Saturday, May 30, 2015

Asian Apricot Glazed Crock Pot Pork Tenderloin

Asian Apricot Glazed Crock Pot Pork Tenderloin @ menumusings.com

Here's one for each of you who asks that age old question... "What am I going to cook for dinner?" Well this fall-apart pork tenderloin could not be any simpler for an easy family dinner.  So for sure, this is not the prettiest dish in the world, but oh wow it was tasty - and easy.

Pork tenderloin may not be what you would think of as a protein to throw into the crock pot, but for around $6, this super lean piece of meat just falls apart after being slow cooked in an Asian inspired glaze. And then to create a little bit of a caramelization of sorts on the glaze, I threw it in my oven at the end while my potatoes were finishing up roasting.  And that's it!  The price per person comes out way less expensive than even your favorite drive through window, and believe me when I say it's way healthier and more tasty!

Asian Apricot Glazed Crock Pot Pork Tenderloin @ menumusings.com

Ingredients:    
(1 tenderloin shown, but the glaze is enough for 2 tenderloins)
  • 1/4 c low sodium soy sauce
  • 1 Tbsp yellow mustard
  • 2-3 Tbsp maple syrup
  • 2 Tbsp canola oil
  • Tbsp dried onion flakes 
  • 1 Tbsp garlic powder
  • 1 Tbsp light brown sugar
  • 1/4 c apricot preserves
  • garnishes optional
    • sesame seeds
    • sliced chives or green onions
  • 1 1/2 - 2 pound pork tenderloin, trimmed 


Step-by-Step:
Let's start off by mixing together this super easy glaze.  Just mix all the ingredients together in a bowl.  

We start off with 1/4 c low sodium soy sauce + 1 Tbsp yellow mustard.
2 - 3 Tbsp maple syrup + 2 Tbsp canola oil.
2 Tbsp dried onion flakes + 1 Tbsp onion powder.
1 Tbsp light brown sugar + 1/4 cup apricot preserves.
So this is what the glaze looks like.  That was so easy!   This would also be great on chicken or basted onto shrimp for grilling! 
You will want to trim the tenderloin of extra fat and the silverskin.  Unfortunately, I have a round crock pot, rather than an elongated oval shaped one, so I had to bend mine.  But hey... it still worked out just fine.  
Cook in the crock pot on high for around x 3 1/2 hours.  My boys like it when it's absolutely falling apart.  Then if you would like the glaze to have that bit of caramelization, transfer the meat to the an oven safe dish and pop it into the oven at 400 degrees F until you get the look you would like.  In the crock pot, the glaze will remain pretty soft.  It's up to you.   
To serve, garnish with sesame seeds (try dry toasting them in a small pan on the stovetop first), and and some thinly sliced chives or green onions.  Good luck trying to "slice" the meat.  It works better to just break it apart into big chunks to serve with some of the glaze from the bottom of the crock pot. 
Asian Apricot Glazed Crock Pot Pork Tenderloin @ menumusings.com

Asian Apricot Glazed Crock Pot Pork Tenderloin @ menumusings.com
I hope you enjoyed this simple and delicious recipe!
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Written Method:
Asian Apricot Glazed Crock Pot Pork Tenderloin @ menumusings.com

Mix all the glaze ingredients together. Trim the tenderloin of extra fat and the silverskin.  Pour the glaze over the pork in the crock pot.  Cook on high for around x 3 1/2 hours.  My boys like it when it's absolutely falling apart.  Then if you would like the glaze to have that bit of caramelization, transfer the meat to the an oven safe dish and pop it into the oven at 400 degrees F until you get the look you would like.  In the crock pot, the glaze will remain pretty soft.  It's up to you.   

To serve, garnish with sesame seeds (try dry toasting them in a small pan on the stovetop first), and and some thinly sliced chives or green onions.  Good luck trying to "slice" the meat.  It works better to just break it apart into big chunks to serve with some of the glaze from the bottom of the crock pot. 

6 comments:

  1. That pork tenderloin looks amazing. I love cooking in the crock pot this time of year, and I have a hunk of tenderloin waiting to be cooked. This is going to happen!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Carlee! I sure hope you love it. :)
      Julie

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  2. I love cooking tenderloins in the crock pot, but have never thought of anything like this. Of all things, I have all the ingredients on hand, and I'm working in Vacation Bible School this week which means I'll be too pooped to cook at night! I'll put this in the crock pot in the morning! - Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Fabulous! Awesome the way that just worked out. :) ... and I hope you enjoy your week. I've done VBS before, and I know you definitely WILL be toast by the end of the day. Ha! I might would put it on low in your case. Just a thought. - Julie

      Delete
  3. Never tried this recipe before, sounds really delicious though. Thanks for sharing.


    Simon

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks for the recipe. I just tried it in my Instant Pot with. 2.4lb frozen pork tenderloin. I did 40 min and it was a tad dry so I might do shorter next time. The sauce was tasty though!

    ReplyDelete

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