I am giddy about this one!  Meaty pork tenderloin, marinated in a zesty booze-infused amalgam of aromatic ginger, garlic, spicy jalapeno and fresh lime!  Can’t you just feel your taste buds tingle?  Served with that spectacular pineapple and mango salsa from a few days ago and you’ve got the makings of a memorable night.

I confess, when I was making the salsa, my head was positively spinning with ideas on what to pair it with.  Grilled mahi mahi and jumbo shrimp came to mind immediately.  But they’ll have to wait for another post because when I found the tenderloin lurking in my freezer, I knew I’d found my muse.

The best part about this meal is how simple it is to put together.  Really.  Really!!!  You can make the marinade in minutes — then slip it into a food storage bag with the tenderloin and let it rest in the fridge for a few hours.  The tropical salsa (umm, nom-nom) is another quick and easy dish.

When you’re ready to cook, discard the marinade and grill the tenderloin to a light-pink medium for a juicy and flavorful meal.  The marinade for this pork is so zingy, you could easily opt to marinate-only and skip the salsa if you’re pressed for time or didn’t have the ingredients handy.  This time.  

But you must promise me that at some point in the not too distant future, you’ll make it with the salsa.  This meal reminds me of a tropical holiday — like a steel drum band in your mouth!

All you need is a boat drink — and maybe one of those paper-umbrellas!

Tequila Pork with Tropical Salsa

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: jalapeno, mango, pork, tequila

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 4 hours 35 minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: 191 kcal

Pork tenderloin is a very lean and flavorful cut and it grills up in no time.  The plucky tequila lime marinade makes it special!

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Ingredients

• 1 lime zested and juiced
• 1 large clove garlic minced
• 1 1" knob of ginger peeled
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons tequila preferably reposada
• 1/2 jalapeno thinly sliced
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons cilantro fresh chopped
• 1 1-pound pork tenderloin
• 2 cups mango and pineapple salsa on this site

Instructions

1. In a small bowl, combine lime zest and juice. Set aside.
2. Use a microplane grater to grate the knob of ginger over a cutting board. Transfer the grated ginger to the bowl with the lime.
3. Add the honey, tequila, jalapeño, cilantro, olive oil salt and pepper. Stir to combine.
4. Place the pork tenderloin into a 1 gallon zip top bag. Pour the marinade over the pork and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 4.
5. Take the pork from the refrigerator 15 minutes before cooking and remove it from the marinade onto a baking sheet or platter.
6. Preheat the grill to a high heat - about 450 degrees. Place the pork onto the hot grill and sear on one side for 5-6 minutes. Flip over and continue to cook for an additional 5-6 minutes for medium or to desired doneness.
7. Transfer pork to platter or cutting board and tent with tin foil. Let meat rest for 4-5 minutes before carving.
8. Slice the tenderloin into half inch slices. Arrange neatly on a platter. Serve salsa on the side or scoop some onto the platter with the pork for an eye-popping presentation.

Recipe Notes

If you want to make 2 or even 3 pork tenderloins, there should be enough marinade in just one recipe to accommodate the extra loins. So invite some friends over - they can bring the libations!

Nutrition Facts

Tequila Pork with Tropical Salsa

Amount Per Serving

Calories 191 Calories from Fat 108

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 12g 18%

Saturated Fat 1g 5%

Cholesterol 2mg 1%

Sodium 637mg 27%

Potassium 138mg 4%

Total Carbohydrates 16g 5%

Dietary Fiber 1g 4%

Sugars 12g

Vitamin A 18.5%

Vitamin C 38.9%

Calcium 0.9%

Iron 0.7%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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