
-
Reduce the heat the just below medium and cover the grill.
-
Cook for around 10-15 minutes more or until the internal temperature is 145 degrees.
-
Remove the pork from the grill and rest of a few minutes.
-
Carve and serve.
Now that you know how to make this Asian Grilled Pork Tenderloin recipe, be sure to share it and tag @thelifejolie on Instagram and Facebook. And be sure to pin it to save for later or bookmark it!
Check out other Dump It ‘Til It’s Hot posts:
- Dump recipes main page
- My introduction post
- Best tools for prepping dump recipes
- Tips for making dump dinners
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