Pork Tenderloin a la Mexicana

Dependability.  It’s a beautiful thing.  If you’re craving real Mexican food (not that mushy, dripping with oil kind served in most restaurants) you can always turn to Rick Bayless.  Always.  Case in point–his incredible recipe for jalapeno-baked fish with tomatoes and potatoes.  Brilliant.  Just like this pork tenderloin.  It was tender and flavorful and quite healthy.  I served it with black beans and corn on the cob with lime-cilantro butter.  We thought it was just perfect.

Pork Tenderloin a la Mexicana

from Rick Bayless, Mexican Everyday

Ingredients:

2 large poblano (pasilla) chiles

1 to 1 1/4 lb. pork tenderloin, cut into one-inch cubes

2 TBSP vegetable or olive oil

1 medium white onion, sliced 1/4 inch thick

3 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped

1 (28-oz.) can diced tomatoes, preferable fire roasted

3/4 c. beef broth OR 2/3 c. water plus 2 TBSP Worcestershire sauce

1 large branch fresh ezpazote OR 1/2 c. chopped cilantro (I used cilantro from our garden!)

Directions:

1.  Roast peppers over open stove-top flame or under a broiler, turning until blackened all over, about ten minutes. Transfer to a bowl and cover with a kitchen towel until cool enough to handle. Peel the blackened skins off and rinse under cool water to remove seeds. Slice into 1/4-in. strips.  (This can be done the night before.)

2.  While the peppers are cooling, generously salt the tenderloin pieces. Heat the oil until almost smoking, then add the pork and sear over medium-high heat until browned all over, about four minutes. Remove the pork, leaving the oil in the pan.

3.  Add the sliced onion and cook 4-5 minutes over medium heat until golden but still crunchy.  Add the garlic and peppers and cook until fragrant, about two minutes more. Add the tomatoes, broth or water with Worcestershire, and the epazote if using (save cilantro for later, if that’s what you’re using). Bring to a boil and cook until slightly thickened, 4-5 minutes.

4.  Add the pork back in then stir in the cilantro, if using. Simmer until the pork is cooked through, approximately four minutes. Season with salt, to taste.

two years ago: Cuban beef picadillo

three years ago: zucchini and sweet potato muffins

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9 Comments

  1. Pretend Chef
    May 20, 2011 / 11:34 am

    I love pork tenderloin so I know this would be incredible. Looks like a perfect dish for the rainy weather we're suppose to get today. Yummy!

  2. Mary Ellen
    May 20, 2011 / 1:32 pm

    I love Rick Bayless! Nice recipe.

  3. elly
    May 20, 2011 / 3:04 pm

    I've had this one on my "to try" list forever. Looks great, and glad you guys enjoyed it!

  4. That Girl
    May 20, 2011 / 4:24 pm

    Rick Bayless is definitely who I would turn to for Mexican food!

  5. Amy (Sing For Your Supper)
    May 20, 2011 / 4:39 pm

    Wow, this looks REALLY good!!

  6. sliceofsouthern
    May 21, 2011 / 6:04 am

    wow, beautiful dish! Thanks for the recipe, looking forward to making this one!

  7. Kim (Feed Me, Seymour)
    May 23, 2011 / 11:54 am

    I do enjoy Rick Bayless' recipes! You're right, sometimes you need that authentic Mexican that doesn't come from a can or say Chi-Chi on it. 🙂 This looks fab!

  8. vincent
    June 1, 2011 / 7:57 pm

    Hello,We bumped into your blog and we really liked it – great recipes YUM YUM.We would like to add it to the Petitchef.com. We would be delighted if you could add your blog to Petitchef so that our users can, as us,enjoy your recipes. Petitchef is a french based Cooking recipes Portal. Several hundred Blogs are already membersand benefit from their exposure on Petitchef.com. To add your site to the Petitchef family you can use http://en.petitchef.com/?obj=front&action=site_ajout_form or just go to Petitchef.com and click on "Add your site" Best regards, Vincentpetitchef.com

  9. Norm LaBelle
    April 9, 2022 / 12:12 pm

    I have made this at least a dozen times, to where I call it my “hip pocket” recipe, I can make it without looking at the recipe.
    FABULOUS! Bayless never disappoints.
    My choice is to use the water & Worcestershire blend, adds a good flavor note.

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