Lemon Basil Pesto Stuffed Pork Tenderloin Recipes

PESTO AND CHEESE STUFFED PORK TENDERLOIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a baking dish.
• Mix cream cheese, Cheddar cheese, bacon, green onions, pesto sauce, garlic, and parsley together in a bowl. Lay pork tenderloin on a flat work surface and spread cheese mixture on one side of the meat. Roll tenderloin around the filling like a jellyroll. Season meat with salt and black pepper.
• Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Place rolled pork tenderloin in hot butter and cook, turning, until browned on all sides, 7 to 10 minutes. Transfer tenderloin to the prepared baking dish, reserving drippings in skillet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until pork is no longer pink in the center, about 1 1/2 hours. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 145 degrees F (63 degrees C).
• Place the skillet with reserved drippings over medium-high heat. Pour in white wine and bouillon, bring to a simmer, reduce heat to low, and add cream; stir until sauce thickens slightly, about 5 minutes. Pour sauce over tenderloin.

PESTO STUFFED PORK TENDERLOIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Place walnuts, cilantro, Parmesan cheese, oil and salt in the bowl of a food processor and puree until smooth (about 1-2 minutes) to make the pesto.
• Butterfly pork and pound until ¼-inch thick. Spread cilantro pesto onto pork loin and roll up. Tie with butcher twine to hold it closed.
• Sear pork in a hot skillet on all sides then place in a baking dish and bake for 30 minutes or until pork reaches an internal temperature of 145°F Let rest 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place 1 slice of mozzarella, topped with ¼ cup mixed tomatoes, 1 tablespoons cilantro, 2 teaspoons nuts, 2 teaspoons oil, and 1 teaspoons vinegar on each of 6 plates.
• After allowing pork to rest for 10 minutes, cut into slices. Place sliced pork onto each plate.
• Note: Basil may be substituted for cilantro, if desired.
• Tip: To butterfly pork tenderloin, place the tenderloin on a cutting board. Place your knife parallel to the board and carefully cut the meat lengthwise making sure not to cut all the way through. Remove the knife and open the meat.

SPINACH AND MINT-BASIL PESTO-STUFFED PORK LOIN

Steps:

• For the pesto: In a food processor fitted with a steel blade, pulse the basil and mint 3 to 4 times or until chopped, then add the pine nuts and salt and pulse an additional 2 to 3 times. Add the garlic and cheese, pulse 2 times. With the food processor running, slowly add the oil to blend, this should take 1 minute. Don't over-pulse or puree; this will result in a brown liquid sauce, not a bright herb pesto.
• For the pork: To butterfly the pork, place each loin on a cutting board and slice lengthwise through the center, about 3 inches deep, but not cutting all the way through, until it opens to form a 10 by 10-inch square.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Season the inside of both loins with salt and pepper and evenly spread the pesto, leaving a 2-inch border on all sides. Sprinkle with feta and top with spinach. Roll tightly lengthwise. With butchers twine, tie several knots around the stuffed loins, 4 to 5 times, to ensure even cooking.
• Heat the oil in a heavy bottomed saute pan over high heat, season the outside of the loins with salt and pepper, and sear on all sides, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Remove from the pan and place the loins on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. Allow to rest for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

LEMON-GARLIC PORK TENDERLOIN

Steps:

• In a resealable plastic bag, combine the oil, lemon juice, zest, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper; add pork. Seal bag and turn to coat; refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight., Drain and discard marinade. Grill, covered, over medium heat for about 13-14 minutes on each side or until juices run clear and a thermometer reads 160°. Let stand for 5 minutes before slicing.

PESTO STUFFED PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Mix feta cheese, basil pesto, and pine nuts in a bowl. Use the tip of a sharp boning or paring knife to cut a 3-inch slit in the side of each pork chop, 2 inches deep and 1/4-inch away from the bone, to make a pocket for stuffing. Stuff pork chops with pesto filling and secure with toothpicks.
• Mix black pepper, oregano, garlic, red pepper flakes, and thyme in a small bowl; rub both sides of each chop with the spice mix. Place chops into a shallow baking dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven until chops are browned and stuffing is hot, about 40 minutes. An instant-read meat thermometer inserted into the center of the stuffing should read 145 degrees F (63 degrees C). Brush chops with balsamic vinegar and bake until vinegar forms a glaze, another 5 minutes.

BEEF TENDERLOIN STUFFED WITH HERB PESTO

Steps:

• Position the meat on a cutting board so it is perpendicular to the board. With a sharp knife, make a 1-inch-deep incision along the length of the roast. Then use a sawing motion as you continue to cut, moving the knife down and to the left; with your fingers, begin to pry open the roast. Continue cutting, flattening the meat as you go to make a flat rectangular piece about 9 by 12 inches. (Don't worry if it looks a bit ragged.) Lightly pound the meat with a mallet to make it evenly flat. Season meat on both sides with salt and pepper. Lay the meat on a baking sheet cut side up and refrigerate while you prepare the pesto.
• Make the pesto: Put parsley, basil, garlic and olives in a food processor or blender. Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. Pulse to roughly chop, then add oil and process to a coarse purée. Add cheese, lemon zest and crushed red pepper and pulse briefly to combine.
• Spread pesto evenly over the cut surface of the beef, leaving a 1-inch border at all edges. Roll up the meat like a jellyroll, with the seam on the bottom. Tie roll securely with butcher's twine at 2-inch intervals along its length. Drizzle the surface of the roll with oil and rub with your hands to distribute. Leave meat at room temperature to season for at least 30 minutes. (Alternatively, wrap and refrigerate the roast for several hours or overnight. Return to room temperature before proceeding.)
• Build a fire in a charcoal grill, leaving one side of the grill free of coals. Sear the roast on all sides directly over medium-hot coals. Move the roast off the coals and cook over indirect heat, turning occasionally, until an instant-read thermometer registers 125 degrees for medium-rare meat, about 30 minutes. (To prevent overcooking, begin checking after 20 minutes.) Let rest for at least 15 minutes before removing twine and carving into 1/2-inch slices. For easier slicing, let roast cool to room temperature.

GRILLED GARLIC/BASIL PORK TENDERLOIN

Steps:

• Trim any excess fat and silver skin from the tenderloins and place in a gallon size zip-loc bag.
• Add the olive oil, garlic and basil, evacuate most of the air and seal the bag. Message until the garlic and basil is evenly distributed around the meat and refrigerate for 4 hours or more.
• Remove the tenderloins from the refrigerator about 30 minutes prior to grilling. Preheat the grill to allow searing to take place.
• Sear the tenderloins for 2 minutes on each side to seal in the juices and to provide grill marks. Reduce heat and grill for an additional 14-16 minutes turning after 7-8 minutes depending on how large your tenderloins are and how well done you like your pork.
• This entree goes very well with fresh green beans and a grilled Vidalia onion.
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• This grilled Vidalia recipe comes from a Weber recipe newsletter.
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• Remove thin slice from top and bottom of onion and peel. Slice in half laterally. For each half, make 4 cuts from top toward bottom 1/2 way through onion. Season with salt and pepper and place small pat of margarine in center. Cut bacon strip in half and lay on top of onion. Wrap in foil and grill for 60 minutes at 350°. The onion will caramelize and become very sweet.

BACON-WRAPPED PESTO PORK TENDERLOIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°. Arrange bacon strips lengthwise in a foil-lined 15x10x1-in. pan, overlapping slightly., Cut tenderloin lengthwise through the center to within 1/2 in. of bottom. Open tenderloin flat; pound with a meat mallet to 1/2-in. thickness. Place tenderloin on center of bacon, perpendicular to strips., Sprinkle pepper over pork. Spread with pesto; layer with cheese and spinach. Close tenderloin; wrap with bacon, overlapping ends. Tie with kitchen string at 3-in. intervals. Secure ends with toothpicks., In a 12-in. skillet, brown roast on all sides, about 8 minutes. Return to baking pan; roast in oven until a thermometer inserted in pork reads 145°, 17-20 minutes. Remove string and toothpicks; let stand 5 minutes before slicing.