Tasty Springtime Treat: Herb Marinated Pork Tenderloin

I love cooking with fresh herbs. Herbs can be expensive, but the flavors they provide to any dish are irreplaceable and well worth the expense. A great way to minimize your grocery bill in the summer is to grow your own herb and vegetable garden.

As residents of Southington, we have a great variety of garden centers to choose from for gardening supplies and herb plants and seeds such as Ali’s Nursery, Winterberry Garden, and Lewis Farms.

A great dish that uses fresh herbs, is this Herb Marinated Pork Tenderloin. It’s full of wonderful fresh flavor, making it a perfect Spring dish.

It’s deceptively simple, requiring only a few minutes to prepare the marinade and sear the tenderloin before baking. While it is best marinated overnight, 3 hours is sufficient if you’re in a time crunch.   

Although it's simple to make, this dish does not lack in presentation.  It is an elegant dish perfect for entertaining. Served alongside vibrantly green roasted asparagus and roasted potatoes, this is a dish guests will be sure to enjoy.

Herb Marinated Pork Tenderloin

Adapted from Barefoot Contessa
Serves: 6
Prep Time: 15 minutes (plus marinating time)
Cook Time: 15-20 minutes (plus 10 minute resting period)

Ingredients
1  1/2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, minced
1 tablespoon fresh thyme, minced
1 lemon, zest grated
3/4 cup lemon juice
3 large garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons spicy mustard
1/2 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
salt and pepper for seasoning
2 pork tenderloins (about 1 pound each)

Directions
Start with chopping your fresh rosemary and thyme.  Then zest and juice your lemon.  In a bowl, mix together your rosemary, thyme, lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic, spicy mustard, salt, and olive oil.  Place your tenderloin in a 9x13 pan and coat with the marinade.  Cover your pan with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 3 hours or preferably overnight. 

Once the pork is marinated, season it with salt and pepper, and preheat your oven to 400 degrees.  Meanwhile, heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large saute pan over high/medium heat.  Sear your pork tenderloin until brown, about 1 minute on all sides.  Place your tenderloin in a 9x13 pan and bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until the meat registers 137 degrees at its thickest part. 

Remove from the oven and cover with aluminum foil.  Allow to rest for 10 minutes and then slice into 1/2 inch thick slices.

If you like this recipe, visit my food blog Sprinkles of Parsley for more recipes and step by step tutorials!