Print Options

Chipotle Citrus Marinated Pork Tenderloin

Chipotle Citrus Marinated Pork Tenderloin

We picked this recipe up years ago in the Sacramento Bee, from an article about Bill Niman (formerly of Niman Ranch). They got the recipe from Gary Fuller of Laurier Cafe and Wine in Houston, Texas. The recipe cooks up quickly and is simply delicious.

Print Options

Chipotle Citrus Marinated Pork Tenderloin Recipe

  • Prep time: 25 minutes
  • Cook time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 pork tenderloins, about 1 pound each, halved crosswise
  • 1 cup orange juice
  • 6 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 6 cloves garlic, smashed
  • 2 shallots, chopped
  • 2 dried chipotle chilies, crushed, or 1 Tbsp chipotle powder
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 3/4 cup chicken stock
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

Method

1 Trim the tenderloins of any excess fat and silver skin. Set in a small nonreactive baking dish. Combine the orange juice, lemon juice, garlic, shallots and chilies in a small bowl and stir well. Pour over the tenderloins and let sit for 20 minutes at room temperature.

2 Preheat oven to 400°F.

chipotle-pork-tenderloin-1.jpgchipotle-pork-tenderloin-2.jpg

3 Heat the olive oil in a large, ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Remove the tenderloins from the marinade, reserving the marinade. Wipe the tenderloins dry with a paper towel and season with salt and pepper. Add to the skillet and cook, turning as needed, for 4 to 5 minutes, until evenly browned. Transfer to the oven and roast for 10 to 12 minutes, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center reads 140-145°F. Remove skillet from oven and transfer the tenderloins to a plate and cover loosely with aluminum foil to keep warm. Remember that the skillet handle is still hot after you put the skillet on the stove top. Use oven mitts or cool off the handle with ice.

chipotle-pork-tenderloin-3.jpgchipotle-pork-tenderloin-4.jpg

5 Pour the marinade into the skillet and add the chicken stock. Bring to a boil over high heat and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, until reduced and thickened. Pour through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl.

6 Cut tenderloins across the grain into thin slices and arrange on a platter. Drizzle sauce over top and sprinkle with cilantro. Serve.

Yield: Serves 4.

You might also like...

12 Comments

It's hard to talk Matt into eating pork, but I think the cut and the marinade might just do the trick!

Thanks, Elise.

Posted by: Stephanie on January 6, 2006 11:22 AM

Elise, this sounds just fantastic. Thanks.

Posted by: Kalyn on January 6, 2006 5:18 PM

Thank you Elise for sharing this recipe. Despite your warning, I ended up burning my hand on the skillet from the oven. Of course I felt like a dork, but the pork came out just fine anyway. We aren't big pork eaters, but I thought we'd try some for a change. The recipe could use more peppers or something to add a bit more flavor, serving it with rice made for a bit of a bland meal. Otherwise I give this recipe four stars!

Posted by: Brooke on February 6, 2006 1:19 PM

Hi Brooke - Ouch! I'm so sorry you burned your hand. I ended up having to have ice on mine off and on all day. I also slathered it with Calendula cream which can help heal burns.

Posted by: Elise on February 6, 2006 2:10 PM

This was SO AMAZING! My husband and I loved it. The sauce was so good. I might just make the sauce separate one of these days and use it for a sushi sauce.

But, I served it with steamed green beans and "garlic smashed potatoes" where I boil a bunch of red potatoes until they are very soft and put them in a gallon zip lock bag. I roast a head of garlic and squeeze it out and chop it up and throw it in the bag. Then I melt 3 or 4 tablespoons of butter and put it in there with some salt. I shake it up until everything is all mixed. Heaven!

Posted by: Lindsay on February 26, 2008 7:34 PM

Made this last night - it was SO good! Made a mango/black bean/rice side dish, and everything was just bursting with flavor. Definitely a keeper! Dessert was a strawberry rhubarb crumble (recipe from smittenkitchen). I *heart* food blogs.

Posted by: pam on May 3, 2008 6:26 AM

Good recipe, recommend completely leaving out the 6 tablespoons fresh lemon juice. It's too much, the OJ is enough citrus.

Posted by: Caleb on May 12, 2009 5:52 PM

This was so good and I definitely will be making again. I had some mushrooms that needed to be used so threw those in the pan after removing the tenderloin. I too was a dork and scalded my hand on the cast iron fry pan handle :-(

Posted by: Jan on July 4, 2010 4:53 PM

My new favorite! This is so delicious.

Posted by: Andrea on September 28, 2010 6:18 AM

I found a nice piece of tenderloin at the store today, found your recipe and had all the ingredients on hand. It was a lovely meal. Thank you so very much. So easy and elegant and economical.

Posted by: Julie on November 24, 2010 4:03 PM

I have made this a few times now and it's sooooooooooo good! I now make one minor change: I use lime juice instead of lemon juice.

Posted by: Simone on November 17, 2011 12:28 PM

This is by far the best, most complete, uncomplicated recipe service. Yum! I have "burned" 4 or 5 other sites. Simply works. Thanks!

Posted by: RUBEN PAGES on March 8, 2012 1:30 AM

I apologize for the inconvenience, comments are closed. ~Elise

Link to this recipe

Bookmark this page using the following link: http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/chipotle_citrus_marinated_pork_tenderloin/

Do you have a website? You can place a link to this page by copying and pasting the code below.

<a href="http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/chipotle_citrus_marinated_pork_tenderloin/">Chipotle Citrus Marinated Pork Tenderloin</a>