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Tandoori-spiced Pork Tenderloin with Chickpeas and Spinach

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Rate this recipe 4.7/5 (7 Votes)

Ingredients

  • For the tandoori spice rub (makes about 5 tablespoons):
  • 2 tablespoons sweet paprika
  • 1 tablespoon cumin
  • 1 tablespoon coriander
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • For the pork tenderloin, chickpeas and spinach:
  • 1 pork tenderloin, about 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 pounds
  • olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 14-1/2-ounce can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • 2/3 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
  • 2/3 cup dry white wine
  • 1 5-ounce bag baby spinach

Details

Preparation

Step 1

Prepare the spice rub. Combine the ingredients in a small bowl and stir until thoroughly mixed. A quick note—if you have whole cumin seeds and coriander seeds, so much the better. Toast them in a dry skillet over medium heat for a few minutes, stirring frequently, cool them and grind them in a spice grinder or with a mortar and pestle. The flavor will be phenomenal.

Marinate the pork. Pat the tenderloin dry with a paper towel and tie it with kitchen string in three places along its length (pork tenderloins are typically two pieces of meat twisted together, and one of their favorite pastimes is to untwist during cooking). Combine 2 to 3 tablespoons of the tandoori spice rub in a small bowl with an equal amount of olive oil and the ginger and garlic. Stir to combine. Spread mixture over the pork tenderloin to coat evenly. Place tenderloin in a zippered plastic bag and marinate for about 3 hours in the fridge. Reserve any unused rub mixture, also in the fridge.

Cook the dish. About 1/2 hour before you’re ready to cook, remove the tenderloin from the fridge to come to room temperature (this can count as part of the marinating time). When you’re ready to cook, heat a large, lidded nonstick sauté pan over medium flame. Scrape the excess marinade from the tenderloin into a bowl and reserve. Salt tenderloin on all sides. Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the pan and brown the tenderloin on all sides, about 8 minutes total. Transfer to plate.

Sauté the onion in the pan, adding a little more oil if needed, for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Add chickpeas, reserved marinade, chicken broth and wine to pan. Bring to a boil, scraping up any browned bits and stirring to combine. Return tenderloin to pan, reduce heat to simmer and cover pan.

Cook, turning the tenderloin occasionally, until a quick read thermometer registers 145ºF when inserted into center of tenderloin, about 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer tenderloin to cutting board and tent with foil.

Add spinach to pan, in batches if necessary, and stir to incorporate. Cover pan and cook until spinach has wilted and reduced in volume, about 3 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings.

Snip strings from tenderloin and slice it crosswise into 1/3 to 1/2-inch slices. Spoon chickpea spinach mixture into two shallow bowls and top with slices of pork tenderloin—I used three per serving. Serve.

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