Citrus Marinated Pork

Recipe by: Jinx Morgan, Jefferson Morgan | from The Sugar Mill Caribbean Cookbook: Casual and Elegant Recipes Inspired by the Islands

Cookstr

Course: Main Course

Total Time: Under 4 Hours

Skill Level: Moderate

Cost: Moderate

Photo by: Joseph De Leo

Our sunny islands have the perfect climate for growing oranges, which marry so well with pork. Our homegrown oranges often have a green tinge when they are fully ripe. This is natural; oranges that come from professional growers are often treated with a dye. In neither case is the flavor affected.

Yield: Makes 4 to 6 servings

INGREDIENTS

2 8-to 10-ounce pork tenderloins
2 teaspoons grated orange zest
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves, or 1 teaspoon dried thyme
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups orange juice
2 tablespoons rice vinegar or white wine vinegar
2 tablespoons honey

Garnish:

Watercress
Orange slices

Directions

With a mortar and pestle, grind together the orange zest, thyme, pepper, and garlic to a paste. Rub the paste into the pork. Put the pork into a dish, combine the orange juice and vinegar, and pour the mixture over the pork. Cover the meat, and refrigerate it for 2 to 8 hours.

Preheat the oven to 425°. Oil a baking pan lightly. Heat the pan in the oven for 4 minutes. Set the pork in the pan, and drizzle it with 1 tablespoon honey. Roast the pork 10 minutes. Turn the pork, and spoon any exuded juices over it. Drizzle the pork with the remaining 1 tablespoon honey. Roast the pork 20 to 25 minutes longer (for medium meat), basting it once or twice with the pan juices.

Remove the pork from the oven, and let it stand at room temperature 5 minutes. Cut it into ¼-inch slices, and serve it garnished with watercress and orange slices.

Editor's Note

Nutritional information is based on 6 servings using two 8 ounce pork tenderloins. Nutritional information does not include garnish of watercress and orange slices.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION

Nutrients per serving (% daily value)

Calories 107kcal (5%)

Calcium 6mg (1%)

Vitamin C 4mg (7%)

Vitamin A 1mcg RAE (0%)

Potassium 320mg

Magnesium 21mg

Protein 16g

Sugar 6g

Fiber 0g

Total Carbohydrate 7g