In this recipe, pork tenderloins are marinated in an Asian-inspired sauce then grilled until perfectly golden brown on the outside, and juicy and tender on the inside.
The Asian marinade is a snap to make and comes together quickly. As a bonus, this marinade uses common pantry ingredients.
Put those Asian pantry items to good use and make this beef and vegetable stir fry, this beef and broccoli, or this shrimp lo mein recipe.
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To make this Asian marinated pork tenderloin you will need
2 pounds Pork Tenderloin (usually two pieces)
½ cup Low Sodium Soy Sauce
2-3 Garlic Cloves, peeled and smashed
2 tablespoons packed Light Brown Sugar
1 teaspoon Ginger Powder (or grated fresh ginger, if you have it on hand)
1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
¼ teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper, optional (leave it out if you don’t like spicy)
You will also need
Large re-sealable plastic bag
Sheet pan or large plate
Marinate the tenderloins
The pork tenderloin will be super flavorful after a couple of hours in the marinade, but leaving it overnight is best.
Place the pork tenderloins in a large re-sealable bag.
In a small jar or bowl combine the:
- Soy sauce
- Smashed garlic
- Brown sugar
- Ginger powder
- Salt
- Crushed red pepper, if using
Cover the jar and shake well, or use a fork or small whisk to combine the ingredients well.
Add the Asian marinade to the pork tenderloins. Seal the bag and massage them with the marinade to coat well. Place the bag on a plate or pan, just in case the bag leaks and refrigerate for at least a 2-3 hours to overnight.
Grill the Pork Tenderloins
Remove the pork from the bag and discard any leftover marinade.
Cook’s note: We used a gas grill to cook the pork.
Preheat the grill to medium, which will be about 350°F. Cook the pork tenderloin on a pre-heated grill over moderate heat for approximately 20-25 minutes or until the desired doneness is reached. Ensure that the internal temperature is at least 145°F at its thickest piece. Use an instant read thermometer to make sure.
At 145°F the pork will be pinkish in the middle. I like to take the pork to 150-155°F, but that’s a matter of taste.
To avoid overcooking the pork tenderloin (which would be a shame) check the temperature after the first 15 minutes of cooking. Then, factor in that the pork will rise a few degrees as it rests and gauge the remaining time from there.
After grilling, let the pork tenderloins rest
Resting is the process of allowing food to sit at room temperature for a few minutes before slicing. This allows the juices in the meat to redistribute.
The temperature of the meat will rise during the resting phase. So, it’s important to factor in the rise in temperature to avoid overcooking.
While the meat rests, there’s a transfer of heat, (called carryover cooking). Typically, the temperature of a small, thinner piece of meat (like steak) will rise about 5 degrees F. While a larger piece of meat (like a roast) can have an increase of approximately 10-15 degrees F.
The amount of time the meat should rest depends on the type of meat and the size. But, as a general rule, 10 – 20 minutes should do it.
Slice the pork tenderloin and enjoy! Oh, and if there are any juices on the pan or plate, just pour them over the sliced pieces, delicious!
Asian Marinated Pork Tenderloin
Ingredients
- 2 pounds Pork Tenderloin usually two pieces
- ½ cup Low Sodium Soy Sauce
- 2-3 Garlic Cloves peeled and smashed
- 2 tablespoons packed Light Brown Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Ginger Powder or grated fresh ginger if you have it on hand
- 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper optional (leave it out if you don’t like spicy)
Instructions
- You will also need: large re-sealable plastic bag and a sheet pan or large plate
- Place the pork tenderloins in a large re-sealable bag.
- In a small jar or bowl combine the soy sauce, smashed garlic, brown sugar, ginger powder, salt, and crushed red pepper, if using
- Cover the jar and shake well, or use a fork or small whisk to combine the ingredients well.
- Add the Asian marinade to the pork tenderloin. Seal the bag and massage the pork tenderloins with the marinade to coat well.
- Place the bag on a plate or pan, just in case the bag leaks and refrigerate for at least a 2-3 hours to overnight.
Grill the Pork Tenderloin
- Remove the pork from the bag and discard any leftover marinade.
- Preheat the grill to medium.
- Cook the pork tenderloin over moderate heat for approximately 20-25 minutes or until the desired doneness is reached. Ensure that the internal temperature is at least 145°F at its thickest piece.
- After grilling, let the pork tenderloins rest for approximately 10 minutes.
- Slice the pork tenderloin and enjoy. If there’s any juices on the pan or plate, pour them over the sliced pieces.
