Roasted Balsamic Pork Tenderloin

Step 1

Prep: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a half-rimmed baking sheet with foil for easy cleanup and spray with cooking spray. On the counter next to the stove, lay out two long pieces of foil that will be used to enclose each tenderloin separately after searing.

Step 2

Brine: In a gallon-size freezer bag (I prop it up in a larger bowl), mix kosher salt with warm water until dissolved. Whisk in vinegar, brown sugar and ice then add the pork (make sure pork is submerged). Brine for exactly 20 minutes (meanwhile see steps below). Remove pork from brine, RINSE and pat very dry. The pork can become mealy if left in the brine any longer than 20 minutes.

Step 3

Spice Mix and Sauce: While the pork is brining, whisk together all of the Spice Mix ingredients in a small bowl. Remove 1 teaspoon to use on the vegetables. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the Balsamic Sauce ingredients. Lastly, prepare the veggies:

Step 4

Potatoes (optional): Add potatoes to the prepared baking sheet. Toss with 1 tablespoon Balsamic Sauce, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon reserved Spice Mix, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper then spread into an even layer. Bake potatoes at 400 degrees F for 15 minutes then remove the pan from the oven.

Step 5

Broccoli (optional): Push the par-cooked potatoes to one side of the pan (keep in a single layer). Add the broccoli and toss with 1/2 tablespoon Balsamic Sauce, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon reserved Spice Mix, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Push to the opposite side of the pan in a single layer. Set aside.

Step 6

Spice and Sear Pork: Evenly rub the dried pork all over with spice mix. Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. When oil is very hot and just smoking, add pork tenderloins, you may need to work in batches. Sear each side of pork until golden, then transfer to prepared foil.

Step 7

Add Balsamic Sauce: Fold up the foil around the sides of the tenderloins. Pour half of the balsamic sauce over each tenderloin, then top each tenderloin with 3 pads of butter. Bring up the sides of the foil and completely enclose each tenderloin (see photos in post). Transfer pork pouches to the middle of the baking sheet in between the vegetables.

Step 8

Bake: Bake at 400 degrees F until pork registers between 145 and 150-degrees F (63 and 65 degrees C) at the thickest part of the tenderloin, 15-25 minutes depending on thickness. This means the pork will be juicy and slightly pink in the middle. To check the temperature, insert a digital probe thermometer through foil as it bakes or check with an instant read thermometer. Note, you may need to remove one tenderloin from the oven before the other. Your vegetables should be done at the same time as the pork, but if not, remove the pork and continue roasting vegetables an additional 5-10 minutes or until tender.

Step 9

Rest: When pork is done, transfer it to a heat proof surface and open the top of the foil (be careful, a lot of steam will escape); let stand 10 minutes before slicing. Spoon the accumulated balsamic butter sauce in the bottom of the foil over top the sliced pork. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste.