Fire-Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Corn Cakes & Apple-Rum Compote
Pork tenderloin is a great, and often under-appreciated cut. It's fairly inexpensive, easy to cook, healthy (with about the fat of boneless/skinless/just-this-side-of-worthless chicken breast), and it's a wonderful blank canvas for all manner of experimentation. It doesn't take much to elevate this cut into something special, as I did here. Pork tenderloin is very lean (thus the healthy part), so it really needs some help in the moisture and flavor department.
Instructions
Combine all of the rub ingredients in a small bowl, whisk well to combine, and set aside.
Make the brine by combining all of the ingredients, except the ice and cider in a large mixing bowl. Whisk until the sugar and salt are dissolved, then add the ice and cider.
Remove any silver skin and excess fat from each tenderloin. Put them in a large baking dish or zip-top bag and cover completely with the brine. Refrigerate for at least two, but no more than four hours.
Combine all of the compote ingredients in a medium sauce pan and bring to a boil.
Reduce the heat to a simmer and let cook for an hour, stirring occasionally.
Blend the compote lightly with an immersion blender. You want to leave some small chunks. Cover and set aside.
About 30 minutes before you're ready to serve, remove the tenderloins from the brine and pat them dry with paper towels. Put them in a baking dish or on a platter and coat all sides with a medium coating of the rub then set aside.
Prepare your grill for two-zone cooking (direct and indirect) at medium-high heat (about 400º).
While you're waiting for the grill, make the corn cake batter by wisking all of the ingredients in a medium mixing bowl.
Cook the tenderloins indirect until they reach an internal temperature 140º, about 15 minutes, flipping once.
While the tenderloins are cooking, make the corn cakes.
Heat a griddle or cast iron skillet to medium-high, and your oven to warm (about 175º).
Make the cakes by pouring the batter in about 5" rounds on the griddle or in the skillet. Cook them until all of the large bubbles pop, then flip them over and cook about 90 seconds longer. Keep the cakes warm in the oven.
When the tenderloins have reached an internal temperature of about 140º move them to the direct portion of the grill and sear them for about two minutes per side. You're looking for a final temperature of 155º.
Remove the tenderloins to a platter, tent loosely with foil and let them rest for five minutes.
Cut the tenderloin across the grain into 1/4" medallions, plate on two corn cakes, and top with a good helping of the compote.
Serve and enjoy!
