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    Home » Recipes » Pork

    Pork Tenderloin with Cilantro Mint Basil Sauce

    June 7, 2022 · Published: May 24, 2021 By: Asian Caucasian 4 Comments

    Jump to Recipe
    Thick slices of pork tenderloin on a rustic wooden board topped with a vibrant green cilantro, mint, basil sauce and a small bowl of sauce and a fork on the side.
    Thick slices of pork tenderloin on a rustic wooden board topped with a vibrant green cilantro, mint, basil sauce and a small bowl of sauce and a fork and herb sauce on the side.

    Juicy Pork Tenderloin with Cilantro Mint Basil Sauce is so crave-worthy that you’ll be making it a regular meal through end of summer! It's crusted with an easy dry rub of brown sugar, salt, and other spices, and topped with a flavorful, herbaceous sauce!

    Thick slices of pork tenderloin on a rustic wooden board topped with a vibrant green cilantro, mint, basil sauce and a small bowl of sauce and a fork on the side.

    Pork tenderloin is one of the easiest meats to cook (and so satisfying!). No need to make a marinade for this recipe. The dry spice rub, along with the herbaceous Cilantro Mint Basil Sauce, is all you'll need for a fantastic oven-baked pork tenderloin that takes just 30 minutes!

    Two raw pork tenderloins rubbed with spices in a glass container on top of a white board.

    Just a dry rub of sugar, salt, and other spices creates a crisp crust on the outside, while being incredibly juicy and tender on the inside! Now you're just 15 minutes away from a beautiful, juicy Pork Tenderloin dish!

    Ingredients for making the dry spice rub for pork tenderloin on a white marbled board.

    Here's what you'll need for the dry rub:

    A dry rub flavors the tenderloins and keeps it moist while creating a crisp crust on the outside. You probably have all of these ingredients in your pantry! Here's what you'll need:

    • ¼ cup brown sugar
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • 1 teaspoon paprika
    • ½ teaspoon onion powder
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    Seared and caramelized pork tenderloin filets in a cast iron pan on top of a white board.

    How to make oven-baked pork tenderloin:

    I seared my tenderloins first in a cast iron pan, then threw the pan into a preheated oven at 375 degrees for 15 minutes. Oven-baked pork tenderloins should cook from anywhere from 15 to 20 minutes depending on their thickness (and your oven), but aim for an internal temperature between 140°F and 145°F in the thickest part of the tenderloin to ensure it’s fully cooked. Perfection!

    Cilantro, basil, and ginger root on a white board with a bowl of green sauce on the side.

    This simple Cilantro Mint Basil Sauce is big on flavor! It brings such brightness and flavor to the pork tenderloin, and it's SO easy to prepare!

    Fresh basil, cilantro, mint, and cilantro leaves on top of a wooden cutting board, along with a jalapeno pepper, fresh lime halves, and garlic cloves.

    Ingredients for the cilantro mint basil sauce:

    Simply throw all of these ingredients into a small food processor or blender and purée until smooth. That's it! No, really, that's it!

    • 1 cup fresh cilantro
    • 1 cup fresh mint leaves
    • 1 cup fresh basil leaves
    • 2 garlic cloves
    • 1 medium jalapeño pepper
    • 1-inch piece of fresh ginger
    • Juice from ½ lime
    • 2 tablespoons water
    • 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
    • ¼ teaspoon Kosher salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    A clear glass bowl of cilantro, mint, basil sauce with a small wooden spoon on the side, and bunch of fresh cilantro and basil leaves, and ginger root, all on top of a white wooden board.

    Look at that beautiful, vibrant Cilantro Mint Basil Sauce! This sauce truly kicks this pork tenderloin dish up several notches. You'll want this herbaceous sauce on everything!

    Thick slices of pork tenderloin on a rustic wooden board topped with a vibrant green cilantro, mint, basil sauce.

    Tips & Tricks

    • When preparing the pork tenderloins, you should remove the silver skin — a connective tissue that doesn’t break down during cooking. Use a sharp knife to get underneath it.
    • Make sure to pat the tenderloins dry with a paper towel before coating with the spice rub.
    • If you'd rather grill the pork tenderloins, go right ahead! Just make sure to check the temperature (140 to 145 degrees) for doneness. I've also used a stove-top grill pan to cook these.
    • Letting the pork tenderloin rest for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing prevents the juices from spilling out!
    • You can refrigerate the Cilantro Mint Basil Sauce for up to 3 weeks, or freeze and defrost when ready to use.
    • This sauce would also be great on chicken, beef, or fish! So multi-purpose!

    Want more recipes like this?

    If you liked this Pork Tenderloin with Cilantro Mint Basil Sauce recipe, you’re going to want these recipes:

    • Chinese Five Spice Pork Tenderloin
    • Vietnamese Grilled Pork Tenderloin Skewers
    • Easy Leftover Pork Soup
    • Gluten-Free Pulled Pork Ramen Bowls
    • Grilled Beef with Green Curry Sauce
    Print
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    Thick slices of pork tenderloin on a rustic wooden board topped with a vibrant green cilantro, mint, basil sauce.

    Pork Tenderloin with Cilantro Mint Basil Sauce

    ★★★★★

    5 from 2 reviews

    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Juicy Pork Tenderloin with Cilantro Mint Basil Sauce is so crave-worthy that you’ll be making it a regular meal through end of summer! It's crusted with an easy dry rub of brown sugar, salt, and other spices, seared and oven-baked, then topped with a flavorful, herbaceous sauce!

    • Total Time: 30 min
    • Yield: 4 1x

    Ingredients

    Units Scale
    • 2 pork tenderloins (1 to 1 ½ pounds), silver skin removed

    For the spice rub:

    • ¼ cup lightly packed dark brown sugar
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • 1 teaspoon paprika
    • ½ teaspoon onion powder
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder

    For the cilantro mint basil sauce:

    • 1 cup fresh cilantro, thick stems removed
    • 1 cup fresh mint leaves
    • 1 cup fresh basil leaves
    • 2 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
    • 1 medium jalapeño pepper, seeded and chopped
    • 1-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled
    • Juice from ½ lime
    • 2 tablespoons water
    • 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
    • ¼ teaspoon Kosher salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

    Instructions

    1. Combine the sugar, salt, paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder in a small bowl.
    2. Pat the pork tenderloins with paper towels to remove any moisture. Thoroughly rub the pork with the spice rub on all sides. Wrap the pork in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for one hour or overnight.
    3. Meanwhile, make the sauce: Combine cilantro, mint, basil, garlic, jalapeño pepper, lime juice, and water in a small food processor or blender. Pulse until fully blended, scraping down the mixture if necessary.
    4. Drizzle in the olive oil and purée until smooth. Season with the salt and pepper, pulsing a few times. Taste for seasoning.
    5. When ready to cook the pork, let it rest at room temperature for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Heat a heavy cast iron skillet or oven-proof pan on high until slightly smoking. Add the pork tenderloins to the pan and sear both sides, about 3 minutes each side.
    6. Transfer the pan to the oven and cook for 15-20 minutes, until an internal temperature reads 140 to 145 degrees. Let the pork rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing.
    7. Place sliced pork on a platter and drizzle with the Cilantro Mint Basil Sauce. Serve the remaining sauce on the side.

    Notes

    • When preparing the pork tenderloins, you should remove the silver skin — a connective tissue that doesn’t break down during cooking. Use a sharp knife to get underneath it.
    • Make sure to pat the tenderloins dry with a paper towel before coating with the spice rub.
    • If you'd rather grill the pork tenderloins, go right ahead! Just make sure to check the temperature (140 to 145 degrees) for doneness. I've also used a stove-top grill pan to cook these.
    • Letting the pork tenderloin rest for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing prevents the juices from spilling out!
    • You can refrigerate the herb sauce for up to 3 weeks, or freeze and defrost when ready to use.
    • This sauce would also be great on chicken, beef, or fish!
    • Author: Asian Caucasian
    • Prep Time: 15 min
    • Cook Time: 15 min
    • Category: Dinner
    • Method: Stove top / Oven
    • Cuisine: Asian Fusion

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size:
    • Calories: 372
    • Sugar: 12.8 g
    • Sodium: 484.8 mg
    • Fat: 17.9 g
    • Carbohydrates: 17.4 g
    • Protein: 36.7 g
    • Cholesterol: 110.6 mg

    Keywords: easy pork tenderloin recipes, pork tenderloin rub, oven baked pork tenderloin, pork tenderloin recipe

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @AsianCaucasianBlog on Instagram and hashtag  #AsianCaucasianEats

    Thick slices of pork tenderloin on a rustic wooden board topped with a vibrant green cilantro, mint, basil sauce and a small bowl of sauce and a fork and herb sauce on the side. this recipe

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      Instant Pot Pork Lo Mein
    • Two Chinese steamed pork buns on a round black plate with a bamboo steamer on the side filled with steamed buns, on top of a gray marbled surface
      Chinese Steamed Pork Buns
    • Vietnamese pork tenderloin skewers on a long blue platter with a side salad and dipping sauce on the side.
      Vietnamese Grilled Pork Tenderloin Skewers
    • pulled pork ramen in a black bowl topped with a runny egg and chopsticks
      Gluten-Free Pulled Pork Ramen Bowls

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Ale Wat

      January 20, 2023 at 10:08 pm

      Made the cilantro sauce, amazing flavor and easy to make. Great with everything, I put it on pizza, served it with plantain chips. Thanks for this recipe.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Asian Caucasian

        January 22, 2023 at 10:15 am

        Great idea, Ale! Love how you adapted this versatile sauce! Snap a pic next time and I'll post it on my Insta feed!😍

        Reply
    2. Sherri Carlyle

      May 24, 2021 at 9:22 am

      Yum! This would be perfect for my Memorial Day picnic! Wow does that pork look good!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Asian Caucasian

        May 24, 2021 at 9:27 am

        Thanks, Sherri! I was so happy with this recipe, and my family raved! The cilantro mint basil sauce is great on everything! Enjoy!

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Lesli! Welcome to Asian Caucasian, a healthy-ish food blog born out of a passion for home-cooked, Asian-inspired cuisine. I always cook with market-fresh ingredients and prepare simplistic, healthy Asian recipes so you can throw away those take-out menus! Come share my culinary love of beautiful Asian-fusion food, and get cooking in the kitchen! READ MORE!

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