Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Fresh Plum Sauce

When shopping for this recipe be sure to choose plums (or any other stone fruit) that are fairly firm so they keep their shape after roasting. You know that selfish jerk that has to feel-up every piece of fruit before deciding on one? This time, be that jerk.

• Preparation Time: 10 mins
• Cooking Time: 50 mins
• Total Time: 60 mins
• Calories: 370 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 cup water
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• 1 red onion, sliced
• 2 shallots, sliced
• 1 teaspoon cold butter
• 1 pork tenderloin
• 3 fresh thyme sprigs, or more to taste
• 2 firm plums, pitted and each cut into 4 wedges

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Generously season pork tenderloin with salt and black pepper.

Step 2

Heat oil in a large, oven-proof skillet over medium-high heat. Cook tenderloin until browned on all sides, 2 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer tenderloin to a plate.

Step 3

Saute onion with a pinch of salt in the same skillet until just softening, 3 to 5 minutes. Add shallots, reduce heat to medium, and cook and stir until shallots and onion are golden brown and caramelized, about 10 minutes.

Step 4

Stir thyme into onion mixture; place tenderloin over onion mixture, and set plum quarters, skin-side down, around pork tenderloin. Transfer skillet to preheated oven.

Step 5

Cook until pork is slightly pink in the center, about 20 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 145 degrees F (63 degrees C). Transfer pork and plums to a plate.

Step 6

Place skillet over medium-high heat and pour water and balsamic vinegar into onion mixture. Bring mixture to a boil while scraping the browned bits of food off of the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Cook and stir until liquid is reduced by half, 5 to 10 minutes; remove from heat. Whisk butter into mixture until melted and sauce is shiny. Pour sauce over pork and plums.