My Mojo Pork Tenderloin is packed with bright Cuban flavors. Cook it in the oven or on the grill for the perfect summer meal.
If you’re looking for a nutritious summer recipe that the whole family will love, then this dish is for you! My Mojo Pork Tenderloin is packed with classic Cuban ingredients. Fresh citrus juice is combined with garlic and spices to infuse the pork with bright flavor as well as a hefty dose of Vitamin C.
Pork tenderloin is a lean cut of pork that’s a healthier alternative to higher fat cuts like bacon, sausage, pork belly or spareribs. It’s low in fat and rich in protein, B vitamins, and minerals like zinc and selenium. Nutritionally, it’s similar in profile to chicken breast with even fewer calories per ounce.
Tenderloin has a mild flavor that takes well to marinades like the one in this dish. The best way to cook it is to roast it in the oven after a quick sear in a hot pan or simply grill it. You can also slice it and use it in dishes like stir-fry. Because it is so lean, it’s a quick-cooking cut and can easily be overcooked so keep an eye on it when it’s in the oven or on the grill.
I like to serve this dish with rice and black beans or mashed sweet potatoes. This dish is featured in my upcoming cookbook, Natural Pregnancy Cookbook: Over 125 Recipes for a HealthyPregnancy.
Mojo Pork Tenderloin
My Mojo Pork Tenderloin is packed with bright Cuban flavors. Cook it in the oven or on the grill for the perfect summer meal.
Course: Entree
Cuisine: Cuban
Servings: 4
Calories: 212 kcal
Ingredients
- 1 pork tenderloin (about 1 ¼ pounds)
- 2/3 cup fresh orange juice
- 1/3 cup fresh lime juice
- 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Trim any fat and silverskin (silver colored connective tissue) from the tenderloin. Mix the orange juice, lime juice, garlic, cilantro, cumin, oregano, salt, and red pepper flakes together in a bowl. Pour about half of the mixture into a one-gallon resealable plastic bag. Add the pork to the bag, close and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 4 hours.
- Pour the remaining half of the mixture into a small saucepan and simmer on the stove for a few minutes until thickened slightly. Reserve the sauce for serving.
- When ready to cook, preheat the oven to 400°F. Heat the oil in a large oven-safe skillet (cast iron works well) over medium high heat. Remove the pork from the marinade and add it to the pan. Sear the tenderloin in the pan, turning it every couple of minutes, until it’s nicely browned on all sides. Place the skillet in the oven and cook about 15-18 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the pork measures 145°F on a meat thermometer. Alternatively, the tenderloin can be cooked on an outdoor grill.
- Remove the tenderloin from the oven and let it rest on a cutting board for 5-10 minutes. Cut into ½-inch slices and drizzle the reserved sauce on top.
Nutrition Facts
Mojo Pork Tenderloin
Amount Per Serving
Calories 212 Calories from Fat 55
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 6.1g 9%
Saturated Fat 1.5g 8%
Sodium 367mg 15%
Total Carbohydrates 7.1g 2%
Dietary Fiber 0.5g 2%
Protein 30.3g 61%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Farrah says
July 15, 2015 at 9:19 pmI can't eat pork, but I lovelovelove the ingredients you used with it! :O I'm gonna have to try this with some other kind of meat! <3!!
sonaliruder says
July 19, 2015 at 9:26 pmThe sauce is really yummy! It would really go great on chicken or fish. I hope you try it and like it 🙂
Dixya says
July 16, 2015 at 1:29 ami dont eat pork but i'd definitely try the seasoning on other meat..
sonaliruder says
July 19, 2015 at 9:30 pmThanks Dixya! It would go really well with chicken or fish 🙂
Corina says
July 16, 2015 at 10:18 amIT looks really tender and absolutely delicious – I love the flavours in it.
sonaliruder says
July 19, 2015 at 9:46 pmThank you!
Tara Rochford says
July 16, 2015 at 3:06 pmI really love experimenting with new spice combos but sometimes don't know where to begin!! The cumin, citrus and oregano sound absolutely amazing!!! 🙂 I think I'm going to have to give the spice combo a try!
sonaliruder says
July 19, 2015 at 9:51 pmThanks Tara! This is definitely one of my favorite sauces, it's so flavorful! I hope you like it too!
Meme says
July 16, 2015 at 3:16 pmOooh yum!!! I love pork marinated in citrus flavors. This looks delish, Sonali!
sonaliruder says
July 19, 2015 at 9:52 pmMe too! Thanks Meme 🙂
Katie Serbinski says
July 19, 2015 at 11:50 pmI don't know why I don't cook pork tenderloin more often. I need more recipes like yours in my recipe box!!! I did however just make pork tenderloin and I think you'd like my recipe too! Great minds think alike 🙂
sonaliruder says
July 27, 2015 at 1:32 pmThanks Katie!! I just checked out your recipe and it sounds amazing!
GiGi Eats Celebrities says
July 20, 2015 at 1:11 pmJust looking at this loin is getting my MOJO riled up. LOL!
sonaliruder says
July 27, 2015 at 1:33 pmLOL!!!
Sarah Grace says
July 20, 2015 at 7:14 pmoooo YUM. Rarely eat pork, but next time I do, it'll be this one!
xo,
sonaliruder says
July 27, 2015 at 1:33 pmThanks Sarah, enjoy!!
Reduceri haine says
July 21, 2015 at 12:18 pmWoow! It looks very, very delicious!
sonaliruder says
July 27, 2015 at 1:33 pmThanks so much!
Kelley @ Chef Savvy says
July 21, 2015 at 7:53 pmThis sounds fantastic! Love all of the spices and the orange juice added. Looks like it has so much flavor.
sonaliruder says
July 27, 2015 at 1:33 pmThanks for stopping by Kelley 🙂
Jake says
August 4, 2015 at 12:59 amBeautiful photography and recipe. At an old job we always braised pork shoulder and turned it into pulled pork. I was never satisfied with that recipe, there was much left to be desired. However, I loved the idea/presentation of medallions with the pork tenderloin. Not to mention, I'm sure the flavor is much bolder than the braised pork shoulder at my old job.
Jake says
August 4, 2015 at 1:00 amSorry, I should have clarified. The braise was in a mojo style.
sonaliruder says
October 14, 2015 at 1:42 amThanks so much for stopping by and leaving such a nice comment!
Carol B says
January 15, 2019 at 7:30 amI over cooked my mojo pork tenderloin in slow cooker….now it is very dry. What can I do to fix it?
sonaliruder says
January 16, 2019 at 6:03 pmI’m sorry to hear that! You can try serving it with a sauce to moisten it.