My memories of Puerto Rico, a place I visited often as a young child, come back to me in flashes: The grassy, breezy farm my great-grandmother lived on, chickens clucking all around. Bumpy rides down La Ruta del Lechón, a stretch of highway known for its roast pork spits, wisps of smoke rising to the sky. My father picking just-fallen coconuts off a rainy beach, cracking the tops off so we could sip the milk and carve out the meat.
Sometimes it’s a few bars of a Héctor Lavoe song or the sight of a pile of large, bright green avocados that remind me of the island half of my family calls home. But, most often, it’s scent that jogs the images out of the dusty corners of my brain.
The peppery, slightly bitter scent of red-orange achiote oil. The earthy green of fresh cilantro or its bolder cousin, culantro. The buttery syrup dripping from a ripe mango; the dizzying slap of strong vinegar; the musky sweetness of fried green plantains; the deep, rich, garlicky smell of roasted pork.
I don’t eat nearly as much meat these days as I did when I was a kid, but the smell of pernil, Puerto Rican-style roasted pork, will always take me back to my grandmother’s kitchen. Heady with garlic and a blend of spices and herbs, pernil is a process, and while it’s very much worth the effort, I don’t always have the energy to make it. That’s how this Pernil-Style Pork Tenderloin with Mojo Potatoes and Coconut Creamed Spinach was born.
One day, while craving those flavors, I picked up a pork tenderloin. After rubbing it with a simple adobo of garlic, lime juice and spices, I roasted it in a hot oven until it was just cooked through, but still juicy and tender. Later, while flipping through Von Diaz’s 2018 cookbook, “Coconuts & Collards: Recipes and Stories from Puerto Rico to the Deep South,” I saw that she’d come up with a similar idea. Great minds, right?!
I added chili powder to my adobo, and a bit more garlic and lime than Diaz uses, but that’s the thing about pernil: Cooks make it their own. I’ve seen recipes include cumin, paprika, onions, pineapple, coconut milk, achiote or cilantro; other Puerto Ricans might disagree, but I’d say garlic is the only real constant. This recipe would be nice sliced, in fat sandwiches, but I suggest here a side of boiled potatoes in mojo sauce and coconutty sauteed spinach. It’s the kind of meat + starch + vegetable dish I grew up eating, but a bit more streamlined, and a touch less rich, too.
Pernil-Style Pork Tenderloin, Mojo Potatoes and Coconut Creamed Spinach
Active time: 25 minutes
Total time: 35 minutes
2 to 3 servings
Storage Notes: Leftovers may be refrigerated in covered containers for up to 3 days.
Ingredients
For the Pork Tenderloin
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
2 cloves garlic, minced or finely grated
1 teaspoon olive oil
Juice of 1/2 lemon or lime (about 1 tablespoon)
One (1-pound) pork tenderloin
For the Mojo Potatoes
2 or 3 medium (about 1 pound) russet potatoes, peeled and quartered
Kosher salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 small onion (any kind), thinly sliced
1 clove garlic, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons fresh lemon or lime juice (from 1 lemon or lime)
Pinch finely ground black pepper
Small handful torn fresh cilantro leaves and tender stems, for garnish (optional)
For the Creamed Spinach
1/2 tablespoon coconut oil or olive oil
5 ounces (about 5 cups) baby spinach
Pinch kosher salt
1/4 cup coconut cream
1/4 teaspoon finely grated orange zest, plus more for garnish
Pinch finely ground black pepper
Pinch ground nutmeg, preferably freshly grated (optional)
Make the pork tenderloin: In a large zip-top bag or bowl, make the adobo by combining the salt, chili powder, oregano, garlic, olive oil and lemon juice.
Pat the pork tenderloin dry, then cut 5 or 6 small, shallow slits into it with the tip of a knife — this will help the meat absorb the spices — and place it in the bag with the adobo. Massage the adobo into the meat until well coated on all sides. If you’d like, you can let the meat marinate in the refrigerator overnight or up to 1 day in advance.
When you’re ready to roast the pork, position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees. Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil, place the tenderloin in the center of the baking sheet and roast for 15 minutes. Using tongs or a fork, flip the tenderloin and roast for another 10 to 15 minutes, or until it reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees; the exact roasting time will depend on the thickness of the meat. Let it rest at room temperature for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Make the mojo potatoes: While the pork cooks, in a large pot over high heat, bring the potatoes and a large pinch of salt to a boil in enough water to cover. Cook until tender, about 20 minutes. Tip the pot into the sink and drain out almost all of the water, leaving a few tablespoons in with the potatoes. Return the pot to the stove, off heat, but cover and keep warm.
Make the mojo while the potatoes cook: In a small skillet over medium-high, heat the olive oil until it shimmers. Add the onion, garlic and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring frequently, just until the onion and garlic turn translucent, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the lemon juice and black pepper. Set aside until the potatoes are cooked.
Pour the mojo sauce over the hot potatoes. Cover and keep warm until ready to serve. Serve garnished with cilantro, if using.
Make the coconut creamed spinach: In a large skillet over medium, heat the coconut oil until it melts. Add the spinach and let it begin to wilt. Add the salt, and let the spinach cook down, release its liquid and mostly dry out, about 5 minutes. Stir in the coconut cream, orange zest, pepper and nutmeg, if using, and simmer until the coconut cream reduces slightly and thickens, 3 to 5 minutes. Serve warm, with a bit more orange zest on top.
April 14, 2021 at 12:00PM
https://ift.tt/3mJquWC
A pernil-style pork tenderloin that conjures the smells of a Puerto Rican kitchen - Longview News-Journal
https://ift.tt/2RsHZwT
Pork
No comments:
Post a Comment