Brown Sugar Crusted Pork Tenderloin with Cranberry Gravy

Who doesn’t love a good pork tenderloin?   It looks fancy, but it’s super easy

 

Brown Sugar Crusted Pork Tenderloin with Cranberry Gravy

This is simple enough for a weeknight meal but elegant enough for a dinner party. This dish requires a pan that can go from stovetop to oven. I use and recommend the Le Creuset braiser.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: French
Servings: 8
Calories: 685kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 pork tenderloins
  • 1 bag Ocean Spray Cranberries
  • 1 tbsp kosher salt
  • 2 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp herbs de Provence
  • 2 tbsp grapeseed oil
  • 1/3 cup Aquavit
  • 3/4 cup dark brown sugar packed
  • 2 tbsp maple syrup
  • 1/2 cup low sodium beef broth
  • 1/2 cup white wine
  • water

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400°
  • Dry off tenderloin
  • Mix salt, pepper, garlic powder and herbs de Provence. Coat the pork heavily with the mixture, taking a moment to really work into the pork. Brown in the grapeseed oil
  • When all sides are browned, add white wine
  • Transfer the pan to oven. Cook for about 40 minutes or until meat thermometer reads 170°
  • While the pork is cooking, rinse the cranberries. Place in pot and cover with water. Add 1/4 cup of Aquavit and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce to low/medium heat and simmer for 25 minutes. Add maple syrup and continue simmering and if needed, another splash of Aquavit.
  • Remove pork from pan and put on cutting board. Coat top of both tenderloins with brown sugar, working into the meat and let sit while you deglaze the pan with beef broth. Once the yummy bits are loosened, pour the deglazed broth into the cranberry mixture to cut the tartness. Strain into a bowl.
  • Put the sugar covered pork back into the braiser you just deglazed and return to the oven to crisp the brown sugar. (About another 5 minutes)
  • Remove from oven, let rest for 5 minutes and carve.

Notes

This was an effort to clean out a post holiday fridge.  Sometimes the need to unclutter channels itself into something wonderful
Pairs well with Farro with Apricots and Pistachios

Nutrition

Calories: 685kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 94g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 295mg | Sodium: 1143mg | Potassium: 1880mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 9IU | Calcium: 56mg | Iron: 5mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!