Pork Tenderloin With Melon Salad Food

SPICED PORK TENDERLOIN WITH COLLARD GREEN SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 475 degrees F and line a baking sheet with foil. Combine the chili powder, thyme, cayenne and 3/4 teaspoon each salt and black pepper in a small bowl. Rub the pork with 1 tablespoon olive oil and the spice mixture. Transfer to the prepared pan and roast, turning once, until a thermometer inserted into the center of the pork registers 145 degrees F, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board; let rest.
• Meanwhile, combine the collard greens, 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Massage the greens with your hands until slightly wilted, about 1 minute. Add the black-eyed peas, Peppadews, scallions, vinegar and the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil; season with salt and black pepper and toss to combine. Set aside.
• Toast the crumbled cornbread in a small dry nonstick skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp, 3 to 5 minutes. Slice the pork and serve with the collard greens. Sprinkle the toasted cornbread over the greens.

SPICY THAI PORK TENDERLOIN SALAD

Steps:

• Pat pork dry with paper towel. In a bowl, combine shallot, cilantro, 2 tablespoons of the sugar, garlic, soy sauce, peanut or grapeseed oil, lime zest and juice, ginger, fish sauce, salt and chile. Pour a quarter of the mixture into a blender, add remaining sugar and purée until a smooth, loose paste forms. (Save the unblended mixture to use as dressing.)
• Place tenderloin in a large bowl and spread the paste all over pork. Marinate at room temperature for 2 hours, or cover and refrigerate up to 24 hours; turn the tenderloin occasionally.
• Light the grill or heat the broiler and arrange a rack at least 4 inches from the heat. Grill or broil pork, turning occasionally, until well browned and meat reaches an internal temperature of 135 degrees, 4 to 10 minutes per side depending upon the heat of your broiler or grill. Keep an eye on it so it doesn't overcook. Let meat rest while you prepare the salad. (Or, cook the pork 1 or 2 hours ahead and serve it at room temperature.)
• In a large bowl, combine the salad ingredients, reserving the herbs, cashews and coconut. Whisk the dressing and use just enough to dress the salad, tossing to combine. Let sit for a few minutes for the flavors to meld, then right before serving, add herbs and toss again.
• To serve, slice the pork. Arrange salad on a platter and top with sliced pork. Scatter cashews and coconut on top, drizzle with a little more of the remaining dressing, to taste.

SPICY PORK TENDERLOIN SALAD

Steps:

• Combine the salt, cumin, cinnamon, chili powder and pepper; rub over pork. In a cast-iron or other ovenproof skillet, brown pork on all sides in oil, about 8 minutes. Combine the brown sugar, garlic and hot pepper sauce; spread over pork., Bake at 350°, until a thermometer inserted in pork reads 145°, 25-35 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes , before slicing. For vinaigrette, in a large bowl, combine juices, mustard, salt and pepper; gradually whisk in oil. Toss vinaigrette with spinach. Place spinach on serving platter; top with sliced pork. If desired, drizzle with pan juices.

PORK AND WATERMELON SALAD

Steps:

• Crosshatch pork belly skin with sharp knife, making cuts 1/2-inch apart. Place pork belly in non-reactive dish. Combine kecap manis, vinegar, soy sauce, fish sauce and lime juice, and pour over pork belly. Chill for 24 to 48 hours, turning several times.
• Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Place belly, skin side up, in baking pan with 2 cups marinating liquid and 2 cups water. Liquid should come halfway up the pork; if not, add more water or use smaller pan. Cover pan with foil. Bake until a skewer penetrates the belly with little or no resistance, 3 to 4 hours. Remove pork from liquid and let cool. Leaving skin on, slice belly into 1-inch chunks.
• To make salad, cut watermelon flesh into 1-inch cubes (discarding seeds). Reserve rind. Refrigerate flesh until ready to use. With sharp knife, remove outer green skin of rind, reserving white part. Dice white rind into 1/2-inch cubes. Transfer to a heatproof bowl.
• In a saucepan over medium-high heat, combine rice wine vinegar, shallots, chilies, kaffir lime, ginger, palm sugar, salt and 1 cup water, and bring to boil. Cook until sugar dissolves. Strain liquid over white rind. Let cool, then chill for at least 1 hour or as long as 2 days.
• To make dressing, roughly crush palm sugar using a mortar and pestle or place in a plastic bag and crush with a hammer or heavy can. In a food processor, combine sugar with vinegar, lime juice, ginger, cilantro, garlic and salt, and blend until smooth.
• In medium saucepan or wok, heat 3 inches canola or peanut oil to 375 degrees. Lightly dust pork belly cubes with flour, shaking off excess. Working in batches, fry pork belly until dark golden brown and crispy, 6 to 7 minutes. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate. Season with salt, if necessary.
• In a mixing bowl, toss the watermelon flesh with just enough dressing to coat. Divide pork among serving plates, and top with watermelon flesh and a few cubes of pickled rind. Drizzle additional dressing around plate. Garnish with scallions, coriander leaves, basil, and sesame seeds, if using.