Fresh, seasonal and delicious recipes that won’t make dinner feel like a second job.
I’m starting with a few of my favorite recipes, Simple, fresh, and ready to bring to the table in a little over 30 minutes! Whoo Hoo!
Pork and Figs… Simple and Delicious!
Herb Crusted Pork Loin with Roasted Balsamic Figs
Serves 4-6
Ingredients
2-3 lbs pork loin
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried thyme
½ teaspoon dried basil
1 clove garlic, minced
Olive oil
Balsamic vinegar
1 pint of black mission figs, halved (or more if you love roasted figs!)
Pinch of salt
A little kitchen twine or toothpicks
Directions
Pre-heat the oven to 375F.
Place the halved figs in a medium bowl and toss with a drizzle of oil and balsamic vinegar and a pinch of salt and pepper.
In a small bowl mix together the salt, black pepper, oregano, thyme, basil and minced garlic. Drizzle with just a little oil to make a paste.
Place the pork loin in a roasting pan or baking dish. Make a horizontal cut, about 1/2 way through, down the center of the pork loin. Put a little of the herb mixture in this pocket and then rub the pork with the remaining herb mixture. Take some kitchen twine (or toothpicks) and tie the pork closed so the herb mixture will season the interior of the roast.
Then pour the dressed figs into the roasting pan or baking dish and arrange them around the pork.
Put the pan in the oven and roast for about 30 minutes or until the pork reaches 145F internal temperature.
It’s very important to cook pork by temperature as pork can over cook quickly. Cooking the pork to 140-145F and then taking it out of the oven to rest for about 5-10 minutes, is the best method for a juicy and perfect pork loin. So be sure to invest in a meat thermometer, about $6-8 at most stores.
Once the pork has rested, thin slice the pork loin and place on a platter, scattering the roasted figs around the pork. Don’t forget to drizzle all the juices from the bottom of the pan over the pork. Serve immediately.
I love this recipe served with Roasted Broccoli Parmesan. The broccoli can be roasted in the oven at the same time as the pork, on the rack below. Making dinner simple, nutritious and delicious!
Dining and Cooking