Coffee-Crusted Pork Tenderloin Recipe

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This lean, quick-cooking pork dish has a robust flavor that's part bitter (coffee) and part sweet (brown sugar and sweet paprika).

Coffee-crusted pork tenderloin is sliced for serving on a wooden cutting board.
Photo: Greg DuPree
Hands On Time:
15 mins
Total Time:
40 mins
Yield:
4 serves

Pork tenderloin is a very lean cut of meat that needs to be cooked with a watchful eye so that it doesn't overcook and become dry, tough, and bland. That said, there are ways to prep pork tenderloin prior to cooking so that the meat stays juicy and tender.

This quick and easy recipe calls for a coffee rub, which helps tenderize the meat and impart flavor. The end result is a flavorful pork tenderloin roast that tastes as good as it looks. Pair it with a simple polenta and a side of roasted asparagus for a complete meal.

Ingredients

  • 1 (1½ lb.) pork tenderloin

  • 3 tablespoons instant espresso powder

  • 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon brown sugar

  • 1 teaspoon sweet paprika

  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika

  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt

  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided

  • 1 tablespoon butter

Directions

  1. Heat the oven to 400° F.

  2. Combine the espresso powder, brown sugar, sweet paprika, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Rub the mixture over the pork until the surface is entirely coated. Drizzle pork with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Set aside at room temperature for 10 minutes.

  3. Add the remaining olive oil and butter to a large, oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. When skillet is hot, add the pork and cook, turning as needed, until browned on all sides, about 8 minutes.

  4. Transfer skillet to oven and roast pork until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the tenderloin reads 145° F, about 15 minutes. Remove from oven and let rest, covered, for 10 minutes.

  5. To serve, slice tenderloin into rounds and drizzle with pan juices.

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