Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Rhubarb Barbecue Sauce

Four pork tenderloin slices, topped with a rhubarb chunky sauce with a side of asparagus on a white plate. A small white bowl off the the upper right has more of the sauce. A fork is the left of the plate. The dish is on a grey cloth.

Courtesy of grocery.coop
Recipe Information
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 4

Tart, tangy rhubarb barbecue sauce is the perfect companion for mild, sweet grilled pork.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
  • 1 clove garlic, chopped
  • 2 cups chopped rhubarb (about 8 ounces), fresh or frozen
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 5 tablespoons light brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1/4 teaspoon chipotle powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon salt, divided
  • 1 pound pork tenderloin
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Preparation

  1. For the sauce: Place a small pot over medium heat for a minute, then drizzle in 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add onion and stir; when it starts to sizzle, reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook for about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes, until softened and fragrant. Add rhubarb and stir. In a cup, stir the water and tomato paste until smooth, and pour into the pan. Add brown sugar, vinegar, Worcestershire, Dijon, chipotle powder, paprika and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Stir until mixture starts to boil, and reduce heat to a low simmer. Cook, stirring frequently, until the rhubarb is falling apart and the mixture is thickened, about 5 minutes. Add more water if it seems too thick to be pourable. Let cool to room temperature while you grill the pork.
  2. Heat the grill to high. Pat the pork dry and rub with remaining olive oil, salt and pepper. Use tongs and paper towels to rub oil on one side of the grill. Place the pork on the oiled grate and let cook, undisturbed, for 2 minutes, then carefully turn three times to cook each of the remaining sides for 2 minutes each. Turn the heat to low underneath the pork and cook for 4 additional minutes per side. Use an instant read thermometer to check the internal temperature at the thickest part of the meat. When the thermometer reads 160°F, take it off the heat and place on a clean platter. Let pork stand, loosely covered, for 10 minutes before serving.
  3. Slice the pork crosswise in 8 slices, place on a warmed serving platter, then pour the rhubarb sauce over the slices. Serve immediately.

Serving Suggestion

While the grill is hot, toss on some asparagus spears or marinated zucchini to accompany the pork tenderloin.