Smoked pork tenderloin with cilantro sauce
1
Points®
Total time: 1 hr 40 min • Prep: 25 min • Cook: 20 min • Serves: 8 • Difficulty: Easy
Start up your grill because this recipe is a RINGER! The rich smokey pork tenderloin has its perfect pairing with the bright and tangy flavor of the cilantro sauce. Cilantro and scallion make a savory combination with a touch of heat while the lime juice adds the zing that cuts the smoky flavor in a divine combination. This pork and sauce are super versatile. Serve as a main dish with rice and steamed vegetables or over a bed of crisp greens with some sliced radishes and tomatoes for a hearty main-dish salad dressed with the cilantro sauce. You can also cut the pork and serve as a delightful taco filling with the cilantro sauce. Easy to prep and cook, make 2 tenderloins and save one for meals later in the week. If you like this dish, try smoking chicken and serving with the sauce for an easy variation.
Ingredients
Woodchips
3 cup(s)
Ground cumin
1½ tsp, divided
Kosher salt
1¼ tsp, divided
Ground coriander
1 tsp
Uncooked lean pork tenderloin
2 pound(s), extra fat and sinew trimmed
Cilantro
4½ oz, 1 bunch, tough stems discarded
Scallions
2 medium, ends trimmed, thinly sliced
Garlic
1 clove(s), minced
Fresh lime juice
2 Tbsp
Extra virgin olive oil
2 Tbsp
Instructions
1
Place woodchips in a large bowl, cover with water and place a heavy plate on top to keep them submerged; soak 30 minutes.
2
Mix together 1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp salt and coriander in a small bowl; rub evenly over pork and set aside at room temperature while you prepare grill.
3
Make sure your grill grates are super clean, then prepare your gas or charcoal grill for indirect heat. Drain wood chips and place in center of a large piece of aluminum foil; wrap them up to create a neat package (using a second layer of foil if needed). Using a paring knife or skewer, poke a dozen holes in top of packet and place packet over hottest part of grill (either directly on coals of a charcoal grill or on heating element below grate of a gas grill); cover grill until smoke appears, at least 15 minutes.
4
Place pork on cooler side of grill; cover and cook pork, uncovering grill to turn pork a few times, until pork is firm to the touch and registers at least 145ºF in center, about 20 minutes. Remove pork from grill; let rest 10 minutes.
5
Meanwhile, stir together cilantro, scallions, garlic, lime juice, oil, remaining 1/2 tsp cumin and remaining 1/4 tsp salt in a small bowl (chop cilantro, if desired, for a chunky sauce or puree sauce ingredients for a smooth finish).
6
Thinly slice pork; serve warm or at room temperature with cilantro sauce.
7
Serving size: 3 oz pork, 1/2 Tbsp sauce
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