Lomo de Cerdo con Salsa Romesco (Pork Tenderloin With Romesco Sauce)

Marinate with romesco sauce for an authentic Catalan touch. Serve with a salad, risotto or couscous.

Serves 4

Ingredients:

2 10-ounce pork tenderloins
1 tablespoon canola oil

RUB
Yields 1½ cups

2 tablespoons olive oil
3 garlic cloves, crushed
1 tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon rosemary, minced
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
1 tablespoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper


Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400ºF.
2. In a small bowl, mix all the ingredients for the rub. Make small incisions in the pork and rub mixture evenly on the meat. Cover with plastic and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes but not more than 8 hours.
3. Remove meat from refrigerator 30 minutes prior to cooking.
4. In a large ovenproof frying pan, heat canola oil at high heat. When hot, add pork and sear meat evenly. Place pan in the oven for 10–15 minutes, until internal meat temperature reaches 145°F. Let meat rest for about 10 minutes before slicing. Serve with romesco sauce.


ROMESCO SAUCE

Ingredients:

1 pasilla chile (black chile)
2 cups boiling water
1 red pepper
½ cup whole almonds, lightly toasted
1½ slices white sandwich bread, crust removed, lightly toasted
1 whole garlic, unpeeled
1 pound ripe Roma tomatoes, peeled and seeded
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
½ cup olive oil


Directions:

1. Remove stem, veins and seeds from chile.
2. In a small frying pan, slightly toast chile over medium heat for 2–3 minutes. Place chile in a glass bowl and add boiling water. Cover with plastic and let rest for approximately 10 minutes. Drain water and set aside.
3. Broil pepper directly over the burner, rotating until it is completely black. Place in a paper bag for approximately 10–15 minutes. Remove chile from bag and clean by hand, rubbing off the skin, veins and seeds. Do not rinse.
4. In a medium-size pan, roast garlic for 5 minutes at medium-low heat, turning it over a few times.
5. In a food processor, add almonds and bread and grind. Add chile, pepper, tomato, garlic, paprika, salt, pepper and vinegar while processing. Once it thickens, slowly add olive oil while continuing to blend, until the sauce emulsifies. Adjust flavors.

To learn more about me or my recipes, visit me at DenisseOller.com and at AARP, where I am a chef and nutrition expert.

Other recipes by Denisse:

Pastelón de Yuca y Pollo
Mango Pie
Venezuelan-style Chicken Pot Pie (Polvorosa de pollo)
Vegetarian Paella
Cod in Tomato Sauce
Mexican-Style Shrimp Ceviche
Pulled Chicken with Jalapeño-Honey Mustard Panini
The Mexican Tamale: A Delight for the Palate
Shrimp Asopao with Pigeon Peas