Pressure cooker Pork tenderloin, unbelievably tender and succulent, flavored with 12 ingredients giving this loin an incredible back drop of Asian meets comfort cooking goodness!
Pressure cooker! I have to be honest, I have never used a pressure cooker before. My daughter Alexa and her husband Rod gave me one such beast for a gift one year along with many other great gadgets, which I have thoroughly enjoyed. The pressure cooker has been gracing the hanging pot rack for quite a while. It was not until Nicoletta and I stumbled upon a cooking competition show on Gusto TV that I was inspired to use it and I have to say I love the technique and look forward to using it again. Today we are creating a most comforting delicious dish of Pressure cooker Pork Tenderloin.
Inspiration
So to explain our inspiration for this dish, I am going back to a show we discovered on Gusto TV. The show is called "My Kitchen Rules" (MKR). It is a cooking competition where groups of two home cooks, whether it be marriage partners, mother and son or daughter, friends, sisters, and brothers, etc, compete to win the title of MKR. They start by doing a pop up themed restaurant in their personal homes. Given a certain amount of time to gather and shop for ingredients, prepare, cook, and serve three courses to their competitors and guest judges, an entree, main, and dessert. After the meal, the host home cooks are judged on creativity, appearance, and taste. The competition has stages from pop up restaurant, to battles in the MKR arena, and finally a battle between the two best groups, for the title of MY Kitchen Rules Champion with a nice grand prize and acclaim. Nicoletta and I were hooked, recording the show when we were away. Booking that time slot so we could not miss a show. It became a part of our regular evening routine from Monday to Friday. Excessive, maybe, but we really enjoyed it and we could relate to these people, the frustrations, triumphs, emotions. I think it was the realism of the shows, the invitation into each competitor's homes and how we could really get to know them and their cooking techniques. Also, Pete and Manu along with other judges really added a great element to the show. Their sincerity and gestures were spot on.
Pressure cooker
To make a long story short, a lot of the home cooks used pressure cookers to prepare their proteins. The final products looked so juicy and flavorful that I was inspired to dust off the pressure cooker and give it a whirl. A bit hesitant I was as a bit of fear in the backdrop thinking I hope the pressure cooker doesn't explode, not knowing how it works and all. I took it off the pot wrack and was pleased to see it had a pressure relief valve that would let the pressure building in the cooker escape. So, no boom!
On occasion, I take my parents to a place called Costco. A warehouse retailer where people can shop bulk as members of the establishment. It is huge and never a day without crowds of people. Well on this particular excursion my parents purchased a huge pork tenderloin probably around 5-6 kilos. My dad usually cuts it up into sizable portions ready to use when pork loin is on the menu. Well, we were the proud receivers of one portion of the tenderloin. You have to love shopping at Mom and Pop's store, the prices are great (free) and the quality is good, lol. Already in my mind creativity was flowing and the picture of that pressure cooker kept creeping in and so there you have it the story of how Pressure Cooker Pork Tenderloin came to be.
From marinade to grill
I guess you can call me a spice addict. Our spice rack is full of international spices ranging from Italian to Indian, Asian to Canadian comfort. The spices I used for this wonderful tenderloin were basil, oregano, parsley, coriander, paprika, thyme, bay leaves, all mingling with some hoisin sauce, red wine, apple cider vinegar, and vegetable stock. The steps, pretty easy. Mix up the marinade and pour over pork loin, cover and set into the fridge overnight. Place tenderloin in a hot saute pan searing all sides, then in a pressure cooker with marinade, and a mirepoix (chopped carrots, celery, and onions). Pressure cook for a bit, then out of the cooker and onto a nice hot grill to seal and caramelize the surface of the pork tenderloin. It is very important to let the tenderloin rest for a bit prior to cutting and serving. This allows all the juices to go back into the meat making it so succulent and moist. The sauce left in the pressure cooker is put into a pan and reduced to a nice thick rich jus poured over the beautiful slices of the pork tenderloin at serving time. We served the loin with Nicoletta's specialty, oven-roasted veggies: onions, peppers, potatoes, and zucchini, and also some first blanched then sauteed long green beans from my parents garden. They have such a wonderful garden, there is nothing like eating things that you have contributed time to growing and also knowing where they came from.
The pork tenderloin was cooked perfectly. Just that little bit of pink in the center, and the meat so tender juicy and succulent. Each mouthful melting on your tongue, taste buds alive and awake to the richness of the jus in its Asian meets comfort sort of way. The coriander, basil, thyme, paprika, bay leaves, all reduced nicely in that red wine, hoisin, apple cider vinegar, etc, dancing on your palate in delight. This dish is great for a meal served family-style. So get that pressure cooker out of the closet or cupboard, and try this wonderful recipe Pressure Cooker Pork Tenderloin.
I have this vision of a beautiful rambling bungalow with a post and beam weathered cover deck in the front. There is a steel triangle hanging from one of the supports a bit rusty with a mallet hanging from it. Triangle is ringing and a voice shouts out. Come and get it! Family is coming out of every barn, crevice, field rushing to the table to share a beautifully prepared meal.
Enjoy!
Pressure Cooker Pork Tenderloin
Pressure cooker Pork tenderloin, unbelievably tender and succulent, flavored with 12 ingredients giving this loin an incredible back drop of Asian meets comfort cooking goodness!
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 1 kg pork tenderloin
- 1 cup vegetable stock
- 2 Tbsp red wine
- 1 Tbsp Hoisin sauce
- 1 Tbsp fresh basil, chopped
- 1 Tbsp dried thyme
- 1 Tbsp fresh oregano, chopped
- 1 Tbsp fresh parsley
- ½ tsp paprika
- 1 tsp coriander, crushed
- 1 Tbsp fresh sage, chopped
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp grated lemongrass
- 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 3 cloves garlic
- 2 small purple onions, chopped
- 1 small white onion, chopped
- 2 celery stalks
- 2 large carrots
- 2 bay leaves
Instructions
Marinade:
- Combine in a bowl vegetable stalk, red wine, hoisin sauce, basil, thyme, oregano, parsley, paprika, coriander, sage, sesame oil, lemon grass,apple cider vinegar.
- Take one clove of garlic press it to release some of the garlic juices and put into marinade.
- Place tenderloin into a glass dish and pour marinade over, cover and put in fridge overnight.
Searing:
- Take pork tenderloin out of marinade letting excess liquid drip off.
- Have a saute pan nice and hot on the stove top, and place loin into it searing all sides of the pork nicely golden brown.
Pressure cooking:
- In a pressure cooker place the marinaded pork tenderloin.
- Cut up the purple and white onions and place in pressure cooker with tenderloin.
- Dice up celery and carrots and add to pressure cooker ingredients.
- Throw in bay leaves.
- Pour left over marinade in marinating dish over pork loin and veggies.
- Close and seal lid on pressure cooker.
- Place on stove top high heat and cook for 30 minutes.
Grilling:
- Release all the pressure from the pressure cooker.
- Take the pork tenderloin out of cooker and let drain for a few minutes.
- Preheat barbecue to around 400° F.
- Place tenderloin on grill and turn frequently, until all sides have crisped up and caramelized.
- Take off grill and let stand for about 15 minutes.
Jus:
- Place all the juices of the pressure cooker into a saute pan.
- On barbecue side burner on med to high heat, simmer juices until reduced and thickened about 15 minutes.
- Remove bay leaves.
Plating:
- Cut pork tenderloin into ½ cm slices.
- Place a few slices on plate staggered.
- Drizzle jus onto pork tenderloin slices.
- Serve with whatever vegetable you like. We served it with roasted veggies and sauteed homegrown organic green beans.
- Enjoy!
Notes
I have not included the marinating time in the prep time. I marinated it over night.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Main, Meat
- Method: Pressure Cooker
- Cuisine: Fusion
We have a few more recipes featuring pork meat:
SLOW BRAISED PORK BELLY ON RUSTIC MUSHED POTATOES
BBQ PORK RIBS WITH RHUBARB CHUTNEY
When I am not cooking, I enjoy playing musical instruments, singing, writing. I have learned over the years to live in gratitude and enjoy the moment.
Cathy says
I've never used a pressure cooker, but I do find the idea intriguing. Your spices sound wonderful!
Hi Cathy , I would definitely suggest trying the pressure cooker. The meat gets so tender and so infused with the flavors of the marinade that truly becomes rich and delicious. I am now a big fan of this type of cooking. Thank you for your comment it is greatly appreciated.
Have a great rest of the week!
Cheers.
Loreto
Amanda from Peppers & Pennies says
This is a beauty of a dish, you guys! I haven't ventured (yet) into the world of pressure cooking but I adore how you make the best use of texture here and grill the meat to add a layer of complexity to the dish. Keep it up, I eagerly await more!
Thank you Amanda, it was most adventurous for me and I enjoyed the use of the pressure cooker immensely. I look forward to many more recipes using this technique, and I would have to say that grilling the tenderloin on the barbecue was absolutely fabulous. It was like a layer of candy on the surface of the loin.
Have a wonderful day.
Cheers
Loreto
Justine @ JustineCelina.com says
I love this spin on comfort food with an Asian flavour profile! My boyfriend would adore this dish. I'm going to Pin it and make it for us this fall. Thanks for the gorgeous inspiration!
Hi JUstin, we are so pleased that we have inspired you. Sometimes things you fear are really blessings in disguise, as was for this pressure cooked tenderloin, I would love to hear your feed back when you do make it. Thank you for taking the time to comment, and have a great rest of the week.
Cheers
Loreto
Adina says
The tenderloin looks just perfect! I used to have a pressure cooker (it broke), but I used it mostly for cooking beans... I was thinking about buying a new one but was not sure if it's worth it only for the beans, seeing this succulent, rosa tenderloin makes me reconsider.
Hi Adina, I would definitely reconsider. I have realized that pressure cooking is great for many things and the way it intensifies flavors iust amazing not to mention the tenderizing aspect of it. Would love to hear how you make out with it if you get another one. Thank you for the comment, and have a great weekend.
Cheers! Loreto
Meaghan says
Don't you love MKR!?! I am completely addicted to the show, after an Australian friend turned me on to it a few years ago. Had no idea it was on gusto, will definitely have to look for it. Manu is my fav! I actually have one of his cookbooks, and it is fantastic.
Love this recipe! Pinning to try this January 🙂 Happy New Year!
Yes Nicoletta and I are huge fans. Love the way the show is set, the judging, the pop up restaurants. Can't wait for the season to start here again. I was amazed at the intensity of flavor that happened by first pressure cooking, then grilling. Can't wait for you to try this one. Thank you for commenting, we both really appreciate the time.
Have a great day
Loreto
Lora says
Pork TENDERLOIN and pork LOIN are two totally different cuts of meat. You are cooking a loin here. Tenderloins are rarely over 1 lb, and are even more lean than the loin.
Hi Lora, I purchased the loin from a butcher I know in these parts. I was told it was a tenderloin. I will have to ask him next time I am there. Thanks for your feedback
Cheers!
lORETO
Ann Jennerjahn says
I was wondering the same thing. It sure looks like a loin.
Hi Anne yes after much investigation it is a loin. It was miss marked on the package. Either way, the way I have prepared it will bring the same result. The pressure cooking tenderizes and infuses the pork so well, then the barbecue just caramelizes all those juices spices and flavors giving us that bit of crackle so many of us love.
Thanks for the comment, and have a great day!
Loreto
Rosie says
Hi Loreto,
Tenderloins cook very quickly. 30 minutes is all I do in an oven. Do you know how long it would be in an electric pressure cooker. Thanks
Hi Rosie, I cooked it in the pressure cooker for 30 minutes, the placed it on a hot barbecue to caramelize the and get the outside nice and crispy. I basted it on the bbq with a glaze that I made with the juices from the pressure cooker. I hope that helps.
Let me know how you made out, and thanks for visiting our site.
Cheers loreto
SandyToes says
This looks like a really good recipe, thanks for sharing. Just one thing, if I may? This recipe is for pork loin, not pork tenderloin. It is a common mistake, one my mother made for years. Pork tenderloin is a small thin muscle, about 1-1.25 pounds. It is a long, narrow cylinder-shaped cut. It is so lean that it cooks in less than 5 minutes in a pressure cooker.
Hi Sandy yes I know now about tenderloin. The place in which I bought it labeled it tenderloin , but now I know it is not that will have to edit this post. With that being said it was a really great dish and was absolutely so tender. I loved how all those spices and flavors were infused in the pressure cooker, then onto the BBQ to be basted with the same juices in the pressure cooker. The cust was crispy and sweet, spicy and into the strands of the middle so juicy, succulent and tender! Thanks for the tenderloin 101 and have a wonderful day!
Loreto