Honey Garlic Pork Tenderloin with Orange, Thyme, and Rosemary Glaze
By Emma Collins
Prep
15 min
Cook
25 min
Total
40 min
Servings
4
Level
Easy
Choose a trimmed pork tenderloin of good quality. The tenderloin is a thinner cut that adds moisture and flavor to the final dish when topped. Honey Garlic Pork Tenderloin is a baked main course featuring a glaze of honey, soy sauce, orange juice, garlic, thyme, and rosemary served over broiled pork tenderloin.
Fresh thyme and rosemary and other herbs are important flavor ingredients for the pork and marinade, as is minced garlic. Garlic powder and onion powder and chili powder are among the basic seasonings. Sweet and sour ingredients for the pork and marinade include honey, light soy sauce, and orange juice. Brown sugar and remaining honey and soy sauce are combined to create a second sauce, which is thickened with a cornstarch slurry.
Golden-brown color on both sides of the pork is a good sign that it has been successfully seared and the skillet can be moved to the oven. The pork will be fully cooked to your liking in the oven, and the sauce will thicken slightly when the cornstarch mixture is stirred in. The most common error when making this dish is skipping the rest after broiling, since the recipe advises slicing the pork after it rests.
Serve pork slices hot with a glossy sauce and fresh chopped thyme and rosemary. Tips for using leftovers from the article include slicing cooled pork and keeping it with some sauce to keep it moist. Other tips for using leftovers include reheating pork slices in the microwave or oven with a small amount of water or other sauce to help keep them moist.
Why this recipe works
- Lean pork tenderloin, with fat removed, is an ingredient that reduces the number of other ingredients in a dish because it has enough flavor to be eaten without added fat or other toppings.
- Fresh rosemary and thyme and chopped garlic provide flavor because they contain essential oils that season both the pork and the marinade, which contains honey and soy sauce.
- Honey and brown sugar provide sweetness and other flavor to the dish. They also help coat the chicken with a sticky caramelized coating during the final broil.
- Orange juice adds a citrus taste to the sauce made with soy and honey and helps balance the sweetness of the sauce.
- Adding cornstarch slurry to the sauce increases its volume by thickening a portion of the honey, soy sauce, and brown sugar mixture set aside for basting.
- The recipe suggests serving pork tenderloin to four people. Good-quality pork tenderloin would be suitable for everyday and special-occasion meals at home.
Ingredients
- •1 lb pork tenderloin
- •2 tbsp olive oil or butter
- •½ tsp garlic powder
- •½ tsp chili powder
- •½ tsp onion powder
- •1 tbsp thyme (freshly minced)
- •1 tbsp rosemary (freshly minced)
- •½ tsp salt (or to taste)
- •½ tsp black pepper (freshly ground, or to taste)
- •½ cup honey
- •½ cup light soy sauce
- •⅓ cup orange juice (freshly squeezed)
- •1 tbsp garlic (minced)
- •3 tbsp brown sugar
- •1 tbsp cornstarch
- •2 tbsp water
Instructions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius). Trim excess fat from the pork tenderloin and pierce it at several points with a fork.
- 2
Combine the garlic powder, chili powder, onion powder, thyme, rosemary, salt, pepper, honey, soy sauce, orange juice, and minced garlic in a mixing bowl. Coat the pork tenderloin evenly with the marinade.
- 3
Heat the olive oil or butter in an oven-proof skillet over high heat. Add the pork and sear until golden brown on all sides, rotating every 2 to 3 minutes for an even crust.
- 4
Transfer the skillet to the oven and roast for 18 to 20 minutes, or until the meat is cooked through and reaches the desired level of doneness.
- 5
While the pork roasts, combine the remaining honey, soy sauce, and brown sugar in a small saucepan. Heat over low heat, whisking continuously until combined and simmering.
- 6
Dissolve the cornstarch in the water to make a slurry. Whisk the slurry into the simmering sauce until it thickens slightly, then remove from the heat.
- 7
Remove the pork from the oven and generously baste it with the honey garlic sauce. Return the skillet to the oven under the broiler for 3 minutes to caramelize the sauce.
- 8
Rest the pork, covered, for 4 to 5 minutes. Slice thickly and garnish with additional chopped thyme and rosemary before serving.
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