Easy Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Sweet & Savory Cherry-Leek Dressing: Your Perfect Spring Dinner!
Discover the ultimate weeknight meal that combines succulent pork with a uniquely delicious, sweet and savory dressing. Featuring tender pork, a vibrant mix of cherries, leeks, and walnuts, and crowned with a rich, flavorful gravy, this dish is a culinary delight ready in just 40 minutes. This fantastic Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Cherry-Leek Dressing recipe is set to become a cherished addition to your spring dinner rotation. Prepare to impress your family and friends with minimal effort and maximum flavor!
This dinner post is proudly sponsored by Smithfield®.
Are you searching for a dinner recipe that delivers incredible flavor without the usual weeknight stress? Look no further! This Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Cherry-Leek Dressing is astonishingly easy to prepare, yet tastes like something you’d enjoy at a gourmet restaurant. The secret lies in using high-quality, pre-marinated fresh pork and crafting a simple yet exquisitely flavored dressing that comes together in minutes. It’s the kind of meal that eliminates kitchen angst and replaces it with pure culinary satisfaction, making it a golden ticket for any busy household.
The Foundation of Flavor: Smithfield® Marinated Pork Tenderloin
The centerpiece of this delightful dinner is the pork itself. In today’s fast-paced world, finding shortcuts that don’t compromise on quality or taste is invaluable. That’s where Smithfield® pre-marinated fresh pork tenderloins come in. I’ve made it a weekly habit to incorporate these into our family meals. While I used to marinate pork myself the night before, the sheer busyness of life, especially with the school year in its final stretch (only 9 weeks until we survive middle school, people – I’m throwing myself a party!), means I often skip that step now. And honestly, I don’t miss it.
Smithfield® offers a fantastic variety of fresh pork loin, tenderloin, and filet options at Walmart, all pre-marinated in an array of delicious flavors. This convenience allows us to unleash our culinary creativity and whip up a fabulous dinner in no time. For this recipe, I chose a Slow Roasted Golden Rotisserie Tenderloin, but feel free to pick your family’s favorite marinade. The beauty of these products is their ability to deliver “Real Flavor, Real Fast,” transforming a simple weeknight into a gourmet experience. Seriously, crafting a sophisticated Cherry-Leek Dressing and a rich homemade gravy to accompany this pork was surprisingly simple, and the results were absolutely amazing.
I personally gravitate towards pork tenderloin because it’s incredibly forgiving. If I get a little distracted (which happens!), it’s less prone to overcooking compared to other cuts. Plus, it reheats beautifully for next-day lunches, making it ideal for meal prepping. Regardless of the cut, the key to perfectly cooked pork is reaching an internal temperature of 155-160°F. Aim for the lower end, as the meat will continue to cook slightly as it rests, ensuring a tender, juicy result every single time.
Crafting the Irresistible Cherry-Leek Dressing
For this Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Cherry-Leek Dressing, we quite literally just “throw together” what I affectionately (and stubbornly) call a dressing. You see, I have a bit of a debate with myself: is it dressing or is it stuffing? Since it’s not actually stuffed inside anything, I lean towards calling it dressing. But, truth be told, it has all the comforting, hearty qualities of a delicious stuffing! Whatever you call it, it’s utterly delightful.
The process is straightforward: we start by giving the thinly sliced leeks a quick sauté in a large nonstick skillet. This softens them and brings out their subtle, sweet oniony fragrance. The aroma alone is enough to get your taste buds excited! Once softened, the leeks are transferred to a mixing bowl, where they join a delightful medley of ingredients. When conceptualizing this recipe, my mind immediately went to the vibrant, sweet, and slightly tart flavors of fresh spring cherries. They add such a beautiful burst of flavor and color. And leeks! Ahhh, spring leeks are truly special – their mild yet distinctly oniony kick is a perfect complement to the richness of the pork.
To this base, we add crushed seasoned herb stuffing (half a 14 oz bag provides the perfect texture and flavor foundation), chopped walnuts for a delightful crunch and earthy note, a lightly beaten egg to bind everything, fresh Italian flat-leaf parsley for herbaceous brightness, and just the right amount of kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper. Finally, a cup of vegetable or chicken stock ensures moisture and integrates all the flavors. This comforting combination, while bursting with fresh spring elements, somehow evokes the coziness of a favorite winter meal, creating a wonderfully balanced dish suitable for any season.
The Art of Roasting and Searing: Maximizing Flavor
Once the dressing is assembled and ready in its casserole dish, it’s time to prepare the Smithfield® pork tenderloin. I always take a few minutes to sear the pork first, and for two crucial reasons. Firstly, searing helps to lock in those precious juices, ensuring the pork stays incredibly moist and tender during roasting. Secondly, and perhaps even more importantly, searing creates those beautiful browned bits and “yum-yums” – the fond – at the bottom of the pan. These caramelized morsels are absolutely essential for building the deep, rich flavor of our homemade gravy. Because let’s be honest, what’s a fantastic stuffing (or dressing) without an equally fantastic gravy? It’s a non-negotiable requirement in my book!
After a quick sear on all sides, the pork tenderloin is transferred to a baking dish and popped into the preheated oven. At the same time, the covered casserole dish containing our cherry-leek dressing goes into the oven to cook alongside the pork. This simultaneous cooking minimizes effort and maximizes efficiency, making it truly effortless for a weeknight. Just monitor the internal temperature of the pork, aiming for that sweet spot of 155-160°F, and it will come out perfectly juicy and flavorful every time.
The Secret Weapon: A Divinely Rich Gravy
While the pork and dressing are roasting to perfection in the oven, you’ll have just enough time to craft the most incredible gravy right in the same skillet you used for searing. This ensures all those flavorful pan drippings are utilized. Simply place the skillet back on medium-high heat, add a tablespoon of all-purpose flour to create a roux, scraping up all those delicious browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Whisk in the remaining 1½ cups of vegetable or chicken stock, and continue to whisk as it heats and thickens into a smooth, luscious gravy. Taste for seasoning, adjust as needed, and perhaps stir in a touch more fresh chopped parsley for extra color and freshness. This gravy truly elevates the entire dish, tying all the components together with its savory depth.
Finishing Touches and Serving Suggestions
The final steps are all about achieving perfection. Allow the pork to cook for approximately 30-35 minutes, or until your meat thermometer registers 155-160°F. Once it hits this temperature, remove the pork from the oven and transfer it to a cutting board to rest for a crucial 10 minutes. Resting allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, ensuring every slice is incredibly tender and moist.
During this resting period, remove the foil cover from your cherry-leek dressing and let it continue to cook uncovered for the remaining 10 minutes. This gives the top of the dressing a chance to crisp up slightly, adding another wonderful layer of texture. Don’t forget to use a rubber spatula to scrape any additional pan juices from the pork’s baking dish into your prepared gravy – every drop adds to the richness!
To serve, simply slice the rested pork tenderloin into thick, medallions. Arrange these succulent slices over generous portions of the warm, aromatic cherry-leek dressing. Finally, spoon that richly divine gravy generously over the pork and dressing. This meal is a symphony of flavors and textures – the tender pork, the sweet and savory notes of the dressing, the satisfying crunch of walnuts, and the comforting embrace of the gravy. It yields 4 generous servings, perfect for a family dinner or entertaining guests.
So there you have it, folks! This Roasted Tenderloin with Cherry-Leek Dressing dinner is not just delicious; it’s an experience. The dressing alone is to die for, and the Smithfield pork is incredibly easy to prepare, ensuring a perfectly cooked protein every time. This recipe is a no-brainer for adding a touch of gourmet elegance to your weeknight meals or for celebrating the arrival of spring. Give it a try – you won’t be disappointed!
Roasted Tenderloin with Cherry-Leek Dressing
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Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil divided
- 7 oz crushed seasoned herb stuffing half a 14 oz bag
- 1 cup chopped pitted cherries thawed if frozen
- 2 large leeks white and light green parts only, thinly sliced
- ½ cup chopped walnuts
- 1 egg lightly beaten
- ¼ cup Italian flat-leaf parsley
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp fresh cracked pepper
- 2 ½ cups vegetable or chicken stock divided
- 1 Smithfield® Slow Roasted Golden Rotisserie Tenderloin or flavor of choice
- 1 Tbsp all-purpose flour
Instructions
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Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
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In a large, nonstick skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over high heat. Add the thinly sliced leeks and sauté them until they are softened and become fragrant, about 3-5 minutes. Remove the pan from the stove.
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Transfer the sautéed leeks to a large mixing bowl. Add the chopped pitted cherries, chopped walnuts, lightly beaten egg, Italian flat-leaf parsley, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon fresh cracked pepper, and 1 cup of vegetable or chicken stock. Mix everything well to combine. Transfer this dressing mixture into a casserole dish and cover it tightly with aluminum foil.
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Place the same large, nonstick skillet back on the stove and heat with the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil over high heat. Add the Smithfield® pork tenderloin and sear it for about 1-1½ minutes per side, turning until a nice brown crust forms all over. Transfer the seared pork to a baking dish. Place both the baking dish with the pork and the covered casserole dish with the dressing into the preheated oven to cook simultaneously.
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While the pork and dressing are cooking, prepare the rich gravy. Place the skillet with the delicious pan drippings on medium-high heat. Add the 1 tablespoon of all-purpose flour and stir it in, making sure to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan to create a flavorful roux. Gradually whisk in the remaining 1½ cups of vegetable or chicken stock and continue to heat, whisking frequently, until the gravy thickens to your desired consistency. Taste for seasoning and add a bit of fresh chopped parsley if you wish for an added touch of freshness.
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Allow the pork to roast for approximately 30-35 minutes, or until an inserted meat thermometer reads an internal temperature of 155-160°F (68-71°C). Once cooked to perfection, remove the pork from the oven and transfer it to a clean cutting board to rest for 10 minutes. This resting period is crucial for juicy results.
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At the same time, remove the foil cover from the dressing in the oven and allow it to bake uncovered for these 10 minutes, giving it a chance to develop a slightly crisp top. While the dressing finishes and the pork rests, use a rubber spatula to scrape any additional pan juices from the pork’s baking dish directly into your prepared gravy, enhancing its flavor even further.
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Once the pork has rested, slice it into medallions. Serve the tender pork slices over generous portions of the warm cherry-leek dressing, then drizzle generously with the rich, savory gravy. Enjoy your fantastic spring dinner! Yields: 4 servings.
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We hope you enjoy this easy and delicious spring dinner! Leave us a comment below: What seasonal foods are you most excited to cook with each spring? We love hearing your ideas!
