Meats

Pork Loin Au Poivre

Add a French name to a recipe, and you can make just about anything sound good! Although “Pork Au Poivre” sounds fancy, it is super easy, but loaded with intense flavor.

Au poivre basically translates as “completely covered in pepper.” It is usually steak that gets the pepper treatment (followed by a delicious, cognac cream sauce), but this is simple and satisfying cooking. We don’t need a cream sauce! Who has cognac in their cupboard anyway?

For this recipe, I’m using a pork loin (different than pork tenderloin). We’re using high heat, and a short cook time to keep the pork tender and juicy. Searing it before roasting gives it a delicious crust and also helps to lock in the juices.

Pork Loin Au Poivre

Ingredients

1.5 lb pork loin
3 tbs extra virgin olive oil
2 tsp kosher salt
2 tsp fresh ground pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Trim the thick strip of fat off the one side of the loin. Pat the meat dry with a paper towel. Coat the pork loin with the salt, pepper, and olive oil. Feel free to reduce the amount of pepper if you don’t want the intensity.

Heat a large skillet on medium high heat. Place the pork in the pan and sear on each side for about 2 minutes. Things get a little smokey here, so turn on your exhaust fans, and open some windows!

After searing is complete, place pork loin in a baking dish and drizzle lightly with more olive oil. Next, put it into the oven on the middle rack and roast for 20 minutes.

Remove from oven, cover with foil, and allow to rest for 10 minutes. The middle will be slightly pink (which is perfectly okay nowadays).

Serves 4-5

Pork Loin Au Poivre

Classic Meatloaf

I’ve tried many variations of meatloaf, but I always come back to the traditional, smothered-in-ketchup version I grew up with. This is a great basic recipe that you can vary with whatever ingredients you have. Add minced jalapeños for a little kick, or use bread if you don’t have oatmeal.

Ingredients

1.25 lbs ground beef (80-85% is preferred)
1 cup finely chopped onion
1 egg
1/2 cup instant oats
1 tbs Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 cup ketchup
1 tbs brown sugar
1/4 cup BBQ sauce

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Place meat, onion, egg, oats, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper, and BBQ sauce in a large bowl. Mix together thoroughly with clean hands, and then form into a loaf shape (kind of an oblong ball).

Place brown sugar in loaf pan. Place meatloaf on top of brown sugar and turn once to coat. You can either leave it in the loaf shape or press it down to fit the loaf pan. Smother with ketchup.

Bake for 45 minutes, and then turn the oven up to 400 degrees. This will help create a nice crust around the meatloaf and also seal in the juices. Bake for another 25 minutes. Take meatloaf out of oven and allow to rest 5 minutes before cutting.