Spicy Pork Tenderloin with Apricot Chutney and Kale Salad

Moroccan-Spiced Pork Tenderloin with Apricot Chutney: Butterflying tenderloin can truly do justice to a amazing piece of pork. It creates more surface area for all those yummy spices to cling to, plus there’s more surface contact with the skillet, creating lots of delicious crispy bits. The apricot chutney does double duty as part salad dressing and part condiment.

Preparing the pork:

It is very important for you to Pat the pork tenderloin dry. Than using a sharp knife, cut pork horizontally (parallel to cutting board) almost completely in half. Open the pork up like a book and using a meat mallet, pound to even thickness (about 3⁄4- inch). Now you rub Pork with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Ras El Hanout is one of my favorite spices for pork loin, add to the pork also with 1⁄2 teaspoon salt and several grinds pepper.

Making the chutney for spicy pork tenderloin recipe :

To take this spicy pork tenderloin recipe to the next level we need to make a nice chutney. Take you apricots and finely chop into 1⁄8-inch pieces and transfer to a small saucepan. Add 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (or red or white wine vinegar), 1⁄4 cup water, and 1 tablespoon sugar, and bring to a nice boil. Turn down the heat to medium and cook until liquid is reduced to a syrup, 3-4 minutes. Season with salt.

Time to Make the kale:

While chutney cooks lets take a few minutes to prep the Kale, remove stems and inner ribs from kale. Stack leaves, roll like a cigar, then cut crosswise into thin ribbons. Transfer to a bowl and toss with 1⁄2 teaspoon each salt and sugar. Using your hands, squeeze and massage the kale until softened, about 10 times.

Time to finish off the spicy pork loin:

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a heavy, skillet over medium-high heat. Add pork to skillet and cook, turning occasionally, until golden and lightly charred in spots. It should take about 3 minutes per side watch closely. Transfer to a cutting board, cover loosely with foil and let rest, about 5 minutes.

Making the salad:

While pork cooks, use a vegetable peeler to thinly shave Parmesan. (Alternatively, cut it into very thin slices.) Coarsely chop almonds.

Its time to Finish & serve:

Combine 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (or red or white wine vinegar) with a 1⁄4 cup oil, stirring vigorously. Once emulsified, add oil and vinegar to the kale. Next, add the Parmesan and 1⁄3 of chutney and toss to combine. Divide between plates and sprinkle with almonds. Cut pork into 1⁄2- inch thick slices and transfer to plates. Serve pork with remaining chutney. Enjoy

History of Moroccan Food

Morocco’s location on the northwestern edge of Africa, gives Moroccan cuisine a distinctive amalgamation of different cultures. The food prepared in this region reflects the influence of centuries of unique cultures who have called it home, and who brought commerce and trade to this region’s shores. 

Indigenous peoples, traders, invaders, immigrants, and colonizers have all played a role in the development of the local culture and dietary habits, as each brought new ingredients, cooking techniques and styles still influential today.

Over 2,000 years ago, the first known inhabitants were nomadic Berbers who first gave us the combination of ingredients still found in today’s Moroccan soups and stews.

When Arabs invaded this land in the 7th century, they brought with them new breads, cereals, grains, and spices, as well as the sweet and sour flavor pairings favored by the Persians like raisins with lentils or apricots in couscous dishes.

Cinnamon, saffron, dried ginger, cumin, and caraway as well as nuts like almonds and walnuts found their way into the marketplace.

When the Moors arrived at Gibraltar from Andalusia in the 15th century, they brought with them new varieties of olives, oranges, and lemons, all of which are still staples in Moroccan cooking today.

Moroccan food is specifically known for its barbecuing and grilling meat on skewers, known as kebabs, which the invading Ottomans brought with them during their 16th century conquest.

Moroccan-Spiced Pork with Apricot Chutney and Kale Salad

Butterflying tenderloin can truly do justice to a amazing piece of pork. It creates more surface area for all those yummy spices to cling to, plus there’s more surface contact with the skillet, creating lots of delicious crispy bits.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 2

Ingredients

  

• 10 oz pork tenderloin
• 1 tsp ras el hanout
• 1 oz dried apricots
• 1 bunch curly kale
• 1 1/2 oz Parmesan
• 1 oz roasted almonds
• olive oil
• coarse kosher salt
• freshly ground black pepper
• apple cider vinegar or red or white wine vinegar
• sugar

Instructions

 

• Prep pork: Pat pork tenderloin dry. Using a sharp knife, cut pork horizontally (parallel to cutting board) almost completely in half. Open up like a book and using a meat mallet, pound to even thickness (about 3⁄4- inch). Rub all over with 1 tablespoon oil and season with ras el hanout, 1⁄2 teaspoon salt and several grinds pepper. Set aside until step 4.
• Make chutney: Finely chop apricots into 1⁄8-inch pieces and transfer to a small saucepan. Add 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (or red or white wine vinegar), 1⁄4 cup water, and 1 tablespoon sugar, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and cook until liquid is reduced to a syrup, 3-4 minutes. Season with salt.
• Prep kale: While chutney cooks, remove stems and inner ribs from kale. Stack leaves, roll like a cigar, then cut crosswise into thin ribbons. Transfer to a bowl and toss with 1⁄2 teaspoon each salt and sugar. Using your hands, squeeze and massage the kale until softened, about 10 times.
• Cook pork: Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a heavy, medium skillet over medium-high. Add pork to skillet and cook, turning occasionally, until golden and lightly charred in spots, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a cutting board, cover loosely with foil and let rest, about 5 minutes.
• Prep salad ingredients: While pork cooks, use a vegetable peeler to thinly shave Parmesan. (Alternatively, cut it into very thin slices.) Coarsely chop almonds.
• Finish & serve: Combine 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (or red or white wine vinegar) with a 1⁄4 cup oil, stirring vigorously. Once emulsified, add oil and vinegar to the kale. Next, add the Parmesan and 1⁄3 of chutney and toss to combine. Divide between plates and sprinkle with almonds. Cut pork into 1⁄2- inch thick slices and transfer to plates. Serve pork with remaining chutney. Enjoy!

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