Pork Loin in Tamarind Sauce

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!

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.

Sweet, tangy 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.

Pork loin in 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!

I think I have found in 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.

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Pork Loin in Tamarind Sauce

Enjoy a tropical style pork loin in tamarind sauce with garlic and herbs. Melt in your mouth tender with sweet and delicate flavors.

Course Main dish

Cuisine Asian

Keyword basted, oven roasted, pork loin roast

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes

Total Time 50 minutes

Servings: Change to adjust-> 6

Calories 417 kcal

Author Analida Braeger

Ingredients

• 3 lbs pork loin
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 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

1. In a bowl mix together salt, pepper, oregano, thyme, garlic, and butter.
2. In a separate bowl mix together tamarind juice, olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, and brown sugar.
3. Place pork loins in a glass dish. Pour butter and herb mixture over the pork loins, and turn them over a few times to coat them evenly.
4. Pour tamarind juice mixture and coat thoroughly. Cover with aluminum foil and refrigerate for about 30 minutes. Periodically turn over pork loins. You can even marinate them the night before.
5. Preheat oven to 425.
6. Bake covered for 20 minutes. Baste and turn every 5 minutes.
7. Reduce oven temperature to 325'F and cook until juices run clear when poked.
8. Uncover and broil for about 5 minutes.
9. Remove from oven. Place pork loins on a cutting board. Cover them and allow them to rest for about 10 minutes. Reserve the sauce
10. Slice to desired thickness.

Nutrition Facts

Pork Loin in Tamarind Sauce

Amount Per Serving

Calories 417 Calories from Fat 135

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 15g 23%

Saturated Fat 5g 25%

Cholesterol 153mg 51%

Sodium 649mg 27%

Potassium 982mg 28%

Total Carbohydrates 16g 5%

Sugars 12g

Protein 51g 102%

Vitamin A 3.9%

Vitamin C 8.5%

Calcium 5.4%

Iron 15.1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.