Grilled Pecan Crusted Pork Tenderloin Recipe
Cooking at home is a great activity that you can do with your family. That is why we have here a grilled pecan-crusted pork tenderloin recipe that you can make for your next meal.
Pork tenderloin is a great cut of meat and is one of the favorites of many cooks. It is very easy to cook, and it does not dry up with enough fats on top of the lean meat you get.
It is also full of flavors, so you can also add your favorite seasonings to make the recipe more familiar.
One thing, however, is you should never overdo the seasoning for this cut of meat.
The pork tenderloin already has a delicious flavor that strong seasonings and spices can easily overpower.
That is why you will need to go a little milder with the seasonings.
You can also easily mess up the texture of the tenderloin if you do not cook it properly.
You need to make sure that the pork tenderloin stays juicy and tender especially when you grill it.
People usually make mistakes when cooking tenderloin because they think it needs to be cooked for a long time to cook the insides.
This is what makes the tenderloin dry.
So with the recipe below, you will be able to learn how to cook the pork tenderloin you have for it to stay juicy and put just enough flavors in it so that you can make it more delicious.
Grilled Pecan-crusted Pork Tenderloin Recipe
What You Will Need
- 1 and a half pounds of pork tenderloin
- 2 egg whites, beaten
- 9 tablespoons of unsalted ground pecans
- 1 tablespoon of dark brown sugar
- 1 and a half teaspoons of kosher salt
- Half cup of cornstarch
- 1/8 teaspoon of allspice
Step 1: Clean And Prepare The Pork Tenderloin
If you bought packaged or frozen pork tenderloin, make sure to defrost it properly first.
Leave it in the refrigerator overnight so that the meat slowly thaws down to the interior of the muscles.
You can also make this process faster by leaving the pork tenderloin on a dish in the sink and let cold water drip down from the faucet to the tenderloin.
That is if you need to cook it right away.
Once you have thawed the frozen pork tenderloin, get a sharp knife and cut one side of the silver skin.
Use a paper towel to grab the silver skin and then pull it off of the meat.
Guide the knife under the silver skin so you can pull it easier.
Once you remove that, trim off some of the fats, leaving a thin layer to keep the pork tenderloin juicy and tender later on.
Step 2: Coat The Pork Tenderloin
Once you have removed the silver skin and have trimmed off some of the fats, wash it with cold water and then pat it dry with a paper towel.
Prepare the cornstarch and the egg whites.
Use a baking dish that can fit the whole tenderloin and then put the cornstarch on it.
Roll the pork tenderloin on the cornstarch repeatedly going back and forth and coat the tenderloin completely.
Use a large bowl to whisk the egg whites in and then dip the pork tenderloin in the egg whites.
Coat all sides of the pork tenderloin with the egg whites as well and then leave it on the bowl
Step 3: Put The Crust
Mix the pecans, dark brown sugar, allspice, and salt in a bowl.
Remove the cornstarch from the baking dish and then put half of the pecan mixture on the dish and spread it.
Place the pork tenderloin on the pecan mixture and then roll it to coat the outer parts of the meat.
Use the remaining pecan mixture to sprinkle it onto the areas on the meat that isn’t coated.
Pat the remaining pecan mixture onto the pork tenderloin and ensure that all sides are completely coated with it.
Cover the pork tenderloin and let it rest for a few minutes before you cook it.
Step 4: Preheat The Grill
Set up the grill and load it up with the fuel that it uses.
Set the temperature to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and then let it preheat with the grill lid closed to balance the heat inside it.
Once it is heated, damp a paper towel with oil and then brush it on the grill grates.
This will help create that crispy crust on the pork tenderloin and prevent it from sticking to the grill grates.
Step 5: Grill The Pork Tenderloin
Hold the baking dish and then let the pork tenderloin roll out and onto the grill grates.
Using your hands to pick up the tenderloin and transfer it to the grill might just get the crust to stick to your hands.
Close the grill lid and then allow the tenderloin to cook for 25 minutes.
Roll the pork tenderloin every 5 minutes to cook all sides and then insert a meat probe by the 15-minute mark.
Place the meat probe into the thickest part of the pork tenderloin until it reaches the center of the meat.
Allow the pork tenderloin to cook occasionally, flipping it over so it does not burn.
Once the meat probe registers an internal temperature between 145 and 160 degrees Fahrenheit, you can remove the pork tenderloin from the grill and then place it on a cutting board.
Allow the pork tenderloin to rest for 8 to 10 minutes before slicing and serving it!
What Is Pecan?
Pecan is a species of hickory that grows in the United States and the northern parts of Mexico. It is a type of nut with a nice brown color to it with rough edges and surfaces.
This enhances the flavor of the meat as it is mild yet tasty so it does not overpower the taste of the tenderloin.
It can be used in other recipes to get that amazing crunch on the crust of the food.
What Temperature Should I Cook Tenderloin?
At 145 degrees Fahrenheit, pork tenderloin is pretty much cooked with a slight pink color in the middle.
This is the recommended internal temperature for cooking pork tenderloin.
At that temperature, the meat is safe from bacteria and other contaminants that might be inside the meat.
You can also go with higher internal temperatures to get a browner finish.
When you cook pork tenderloin over high heat, you need to quickly remove it once it is cooked, or the outer parts will be burnt.
That is slightly different from pecan-crusted ones as it protects the meat.
Leftover Pork Tenderloins
If you have leftovers from the recipe you have just cooked based on the guide above, make sure to store them properly to still eat them in the next few days.
You can put the leftover pork tenderloins in a zip lock bag or a sealed container and then put them in the refrigerator.
This will allow the pork tenderloin to stay fresh and delicious for up to 4 days.
You can also make that last longer by wrapping the pork tenderloins with aluminum foil before putting them in the container.
From there, you can place them in the freezer to store them.
If you put them in the freezer, your leftovers will last for months. You just need to find the best way to reheat them when you want a nice meal for yourself.
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