Pork and Sweet Potatoes with Spicy Cabbage

Pork tenderloins have been on sale at my grocery store lately so I’ve been buying them up.

Tenderloin is probably my favorite cut of pork. As the name implies, it’s super tender—but only if it’s correctly cooked. Many times, home cooks will overcook pork and let it dry out. There’s nothing worse than a tough slice of pork.

Tenderloin only needs a few minutes in a hot oven. I’m talking 8-10 usually at most, 15 if you’re cooking two tenderloins at once. If you’re cooking a tenderloin above 400 degrees and leave it in there for more than 20 minutes, you’re in for a tough piece of meat in the end.

I’m always on the lookout for new tenderloin recipes and this one piqued my interest. Most recipes are all about mustard and herbs and barbecue, but this recipe calls for none of the above. The tenderloin isn’t really even the star of the show in this recipe! It’s seasoned simply with salt and pepper—nothing more. Tenderloin rarely needs anything more than that, it’s so juicy and flavorful on its own.

I really loved the addition of sweet potatoes and cabbage to this dish. It all goes together wonderfully and ends up being a full sheetpan-style meal. The cabbage is spicy and braised in some apple cider vinegar to give it a spicy-and-sour taste.

Better stock up on some pork tenderloin while the price is right. Once you buy that, it’s game on for this delectable dinner.

Enjoy!

Pork and Sweet Potatoes with Spicy Cabbage

• Servings: 4
• Time: 45 mins
• Difficulty: Easy
• Print

Tender roast pork and sweet potatoes with a spicy-and-sour cabbage base.

Ingredients

• 2 lb. pork tenderloin (usually comes in a two-pack, use both)
• 3-4 sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 3 TBS. olive oil
• salt & pepper
• 1/2 head red cabbage, shredded
• 1 jalapeno, diced
• 2 green onions, sliced
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Toss sweet potatoes with 2 tablespoons olive oil, salt and pepper and place on a rimmed baking sheet.
2. Roast sweet potatoes for 30 minutes or until tender.
3. In a pot, heat remaining tablespoon olive oil over medium high heat. Season pork on all sides with salt and pepper. Add to oil and sear until browned on all sides, about 2-3 minutes per side. Remove to a plate.
4. Add jalapeno, green onion and cabbage to pot and saute until crisp-tender, about 4-5 minutes. Add apple cider vineger and reduce heat to a simmer. Let simmer, covered, for another 7-8 minutes.
5. When sweet potatoes are 15 minutes away from being done, add pork tenderloin on top. Roast for the remaining 15 minutes until a meat thermometer registers 145 degrees in the pork. Slice pork and serve with sweet potatoes and cabbage.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Toss sweet potatoes with 2 tablespoons olive oil, salt and pepper and place on a rimmed baking sheet. Roast sweet potatoes for 30 minutes or until tender. In a pot, heat remaining tablespoon olive oil over medium high heat. Season pork on all sides with salt and pepper. Add to oil and sear until browned on all sides, about 2-3 minutes per side. Remove to a plate.

Add jalapeno, green onion and cabbage to pot and saute until crisp-tender, about 4-5 minutes. Add apple cider vineger and reduce heat to a simmer. Let simmer, covered, for another 5-6 minutes.

When sweet potatoes are 15 minutes away from being done, add pork tenderloin on top. Roast for the remaining 15 minutes until a meat thermometer registers 145 degrees in the pork. Slice pork and serve with sweet potatoes and cabbage.