Pork

Spicy Mocha Pork Tenderloin with Baked Sweet Potato

by:
April 20, 2011
4.5
2 Ratings
  • Serves 4
Author Notes

This was inspired by a meal I made my husband for our anniversary a couple of years ago. I opted to use espresso in this recipe, although I imagine it would be good with finely ground coffee as well. —Dabblings

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • Spicy Mocha Pork Tenderloin
  • one 2 Lb. pork tenderloin
  • 1/2 tablespoon fresh ground black pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (Or more if you like it really spicy)
  • 1/2 tablespoon Ground coriander
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon
  • 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
  • 2 tablespoons finely ground espresso
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons salt
  • 1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
  • Baked Sweet Potatoes with Smoky Mocha Butter
  • 4 sweet potatoes of uniform size
  • Vegetable oil
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • Generous pinch of salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon chipoltle powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon cocoa powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon instant espresso powder
  • 1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
Directions
  1. Spicy Mocha Pork Tenderloin
  2. The night before the meal trim the tenderloin of any of the silver skin that is on it. Then rinse and pat dry the meat.
  3. Combine all of the spices in a bowl. Apply them to the tenderloin by patting them on and rolling the tenderloin around. Make sure all sides of the pork are covered completely.
  4. Wrap the coated tenderloin in plastic and allow it to sit in your refrigerator for 12-18 hours.
  5. When you are ready to prepare the tenderloin, pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees.
  6. Remove the pork tenderloin from the plastic wrap and place it on a baking sheet.
  7. Roast the tenderloin until an internal temperature of 145 degrees is reached, this will take about 40 minutes. Then, remove it from the oven and allow it to rest lightly covered with foil for 10 minutes.
  8. Slice it on the bias and serve immediately with baked sweet potatoes (recipe follows).
  1. Baked Sweet Potatoes with Smoky Mocha Butter
  2. Pre-heat over to 425 degrees.
  3. Wash and dry the sweet potatoes. Puncture each sweet potato with a fork. Then, rub the sweet potatoes with the vegetable oil until they are completly coated.
  4. Place the sweet potatoes directly on a rack positioned in the middle of the oven. Bake them until they are tender, about 45 minutes.
  5. Combine the butter and all of the spices in a shallow bowl. Mix until the butter is smooth and of a uniform consistency. Put butter in the refrigerator to harden.
  6. When the sweet potatoes are done baking, allow them to cool for 5 minutes. Then split them and put a rounded spoonful of the butter in each potato. Serve immediately.

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1 Review

Natalie S. October 14, 2012
This is one of the best pork tenderloin recipes I have ever tried. It's easy and delicious!