Grilled Asian Pork Tenderloin with Peanut Sauce
I had a pork tenderloin in the refrigerator that needed to be cooked up so I went in search of recipes. I found this recipe on Fine Cooking that looked simple and perfect. I thought it was interesting that the recipe had you cut the pork lengthwise nearly in half then flatten it with a mallet. It ended up looking like a flank steak when I was done and I loved that it would take less time to cook evenly. I marinated the meat for 4 hours then set it out at room temperature for 20 minutes prior to cooking it in the grill pan. The pork turned out extremely tender and so flavorful. We all LOVED the peanut sauce and thought it tasted great with the pork. The pork paired nicely with the Garlicky Snow Peas and Coconut Cilantro Rice I served with it. We all thought the whole meal was fantastic.
How to Make Grilled Asian Pork Tenderloin with Peanut Sauce
In a measuring cup, whisk the coconut milk, peanut butter, soy sauce, lime juice, brown sugar, garlic, and coriander to make the peanut sauce.
Trim the pork of excess fat and remove the silver skin – click here for instructions. Butterfly the tenderloin by splitting it lengthwise almost but not quite all the way through, so the halves remain attached.
Open the tenderloin (like a book) then cover with saran wrap, and pound to a 1/2-inch thickness with a meat mallet. Put the pork tenderloin in a large zip lock bag then pour half the marinade on top (reserving the other half). Squish it around so the meat is evenly coated. Place the meat in the refrigerator and marinate for 4 hours. Remove from the refrigerator 20 minutes prior to cooking to let the meat come to room temperature.
Heat a large grill pan coated in cooking spray over medium-high heat. Remove the tenderloin from the marinade then lightly season both sides with sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste. Place the tenderloin in the HOT grill pan then cook for 5 -6 minutes before flipping and cooking for an additional 3-4 minutes, or until the pork is cooked through. Transfer to a carving board and let the meat rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving the reserved peanut sauce on the side (I heated the sauce up for 20-30 seconds in the microwave before serving). Enjoy.
Ingredients
- ½ cup light coconut milk
- ¼ cup smooth peanut butter
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 ½ tbsp fresh lime juice
- 1 ½ tbsp dark brown sugar
- 1 large clove garlic minced
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 1 pork tenderloin silver skin removed
- Sea salt and freshly cracked pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a measuring cup, whisk the coconut milk, peanut butter, soy sauce, lime juice, brown sugar, garlic, and coriander to make the peanut sauce.
- Trim the pork of excess fat and remove the silver skin - click up above for instructions. Butterfly the tenderloin by splitting it lengthwise almost but not quite all the way through, so the halves remain attached.
- Open the tenderloin (like a book) then cover with saran wrap, and pound to a 1/2-inch thickness with a meat mallet. Put the pork tenderloin in a large zip lock bag then pour half the marinade on top (reserving the other half). Squish it around so the meat is evenly coated. Place the meat in the refrigerator and marinate for 4 hours. Remove from the refrigerator 20 minutes prior to cooking to let the meat come to room temperature.
- Heat a large grill pan coated in cooking spray over medium-high heat. Remove the tenderloin from the marinade then lightly season both sides with sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste. Place the tenderloin in the HOT grill pan then cook for 5 -6 minutes before flipping and cooking for an additional 3-4 minutes, or until the pork is cooked through.
- Transfer to a carving board and let the meat rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving the reserved peanut sauce on the side (I heated the sauce up for 20-30 seconds in the microwave before serving). Enjoy.
Very interesting way to to cut this, but I can see how it would definitely cut the cooking time down and that is never a bad thing!! As for the sauce…. you know I’m totally down with that!! YUM!! Love peanut sauce!!!
Peanut sauce! You could put that stuff all over everything and I’d be happy.
i can safely say that pork tenderloin is my favorite thing to both prepare and eat these days, and i’m always excited for ways to make it different. this looks great!
This sounds good. Glad to hear your finger is better!
Wow. This flavor group is a favorite of mine. Pork tenderloin is so versatile. Pinned and will make soon.
The meat does look very tender.. The peanut sauce is a great choice to serve it with!!!
I like to start with the meat and go in search of a recipe – it looks very good.
You just reminded me that I haven’t made pork tenderloin in a while. This looks great!
The tenderloin looks really juicy and delicious. Peanut sauce is a magic sauce. Love it!
I LOVE pork tenderloin! This looks and sounds amazing, as does the entire meal!
What a great looking pork tenderloin. Somehow the ones I buy are much smaller? I never had the peanut sauce – so I will have to try this recipe.
I am with the woman who stated you could peanut sauce on everything. I will buy a ticket for that train. I too have a pork loin in the freezer that I need to do something with sometime very soon.
I made this yesterday and shared it on the blog today! It was a home run.
I made all three of these tonight. It’s awesome how they all time with each other as you’re preparing the meal. The flavors are AMAZING!!! I can’t say anything other than Oh my friggin god!