Apple Pork Tenderloin in Puff Pastry

Pork wellington

Kuvona/Getty Images

Prep: 25 mins
Cook: 30 mins
Total: 55 mins
Servings: 6 to 8 servings

Apple Pork Tenderloin in Puff Pastry is an elegant main dish recipe perfect for entertaining. The tender pork is browned and wrapped in flaky pastry with a reduction of onion, apples, and thyme leaves.

One note: because you brown the meat, then wrap it in the pastry and bake it, you can't make this ahead of time. Never partially cook meat and hold it, even in the fridge or freezer, for later cooking because bacteria will grow in the warmed meat.

And remember that the pork and the filling should cool slightly before you put them onto the puff pastry. Otherwise, the pastry will soften too much and the dish will be ruined.

Serve this fabulous dish with a green salad tossed with avocados and sliced mushrooms, and some braised baby carrots drizzled with brown butter. Add some white wine and a nice chocolate cake or pie for dessert for a memorable meal.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • 2 (1-pound) pork tenderloins

  • 1 medium onion, coarsely chopped

  • 3 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1 cup peeled and coarsely chopped Granny Smith apple

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme

  • 2 tablespoons apple juice or white wine

  • Salt, to taste

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

  • 1 sheet frozen puff pastry (from 17-ounce package), thawed according to box directions

  • 1 large egg, beaten

Steps to Make It

  1. In a medium skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the pork tenderloins to the skillet; cook until the pork is browned on all sides, turning frequently, about 5 to 7 minutes total. Remove the pork to a plate and let cool while you prepare the rest of the filling.

  2. Add the onion and garlic to the drippings remaining in the skillet; cook and stir for 4 to 5 minutes or until tender. Add the chopped apple, salt, and pepper; cook and stir until the ingredients are tender. Then add the thyme and the apple juice or wine; cook and stir until the liquid evaporates. Set this mixture aside to cool for about 10 minutes.

  3. Unroll the pastry and roll it out on a lightly floured surface to a 13-inch square. Cut the pastry into 2 rectangles.

  4. Preheat the oven to 400 F. Spread half of the onion mixture down the center of each pastry rectangle and top with the tenderloins. Brush the edges of the pastry with the egg and bring together; press to seal.

  5. Place the bundles seam-side down on a Silpat lined cookie sheet with sides. Brush the pastry with the remaining egg. Cut slits in the pastry, and decorate as you'd like.

  6. Bake the bundles for 20 to 30 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown and a meat thermometer inserted into the pork right through the pastry reads 145 F. Let stand for 10 to 15 minutes, then slice and serve.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
556 Calories
31g Fat
31g Carbs
35g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6 to 8
Amount per serving
Calories 556
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 31g 40%
Saturated Fat 7g 34%
Cholesterol 114mg 38%
Sodium 432mg 19%
Total Carbohydrate 31g 11%
Dietary Fiber 2g 6%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 35g
Vitamin C 1mg 5%
Calcium 26mg 2%
Iron 3mg 18%
Potassium 568mg 12%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)