America's Test Kitchen LogoCook's Country LogoCook's Illustrated LogoAmerica's Test Kitchen LogoCook's Country LogoCook's Illustrated Logo

Grilled Pork Cutlets and Zucchini with Feta and Mint Compound Butter

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on July 21, 2021

Time

25 minutes

Yield

Serves 4 to 6

Grilled Pork Cutlets and Zucchini with Feta and Mint Compound Butter

Ingredients

1 ounce feta cheese, crumbled (¼ cup)1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint ½ teaspoon grated orange zest 4 small zucchini (6 ounces each), halved lengthwise2 (12- to 16-ounce) pork tenderloins, trimmed and cut crosswise into 4 equal pieces4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1 teaspoon table salt, divided½ teaspoon pepper, plus ⅛ teaspoon, divided

Before You Begin

Check out our "Ingredient Note" above before beginning.

Instructions

  1. Soften 4 tablespoons butter then mash with feta, mint, orange zest, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper in bowl until combined; set feta butter aside until ready to serve. Rub zucchini all over with 1 tablespoon vegetable oil and sprinkle with ¼ teaspoon salt and ⅛ teaspoon pepper. Stand pork pieces cut side down on cutting board, cover with plastic wrap, and pound to even ¼-inch thickness. Pat cutlets dry with paper towels and sprinkle with ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. 
  2. Grill pork over hot fire until lightly charred and meat registers 140 degrees, 4 to 6 minutes, flipping as needed. Transfer to serving platter, tent loosely with aluminum foil, and let rest while grilling zucchini. 
  3. Add zucchini to now-empty grill and grill until tender, 5 to 7 minutes, flipping halfway through. Dollop pork and zucchini with reserved feta butter. Serve.
Grilled Pork Cutlets and Zucchini with Feta and Mint Compound Butter
Photography by Kevin White. Styling by Chantal Lambeth.

Grilled Pork Cutlets and Zucchini with Feta and Mint Compound Butter

Headshot of America's Test Kitchen
By America's Test Kitchen
Save

Time

25 minutes

Yield

Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients

1 ounce feta cheese, crumbled (¼ cup)
1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint
½ teaspoon grated orange zest
4 small zucchini (6 ounces each), halved lengthwise
2 (12- to 16-ounce) pork tenderloins, trimmed and cut crosswise into 4 equal pieces
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 teaspoon table salt, divided
½ teaspoon pepper, plus ⅛ teaspoon, divided

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

1 ounce feta cheese, crumbled (¼ cup)
1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint
½ teaspoon grated orange zest
4 small zucchini (6 ounces each), halved lengthwise
2 (12- to 16-ounce) pork tenderloins, trimmed and cut crosswise into 4 equal pieces
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 teaspoon table salt, divided
½ teaspoon pepper, plus ⅛ teaspoon, divided

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

1 ounce feta cheese, crumbled (¼ cup)
1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint
½ teaspoon grated orange zest
4 small zucchini (6 ounces each), halved lengthwise
2 (12- to 16-ounce) pork tenderloins, trimmed and cut crosswise into 4 equal pieces
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 teaspoon table salt, divided
½ teaspoon pepper, plus ⅛ teaspoon, divided

Test Kitchen Techniques

Why This Recipe Works

Pork tenderloin is often associated with fall comfort food, but this recipe helps us shake up our porky routine. The never-fail equation for an easy, flavor-packed meal on the grill is protein + vegetable + compound butter. Here a salty feta, fresh mint, and orange zest concoction melts over beautifully browned pork and spears of grilled zucchini, turning into a luxurious sauce that falls firmly in warm weather–dinner territory.

Before You Begin

Check out our "Ingredient Note" above before beginning.

Instructions

  1. Soften 4 tablespoons butter then mash with feta, mint, orange zest, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper in bowl until combined; set feta butter aside until ready to serve. Rub zucchini all over with 1 tablespoon vegetable oil and sprinkle with ¼ teaspoon salt and ⅛ teaspoon pepper. Stand pork pieces cut side down on cutting board, cover with plastic wrap, and pound to even ¼-inch thickness. Pat cutlets dry with paper towels and sprinkle with ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. 
  2. Grill pork over hot fire until lightly charred and meat registers 140 degrees, 4 to 6 minutes, flipping as needed. Transfer to serving platter, tent loosely with aluminum foil, and let rest while grilling zucchini. 
  3. Add zucchini to now-empty grill and grill until tender, 5 to 7 minutes, flipping halfway through. Dollop pork and zucchini with reserved feta butter. Serve.

Gift This Recipe

Enjoyed this dish? Let others know by sharing it as a gift recipe.

This is a members' feature.