Roast Pork Tenderloin with Sauteed Apples & Dried Cherries

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. pork tenderloin
• 1/2 tsp. freshly ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp. Spanish paprika
• 1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 Granny Smith or Golden Delicious apple, cored, peeled & cut into 1/4-inch wedges
• 1/4 tsp. fresh ginger
• 2 sage leaves
• 1/4 cup dried cherries
• 1/2 tbsp. maple syrup
• 1 cup low-sodium chicken stock
• salt
• freshly ground black pepper

Make 4 Servings

1. Season pork with salt and pepper
2. Combine ginger, paprika, and 1/2 tablespoon of the oil. Spread over pork to marinate for 30 minutes or as long as overnight.
3. Preheat to 400 F.
4. Heat a saute pan over medium heat. Add the remaining 1/2 tablespoon olive oil and pork tenderloin. Cook until lightly browned. Turn tenderloin over and continue to cook until golden brown all over. Remove from pan (reserve pan to prepare sauce). Place on a rack on a sheet pan and roast in the oven until the pork reaches an internal temperature of 143 F. Remove from oven and allow pork to rest for 15 minutes.
5. Add apples to saute pan. Cook over medium heat until golden brown. Flip and cook on other side until golden brown but still with a  slightly firm texture. Add ginger, sage, dried cherries, maple syrup, and chicken stock. Bring to a simmer and reduce by three quarters until apples are tender and liquid is syrupy.
6. Slice pork 1/4 inch thick on the bias or against the grain. Serve on a bed of apples and drizzle with syrup.

WW POINTS VALUE: 6 pts.

Note: This recipe appears in the New Sonoma Cookbook. This is what I can an elegant taste of the holiday season. Remember when you have pork chops and applesauce for dinner? This is that dish but kicked up a whole notch and made into an elegant meal. You can use pork loin or pork tenderloin in this dish and or use pears in place of the apples and your dinner will be delicious. You can also use dried cranberries in place of the dried cherries because cranberries are just as tart and sweet. This meal really does taste like the fall and winter holidays and takes you back to  autumn in New England with all the ingredients.