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Pork Tenderloin and Caramelized Onion Enchiladas in a Homemade Enchilada Sauce

Pork Tenderloin and Caramelized Onion Enchiladas in a Homemade Enchilada Sauce

My husband was in the mood for Mexican food so I made these pork tenderloin and caramelized onion enchiladas in a homemade enchilada sauce for dinner. I made a homemade sauce that turned out to be spicy, flavorful, and really delicious. My husband and I both really loved these enchiladas and thought they had a nice kick and they were hearty without being heavy. I loved mine with fresh avocado and sour cream while my husband opted for avocado and extra hot sauce.

Pork Tenderloin and Caramelized Onion Enchiladas in a Homemade Enchilada Sauce

How to Make Pork Tenderloin and Caramelized Onion Enchiladas in a Homemade Enchilada Sauce

Enchilada Sauce:

Heat the canola oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until tender, about 5-6 minutes. Add the minced garlic, chile powder, cumin, coriander, and oregano then stir constantly for 1 minute. Add diced tomatoes and juice along with the chicken broth. Season with sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste, and add the honey then cover with a lid and simmer for 30 minutes.

After the sauce has simmered for 30 minutes, blend the sauce with an immersion blender (or regular blender) until smooth. Pour through a sieve to remove the excess pulp, if desired. Taste and re-season if needed. Set aside

Enchiladas:

While the sauce is simmering, caramelize the onions. Heat a tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced onion and cook, stirring often, for 20-30 minutes, or until tender and caramelized. Side Note: If the onion gets too dry while cooking, add a few tablespoons of water to keep them moist. Season with sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste. Set aside.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Coat a large 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray.

Heat the remaining olive oil in the same skillet you cooked the onions in. Remove the silverskin from the pork tenderloin (click this link for instructions).

Cut the pork into medallions then dice into bite-sized chunks. Spread the diced pork out evenly on the cutting board. Sprinkle the pork evenly with a bit of sea salt, freshly cracked pepper, garlic powder, cumin, oregano, and coriander.

Cook the pork in 2 batches, seasoned side down, in the hot pan. Season the other side of the pork then leave it alone for 2-3 minutes, until it’s caramelized then flip and cook for another 1-2 minutes. Remove to a plate and cover with a tin foil tent; cook the second batch of pork. Side Note: Pork will NOT be cooked through – it will finish cooking in the oven.

Wrap the flour tortillas in a dishcloth then place them into the microwave for 20-30 seconds or until the tortillas are pliable. Pour enough enchilada sauce to cover the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Place some of the pork, a spoonful of beans with sauce, and a spoonful of caramelized onions down the center of the tortilla.

Roll and place the seam side down in the baking dish. Repeat with the remaining tortillas and ingredients. Pour more sauce over each rolled enchilada then top with the cheese.

Pork Tenderloin and Caramelized Onion Enchiladas in a Homemade Enchilada Sauce

Cover with tinfoil then place into the oven and bake for 30 minutes.

Remove the foil then continue to bake for 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Serve with chopped green onions on top along with diced avocado, sour cream, and hot sauce on the side. Enjoy.

Pork Tenderloin and Caramelized Onion Enchiladas in a Homemade Enchilada Sauce

 

Pork Tenderloin and Caramelized Onion Enchiladas in a Homemade Enchilada Sauce

Pork Tenderloin and Caramelized Onion Enchiladas in a Homemade Enchilada Sauce

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes
Course: Main
Cuisine: Mexican
Servings: 8 enchiladas
Author: Pam / For the Love of Cooking

Ingredients

Enchilada Sauce:

  • 1 tbsp canola oil
  • 1 small sweet yellow onion diced
  • 3 cloves of garlic minced
  • 1 ½ tbsp chile powder
  • ½ tbsp adobo chile powder
  • 1 ½ tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp ground coriander
  • ½ tsp oregano
  • 2 (14 oz) cans of fire-roasted diced tomatoes with green chiles and garlic
  • ½ cup of chicken broth
  • Sea salt and freshly cracked pepper to taste
  • 1 tsp honey

Enchiladas:

  • 1 ½ tbsp canola oil divided
  • 1 large onion sliced
  • 1 Pork tenderloin cut into bite-sized chunks
  • Sea salt and freshly cracked pepper to taste
  • Garlic powder to taste
  • Cumin to taste
  • Oregano to taste
  • Coriander to taste
  • 8 small flour tortillas
  • 1 (14 oz) can of chili beans with sauce
  • Extra sharp white cheddar shredded

Serving:

  • Green onions diced
  • Cilantro chopped
  • Avocado diced
  • Sour cream
  • Hot sauce

Instructions

Enchilada Sauce:

  • Heat the canola oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until tender, about 5-6 minutes. Add the minced garlic, chile powder, cumin, coriander, and oregano then stir constantly for 1 minute.
  • Add diced tomatoes and juice along with the chicken broth. Season with sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste, and add the honey then cover with a lid and simmer for 30 minutes.
  • After the sauce has simmered for 30 minutes, blend the sauce with an immersion blender (or regular blender) until smooth.
  • Pour through a sieve to remove the excess pulp, if desired. Taste and re-season if needed. Set aside

Enchiladas:

  • Caramelize the onions while the sauce is simmering, by heating a tablespoon of oil into a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced onion and cook, stirring often, for 20-30 minutes, or until tender and caramelized. Side Note: If the onion gets too dry while cooking, add a few tablespoons of water to keep them moist.
  • Season with sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste. Set aside until needed.
  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Coat a large 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray.
  • Heat the remaining olive oil in the same skillet you cooked the onions in. Remove the silverskin from the pork tenderloin (click this link for instructions).
  • Cut the pork into medallions then dice into bite-sized chunks. Spread the diced pork out evenly on the cutting board. Sprinkle the pork evenly with a bit of sea salt, freshly cracked pepper, garlic powder, cumin, oregano, and coriander.
  • Cook the pork in 2 batches, seasoned side down, in the hot pan. Season the other side of the pork then leave it alone for 2-3 minutes, until it's caramelized then flip and cook for another 1-2 minutes. Remove to a plate and cover with a tin foil tent; cook the second batch of pork. Side Note: Pork will NOT be cooked through but it will finish cooking in the oven.
  • Wrap the flour tortillas in a dishcloth then place them into the microwave for 20-30 seconds or until the tortillas are pliable.
  • Pour enough enchilada sauce to cover the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
  • Place some of the pork, a spoonful of beans with sauce, and a spoonful of caramelized onions down the center of the tortilla.
  • Roll and place the seam side down in the baking dish. Repeat with the remaining tortillas and ingredients.
  • Pour more sauce over each rolled enchilada then top with the cheese.
  • Cover with tinfoil then place into the oven and bake for 30 minutes.
  • Remove the foil then continue to bake for 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
  • Serve with chopped green onions on top along with diced avocado, sour cream, and hot sauce on the side. Enjoy.
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Recipe Rating




26 Comments

  1. Great looking smothered burritos Pam. The sauce and the stuffings both sound delicious. We had your tenderloin Diane the other night and really enjoyed it – I’ll post about it in a week or so.

  2. We are definitly at the same wave lenght this week with tenderloin recipes, Pam 🙂
    This looks so tasty and I’m sure my family will love this dish, must try it this weekend,

  3. Pinned this one too! I’m an enchilada freak and like making our own sauce too. I have a hard time deciding on a favorite, they’re all great. I think my fave might be chicken/cheese with a cream/salsa vedre sauce.

  4. Recipe looks scrumptious but i thought that tortillas weren’t Paleo. Just wondering. I’d be happy just cooking the pork through and using butter leaf lettuce as a wrap. And the cheese is ok? Please be patient because I’m a newbie here and I want/need to do this the right way.

    1. Bunnyetoes,

      I don’t know much about the Paleo diet so I am not sure what is okay and what is not. I will say that these enchiladas are awesome!

      Pam

  5. 5 stars
    For the love of cooking springs from the heart and dances with ingredients. It’s a soulful symphony, blending flavors and stories. In the kitchen’s embrace, we find solace, creativity, and a delicious way to paint emotions on the canvas of life.

  6. 5 stars
    This dish sounds like a delightful fusion of flavors! The tenderness of pork tenderloin combined with the rich sweetness of caramelized onions, all wrapped up in homemade enchilada sauce, promises a unique and mouthwatering culinary experience. The blend of textures and the interplay between the savory and sweet elements make these enchiladas a must-try for anyone looking to savor a creative twist on a classic dish.