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Spiced Pork Tenderloin and Brown Rice with Fruit and Pistachios

By Jessica Rudolph

Published on October 31, 2023

Time

55 Minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Spiced Pork Tenderloin and Brown Rice with Fruit and Pistachios

Ingredients

1½ cups long-grain brown rice 1¾ teaspoons table salt, divided, plus salt for cooking rice⅓ cup dried apricots, chopped¼ cup golden raisins 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon ground coriander ½ teaspoon pepper 2 (1-pound) pork tenderloins, trimmed5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided½ teaspoon grated lemon zest plus 2 tablespoons juice½ cup shelled pistachios, toasted and chopped coarse

Before You Begin

You can use almonds instead of pistachios, if desired. Sprinkle with chopped fresh mint.

Instructions

  1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 325 degrees. Bring 2 quarts water to boil in large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add rice and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until rice is tender, about 25 minutes. Drain rice and return to saucepan. Stir in apricots, raisins, and ½ teaspoon salt. Cover and set aside.
  2. Meanwhile, combine cumin, coriander, pepper, and 1 teaspoon salt in bowl. Pat pork dry with paper towels and sprinkle all over with spice mixture. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in 12-inch ovensafe nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking. Add pork and cook until well browned on all sides, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer skillet to oven and continue to cook until pork registers 135 degrees, 6 to 12 minutes longer.
  3. Transfer pork to cutting board and let rest for 10 minutes. Whisk lemon zest and juice and remaining ¼ teaspoon salt and ¼ cup oil together in bowl. Stir pistachios and half of vinaigrette into rice. Slice pork. Serve with remaining vinaigrette.
Spiced Pork Tenderloin and Brown Rice with Fruit and Pistachios

Spiced Pork Tenderloin and Brown Rice with Fruit and Pistachios

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Time

55 Minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Ingredients

1½ cups long-grain brown rice
1¾ teaspoons table salt, divided, plus salt for cooking rice
⅓ cup dried apricots, chopped
¼ cup golden raisins
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
½ teaspoon pepper
2 (1-pound) pork tenderloins, trimmed
5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
½ teaspoon grated lemon zest plus 2 tablespoons juice
½ cup shelled pistachios, toasted and chopped coarse

Ingredients

1½ cups long-grain brown rice
1¾ teaspoons table salt, divided, plus salt for cooking rice
⅓ cup dried apricots, chopped
¼ cup golden raisins
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
½ teaspoon pepper
2 (1-pound) pork tenderloins, trimmed
5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
½ teaspoon grated lemon zest plus 2 tablespoons juice
½ cup shelled pistachios, toasted and chopped coarse

Ingredients

1½ cups long-grain brown rice
1¾ teaspoons table salt, divided, plus salt for cooking rice
⅓ cup dried apricots, chopped
¼ cup golden raisins
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
½ teaspoon pepper
2 (1-pound) pork tenderloins, trimmed
5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
½ teaspoon grated lemon zest plus 2 tablespoons juice
½ cup shelled pistachios, toasted and chopped coarse

Why This Recipe Works

We stirred raisins and dried apricots into still-warm rice so that the steam could soften and plump the fruit.

Before You Begin

You can use almonds instead of pistachios, if desired. Sprinkle with chopped fresh mint.

Instructions

  1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 325 degrees. Bring 2 quarts water to boil in large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add rice and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until rice is tender, about 25 minutes. Drain rice and return to saucepan. Stir in apricots, raisins, and ½ teaspoon salt. Cover and set aside.
  2. Meanwhile, combine cumin, coriander, pepper, and 1 teaspoon salt in bowl. Pat pork dry with paper towels and sprinkle all over with spice mixture. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in 12-inch ovensafe nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking. Add pork and cook until well browned on all sides, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer skillet to oven and continue to cook until pork registers 135 degrees, 6 to 12 minutes longer.
  3. Transfer pork to cutting board and let rest for 10 minutes. Whisk lemon zest and juice and remaining ¼ teaspoon salt and ¼ cup oil together in bowl. Stir pistachios and half of vinaigrette into rice. Slice pork. Serve with remaining vinaigrette.

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