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    Home >> Latin American

    Pork Loin in Tamarind Sauce

    Modified: Aug 25, 2022 · Published: Dec 16, 2020 by Analida · • Word count:1057 words. • About 6 minutes to read this article. • This post may contain affiliate links ·

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    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Super easy oven roasted pork tender loin in tamarind sauce with garlic and herbs. Melt in your mouth tender with sweet and delicate flavors. | ethnicspoon.com

    I just got back from vacation, and apart from the usual souvenir purchases, I brought back with me a new recipe. You see, I went home to visit my family, and my sister made this amazing pork loin in tamarind sauce. It wasn't just finger licking good, it was really easy to make too: DOUBLE BONUS!

    a grilled pork lion in a plate with parsley garnish and a fork on the left

    Jump to:
    • What is tamarind?
    • Step by step photos:
    • Frequently asked questions:
    • Pork Loin in Tamarind Sauce Recipe

    Naturally, when I came back home I had to try it. The tamarind juice wasn't hard to find either; my local grocery store had it in the ethnic food section. If you are unable to find tamarind juice, you can mix lime juice or white wine vinegar with equal parts of light brown sugar.

    fresh tamarind with one broken seedpod

    What is tamarind?

    Tamarind is a long curved brown tropical fruit that comes in a bean-like pod. It is a fruit from the tamarind tree, which is native to Africa. The tamarind traveled to Persia (modern day Iran) where it was named tamar-hindi (Indian date). The name comes from the date like appearance of the interior brown pulp. By the way, I have a couple more recipes that use tamarind on my blog. Check out Thai Red Chicken Curry and Spicy Thai Style Lettuce Wraps.

    a white plate with cooked pork loin and parsley with a ladle pouring sauce

    My recipe for tamarind sauce can be the star of any meal because of its unique sweet and tart flavor. I like to  serve it with white rice, and black beans. Plain, simple, and very tropical. This dish is a pretty easy way to bring something exotic to your weeknight meal without having to spend a ton of time in the kitchen. Just as a side note: you can use pork chops if you prefer. If you have leftovers, you can whip up some tacos the next day, just a thought!

    pork loin on a plate on a red placemat with a bowl of sauce and a spoon on the right

    Roasted pork loin in tamarind sauce a new go-to dish for my busy weeknight meals, or for a casual dinner party.  I hope you like it too, and if you  do, please share with your friends! Spread the love!

    Quick tip: If you want an enhanced flavor for your pork loin  in tamarind sauce, I recommend to marinate it for up to 6 hours. You can even do this the night before. Just a thought, that's what my sister does, and it's what I do.

    Step by step photos:

    A collage of step by step photos showing how to marinate and cook pork loin in tamarind sauce in an oven.

    1. Gather all your ingredients and have them measured, chopped and ready to go before starting.
    2. Mix together the salt, pepper, oregano, thyme, garlic, and butter.
    3. In a large pitcher add the tamarind juice, Worcestershire sauce and brown sugar.
    4. Whisk until the brown sugar is dissolved.
    5. Add the herb butter garlic mixture to the pitcher and stir to combine.
    6. Place the pork loins in a zip top bag and pour in the marinade. Carefully give the bag a few squeezes to coat the loins.
    7. Expel the air from the bag and seal. Allow to marinate for at least 2 hours, overnight is even better.
    8. Preheat your oven to 425°F. Place the pork loins in a large oven safe braising pan or roasting pan with a lid. Pour in all the juice from the bag. Bake covered for 30 minutes. Baste and turn every 5 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 325°F and cook until the internal temperature reaches 145°F. Uncover and broil for about 5 minutes to crisp up to top and watch carefully.

    Frequently asked questions:

    • How long can I store the cooked pork loins in the refrigerator? Once the pork has cooled you can store it in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
    • How do I reheat the pork? Reheat the pork loin in the microwave for 2-3 minutes and stop to stir every 30-45 seconds until hot. Once reheated do not cool and store again in the refrigerator, consume it right away. So only reheat the amount you will consume.
    • Can I freeze the pork loins? Yes, allow the pork to cool and you can freeze in airtight containers for up to 2 months. Thaw completely in the refrigerator and then reheat in the microwave.

    If you are a fan of pork loins for their ease of preparation here are a few more recipes to try:
    Bring the flavors or Southeast Asia to your home with Thai style pork loin with peanut. Move onto some Latin flavors with a pork loin served with pico de gallo and cheesy grits. One great dish for grilling is this classic Spanish style pork loin or prueba de cerdo with the bold flavors of smoked paprika.

    Looking for more recipes?  
    Sign up for my free recipe newsletter to get new recipes in your inbox each week!  You can also find me sharing more inspiration in Pinterest and Facebook

    roasted pork loin on a plate with a red placemat

    Pork Loin in Tamarind Sauce Recipe

    Enjoy a tropical style pork loin in tamarind sauce with garlic and herbs. Melt in your mouth tender with sweet and delicate flavors.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main dish
    Cuisine: Asian
    Keyword: basted, oven roasted, pork loin roast
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes
    Marinate time: 2 hours hours
    Total Time: 2 hours hours 50 minutes minutes
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 417kcal
    Author: Analida Braeger

    Ingredients

    • 3 lbs pork loin
    • 1 tsp salt
    • ½ tsp pepper
    • 1 Tbsp oregano dried
    • 1 Tbsp thyme dried
    • 3 garlic cloves minced
    • 2 Tbsp butter melted
    • 9.6 oz tamarind juice
    • 1 Tbsp olive oil
    • 4 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
    • 3 Tbsp brown sugar

    Instructions

    Prepare the marinade:

    • In a bowl mix together salt, pepper, oregano, thyme, garlic, and butter.
    • In a separate 2 cup or larger pitcher mix together tamarind juice, olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, and brown sugar. Whisk until the sugar is dissolved.
    • Add the herb butter mixture to the pitcher and whisk to combine.

    Marinate the pork loins:

    • Place pork loins in a zip top bag. Pour marinade over the pork loins in the bag and turn them over a few times to coat them evenly.
    • Expel the air from the bag and seal closed. Marinate for 2 hours. You can even marinate them the night before.

    Cooking the pork loins:

    • Preheat your oven to 425°F.
    • Place the pork loins in a large oven safe braising pan or roasting pan with a lid. Pour in all the juice from the bag. Bake covered for 30 minutes. Baste and turn every 5 minutes.
    • Reduce oven temperature to 325°F and cook until the internal temperature reaches 145°F.
    • Uncover and broil for about 5 minutes to crisp up to top and watch carefully.
    • Remove from oven. Place pork loins on a cutting board. Cover them and allow them to rest for about 10 minutes. Reserve the sauce.
    • Slice to the desired thickness and place on a serving platter. Drizzle the sauce over the slices and serve.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 417kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 51g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 153mg | Sodium: 649mg | Potassium: 982mg | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 195IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 54mg | Iron: 2.7mg

    Originally published August 2016 and updated December 2020.

     

    You might also like to try these:

    • Thai Style Pork Loin with Peanut Sauce
      A photo of Thai pork loin slices with rice, peanut sauce and chopped onions.
    • Pork Loin and Cheesy Grits with Pico de Gallo
      Tender and delicious roasted garlic and herb pork loin with cheesy grits, avocado and pico de gallo. Latin fusion meets Southern cuisine. Serve this tasty pork over grits with some spicy pico and you will love the flavors! | ethnicspoon.com
    • Pork Carnitas Burrito Bowl Recipe
      A photo of a pork carnita bowl with pico de gallo.
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    341 shares
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Mina Cho

      April 19, 2018 at 6:03 am

      5 stars
      Serving it with white rice is a good combination for that party rice and weekend meal. Also easy to prepare.

      Reply
      • Analida

        April 19, 2018 at 5:23 pm

        Hi Mina. Yes, it is so easy to prepare. I need to make it again soon.

        Reply
    2. Judith

      March 02, 2023 at 10:47 am

      Could I make this with thick cut boneless pork chops, adjusting cooking time?

      Reply
      • Analida

        March 02, 2023 at 5:50 pm

        Hi Judith,
        Yes, you can use boneless pork chops. Just get the internal temperature to 145° to 150° and they will work fine.

        Enjoy!

        Reply

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    Analida profile pictureI have been researching and creating ethnic recipes for over 20 years. I love to share "mostly healthy" easy and affordable ethnic recipes using fresh ingredients, with a bit of culture and food history sprinkled in.... Read more-->

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