By Jane Maynard
My kids love it when their food has a theme, so when I served up this “Circle of Life Pork Tenderloin” for dinner one night, complete with pineapple “circles,” and told the girls it was dinner inspired by The Lion King, they gobbled their dinner up!
But this dish doesn’t need a cute name for people to love it. This pork tenderloin is incredibly tender and filled with flavor. Plus it’s healthy, to boot! I can’t get enough of this pork and neither can my kids!
Next time you want to impress your guests or just want a really delicious yet simple-to-prepare dinner for your family, remember the ‘Circle of Life’ and give this recipe a try!
More Pork Tenderloin Recipe:
Easy Weeknight Pan Seared Pork Tenderloin
Grilled Pork Tenderloin & Asparagus with Peanut Dipping Sauce
Circle of Life Pork Tenderloin
Serves 6-8
Ingredients
- 2 pork tenderloins (2 1/4 – 2 1/2 pounds, usually come packaged together)
- 1 T olive oil
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 20-ounce can sliced pineapple in juice (not syrup)
- 2 garlic cloves, minced or put through garlic press
- 2 splashes hot sauce
- 1 tablespoon corn starch
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Whisk together the juice from the can of pineapple (about 1 cup) with the minced garlic cloves, hot sauce and corn starch. Set aside.
- Mix together salt, pepper, cumin, chili powder and cinnamon. Press over entire surface of pork tenderloins.
- Heat olive oil in an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add pork and brown on all sides, 4 minutes total. Remove pan with meat from stovetop.
- Place slices of pineapple over the top of the pork, using 5-8 slices. Pour pineapple juice mixture over the meat then place skillet in the oven. Cook for about 20 minutes. until the center of the pork reaches 140 degrees. Remove from oven, let sit for 10 minutes, slice and serve.
