Pork Tenderloin Medallions and Balsamic Reduction

This recipe sounded really tasty, and we love pork tenderloin, so I gave it a try. The only thing I changed was for the rice – I cooked some jasmine rice in my rice cooker and stirred in the extras at the end. I had dried cranberries on hand, so I used those instead of cherries. I also decided that I didn’t want to dirty a grill pan on top of everything else, so I seared the peaches in the same pan that I used for the pork – cooking them before the meat. It was really tasty, and the fresh, caramelized peaches were the perfect addition. It was also a great way to use some of the rosemary from my herb garden, which I haven’t used much of yet this year. I’d probably make this again, minus the rice.

Pork Tenderloin Medallions and Balsamic Reduction

Cooking Light July 2011

Whip up a simple yet flavorful meal of pork tenderloin topped with a balsamic reduction infused with fresh rosemary, garlic, and shallots.

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon minced shallots

1 garlic clove, minced

1 cup balsamic vinegar

1 1/2 teaspoons sugar

1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

Cooking spray

1 (1-pound) pork tenderloin, cut into 12 slices

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1. Heat oil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Add shallots and garlic; sauté 2 minutes. Add vinegar and next 3 ingredients; cook until reduced to 1/2 cup.

2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Sprinkle pork with salt and pepper. Place pork in pan; cook 2 minutes on each side. Add balsamic reduction; cook 1 minute, turning pork to coat.

Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 3 pork medallions and 2 tablespoons reduction)

Serve with Grilled Peaches: Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add 4 peach halves to pan; cook 2 minutes on each side. Cut each half into 3 wedges. Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 3 wedges).

Serve with Wild Rice Salad: Cook 1 cup fast-cooking white and wild rice per directions, omitting seasoning. Stir in 1/4 cup chopped green onions, 2 tablespoons chopped dried cherries, and 2 tablespoons chopped ­pecans. Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1/2 cup)

Big Flavors Rating: 4 Stars