For today’s blog post I was fortunate to find a large package of pork tenderloin tips at a great price. I decided to prepare two different recipes to get the most out of my money. For the first recipe I prepared Pork Tenderloin Tips in Salsa Verde. This dish can be serve simply over rice or slice into smaller pieces for a tasty taco, enchilada or burrito filling. Salsa Verde pairs very well with pork and the tenderloin tips were tender and moist. For the second recipe I was looking to try out a new appetizer that would be both simple and delicious. The precooked bacon works well for any recipe that calls for wrapping, whether it’s for meat, vegetables or jalapeños. I would not suggest using the precooked bacon from the store because it is very thin compared to what I used for this recipe. My inspiration for this recipe was of course the pork tips, but also the zesty sriracha seasoning I found. It really does taste very much like the hot sauce, but in a dry rub form. I try to challenge myself to learn a new cooking technique or method that I can incorporate into my everyday cooking. My favorite to date is the searing of meats on the stove top and finishing the cooking in the oven. With the help of my trusty instant read thermometer and stove timer, I have had great success when it comes to this cooking method. The results are always a well cooked piece of meat.
Pork Tenderloin Tips in Salsa Verde
Pork Tenderloin Tips in Salsa Verde
Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds pork tenderloin tips
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 teaspoon Mexican oregano
1 teaspoon chile pepper flakes
2 teaspoons lemon pepper ( I use a low salt, coarse grind)
1 teaspoon granulated garlic
Coarse sea salt or kosher salt to taste (I used a sea salt with chile flakes)
Olive oil
Salt
Pepper
For Salsa
10 to 12 tomatillos, peeled and washed
1 small red onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 to 3 serranos, finely diced
Salt to taste
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
Try toasting and griding your own spices. The flavors are amazing!
Fresh Tomatillos
Pork Tenderloin Tips in Salsa Verde
Directions
1. Slice the pork tips into equal size pieces for more even cooking, set aside. Heat a small skillet to medium and toast the cumin seeds and oregano for a few minutes or until they become aromatic. Transfer to a mortar, along with the red pepper flakes and crush as fine as you can. Season the pork with spice mix from mortar, lemon pepper, garlic and salt to taste. Cover and set aside if cooking right away or marinate overnight.
2. Add the tomatillos to a pot, cover with water. For a smoother salsa, you cook add the onion, serrano and garlic to the boiling water with tomatillos and blend all together. I like to saute my onion mixture separately. Bring tomatillos to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes. Drain all of the water, transfer to the blender and let cool while you prep the other ingredients.
3. In a large, oven safe skillet, preheat 3 tablespoons of olive oil to medium for a few minutes. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Brown and sear the pork tips on all sides, transfer the whole pan to the oven and cook for another 10 to 12 minutes.
4. In a separate skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of oil to medium heat. Add the onions, garlic and serrano. Season lightly with salt and pepper and saute for 6 to 8 minutes. Blend the tomatillos until smooth, add to skillet with onion mixture and cook at a low simmer for 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt. Remove pork from oven and pour warm salsa over the pork and stir gently to scrape all the bits off the bottom of pan. Fold in the fresh cilantro. Yields 4 servings. Serve with rice, beans and warm tortillas.
Pork Tenderloin Tips In Salsa Verde
I was lucky to find this almost 3 pound package of pork tenderloin tips for a great price!
Getting the most out of my spices in the pantry
Bacon Wrapped Sriracha Pork Tenderloin Tips
Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds pork tenderloin tips sliced into 12 equal pieces
2 teaspoons sriracha rub and seasoning
1 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon granulated garlic
1/2 teaspoon chile flakes
Sea salt or kosher salt to taste (I used a sea salt with chile flakes)
You will also need
12 strips thick cut bacon ( I like to slice my bacon so it just overlaps around the pork)
Olive oil
Sriracha hot sauce for basting
Found a sriracha dry rub/seasoning and I love it! Great for these pork tenderloin tips.
Precooking the bacon this way worked out great! It was still soft and pliable for wrapping the pork.
Directions
1. Season the pork tips with sriracha seasoning, pepper, garlic, chile flakes and salt to taste. Cover and chill for 1 hour or overnight.
2. To precook bacon, place the strips on a lined baking sheet. Place in cold oven and heat to 400 degrees F. Set your timer for 13 minutes. Remove from oven, transfer to a clean plate and let cool.
3. When ready, wrap the pork tips tightly with the precooked bacon, using a toothpick if needed. Season with a little more siraracha seasoning, set aside. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
4. In an oven safe large skillet or cast iron pan, preheat 2 tablespoons of olive oil to medium heat. When hot, sear and brown the bacon wrapped pork for 4 minutes per side. trying to brown most sides. Transfer to preheated oven and cook for another 5 minutes. Remove from oven, baste generously with sriracha hot sauce and place back under the broiler for 2 minutes. If you are unsure that the pork is cooked all the way through, just take an instant read digital thermometer and insert in deepest cut of meat. You are looking for a temperature of between 145 to 150 degrees F. Remove from oven, tent loosely with foil paper and let sit for a few minutes. Remove toothpicks and serve right away. Yields 4 to 6 servings
Bacon Wrapped Sriracha Pork Tenderloin Tips
Bacon Wrapped Sriracha Pork Tenderloin Tips
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