Cuban Style Mojo Pork Tenderloin Recipes

CUBAN PORK TENDERLOIN

Steps:

• Using thin knife, trim silver skin from tenderloin. Mix orange juice, grapefruit juice, cilantro, cumin, oregano, garlic, salt, and hot pepper in gallon-sized zip-top plastic bag. Add pork, close, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to 4 hours. Meanwhile, make Rice and Black Bean Salad.
• Prepare outdoor grill for direct medium-hot grilling. For a gas grill, preheat grill on high. Adjust temperature to 400°F. For a charcoal grill, build fire and let burn until coals are covered with white ash. Spread coals and let burn for 15-20 minutes.
• Lightly oil cooking grate. Remove pork from marinade, drain briefly, but do not scrape off solids. Place on grill and cover grill. Cook, turning occasionally, until browned and instant-read thermometer inserted in center of pork reads 145°F, about 20-27 minutes. Transfer to carving board and let stand 3-5 minutes. Cut on slight diagonal and serve with rice and black bean salad.
• Rice and Black Bean Salad:
• To make salad, bring a medium saucepan of lightly salted water to a boil. Add rice and cook (like pasta) until tender, about 16 minutes. Drain in wire sieve, rinse under cold water, and let cool.
• In medium bowl, whisk orange zest and 2 tablespoons orange juice, 1 tablespoon vinegar, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Whisk in oil. Add cooled rice, black beans, scallions and cilantro, and mix. Let stand at room temperature for up to 4 hours. (If refrigerated, let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving, or rice will be hard.)

CUBAN PORK CHOPS WITH MOJO

Steps:

• In a gallon-sized resealable plastic bag, combine 1 cup orange juice, 1/2 cup lime juice, and vinegar. Add pork and let it sit and marinate for about 1 hour in refrigerator.
• In a small mixing bowl, combine all dried spices. Pat the pork chops dry with a paper towel and rub with the dry spice mixture.
• Heat oil in a large saute pan over high heat. Place the pork chops in the pan and sear on 1 side until brown. Flip over and turn the heat down to medium-low. Add onion and saute for 2 minutes. Then add the garlic and continue to cook until garlic begins to brown. Pour in the remaining 1/4 cup orange juice, 1/4 cup lime juice, and white wine. Simmer until the liquid is slightly reduced and begins to thicken. The chops should be cooked through.
• Remove the chops from pan and put on a warm plate. Continue to reduce juices in pan by half. Pour over the chops and serve immediately.
• Garnish with watercress, tomatoes and avocado.

MOJO PORK TENDERLOIN

Steps:

• Mix together the orange juice, lime juice, chopped parsley, chopped oregano, thyme leaves, minced garlic, salt and olive oil in a large glass bowl. (This makes approximately 3 cups.).
• Place the pork tenderloins in a zipper bag and add two cups of the marinade. Seal the bag and marinate at least overnight. Place the remaining marinade in the refrigerator.
• When you are ready to cook the pork, place a large non-stick skillet in an oven and preheat to 450°F.
• While the pan is preheating, remove the marinating pork tenderloin and the extra marinade. Strain the cup of extra marinade in a small sauce pan over high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer gently to reduce by half.
• Remove the pork tenderloins and place them on a plate. Strain the remaining marinade and discard the strained herbs and garlic, reserving the liquid.
• Place the pork tenderloins in the preheated pan and return the pan to the oven. Cook for about 4 minutes and turn the pork every 3 minutes after that, until all the sides are seared. After the second turn, baste with 1/2 cup of the strained marinade, coating the tenderloins well.
• As the pork cooks and the marinade is reduced, continue to baste with 1/4 to 1/2 cup at a time to create a caramelized glaze on the pork. It should take 20 - 25 minutes to reach an internal temperature of 160°F As the pork is finishing, add the remaining marinade to create a syrupy sauce.
• Remove the pork from the oven and let rest on the counter for about 3 minutes before carving. Serve with the reduced sauce from the pan.