Five-Spice Pork Tenderloin

Five-spice powder is spice mixture that is commonly used in Chinese cooking. This blend of spices is traditionally developed from cinnamon, cloves, fennel seed, star anise, and Sichuan peppercorns, but can sometimes include ginger or white pepper. Conceptually this mix  was created to deliver a “balance” of the five flavors: pungent, sweet, savory, bitter, and salty. I think it is wonderful!  In this recipe, that I found on the Whole Foods website, the five-spice is mixed with several other spices to create a rub for pork tenderloin. The dish is finished with hoisin sauce and green onions for added flavor and a pretty presentation if you ask me! My husband added this to his “favorites” after one bite!

Five-Spice Pork Tenderloin with Hoisin Sauce 
Recipe from Whole Foods Market
Serves 4

 Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds pork tenderloin 
1 tablespoon five-spice powder 
1 teaspoon dry mustard 
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 
1/2 teaspoon pepper 
1/2 teaspoon salt 
2 tablespoons peanut or safflower oil 
1/3 cup hoisin sauce 
Sliced green onions for garnish

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F. 

Put five-spice powder, dry mustard, ginger, pepper, and salt into a wide, shallow dish and mix well. Roll pork in spices to coat all over. 

Heat oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium high heat. Add pork and cook, turning occasionally, until golden brown all over. Transfer skillet to oven and cook until pork is just cooked through, about 20 minutes. Transfer pork to a cutting board and set aside to let rest for 5 minutes. 

Meanwhile, warm hoisin sauce in a small pot. Cut pork into thick slices and serve hot, with a little hoisin sauce spooned over the top of each slice. Garnish with green onions.