Pork Loin Recipes

Photo by Photo by Howard L. Puckett; Styling: Cindy Manning Barr, Cooking Light

Pork loin is a delicate cut of meat. With its limited marbling, it requires a deft hand and gentle cooking method to produce the best results. When it is prepared well, a roasted pork loin typically has a rub of some kind that is applied to the sweet cover fat left on the loin to keep it from drying out.

That rub and the sweet cover fat are the keys to successfully pairing a roasted pork loin with its ideal wine. The meat of the loin itself is fairly mild and uniform. If you were to pair the loin alone, you would want a fairly mild, smooth wine with moderate acidity and low tannins. Something like Gamay for red or Chardonnay for white would be well advised, but roasted pork loin is usually flavored with herbs and spices.

In Italy, one finds Arista alla Fiorentina, which is pork loin rubbed with rosemary, garlic and salt before roasting. Typically paired with a light Chianti, a very fine and typical pairing, this common blend of Mediterranean flavors opens pork to be paired with many wines, particularly those coming from the Mediterranean coast. Unoaked white wines from the Mediterranean basin are the ideal match here. These wines have zesty acidity and fresh fruit flavors that will work as a contrast to the herb and garlic coating of the pork, bringing both the sweet flavors of the pork and the wine to the fore. Consider a fine Sauvignon Blanc with its gentle herbaceous notes or a Petit Manseng from France, with its rich fruit and subtle spices. Round and soft Soave is a wonderful pairing, as well.

If you prefer a red wine, look to Grenache-based wines from France or exotic blends from Lebanon, Greece and North Africa. A lighter styled Nero d’Avola from Sicily will also work. One surprising match would be an herb-accented Carmenere from Chile.

Other common rubs for pork loin include blends featuring paprika, coffee and other assertive flavors like chilies. With these, you will need to choose a wine that has intense fruit yet doesn’t completely cover the flavor of the pork. Petite Sirah, lighter-styled Syrah, Carmenere and Cabernet Franc all share a certain spicy character without having too much tannin or body, making them well suited as a contrast to the assertive flavors that wrap the mild pork tenderloin in these dishes.

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All Pork Loin Recipes

Achiote-rubbed Roast Pork Loin
Rub pork loin with Achiote Rub. Cover and refrigerate 4 hours.Place pork in a large roasting pan; arrange beets and onion around pork. Drizzle beet...
Apple and Corn Bread-Stuffed Pork Loin
Preheat oven to 450°. Heat a nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium heat. Add onion, celery, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper; cover and coo...
Apricot-Stuffed Spice-Rubbed Pork Loin
Preheat oven to 350°. Combine first 7 ingredients in a small bowl. Combine apricots and capers; set aside. Trim fat from pork. Cut a 1 1/2-inch-wid...
Baby Loin Back Ribs
Place ribs in a large, shallow pan. Rub Dry Spices evenly over ribs. Cover and chill 3 hours. Prepare a hot fire by piling charcoal or lava rocks o...
Bacon-Wrapped Maple Pork Loin
Combine all brining ingredients except pork loin in a 3- to 4-quart saucepan and heat over high heat, stirring, until salt is dissolved. Pour brine...
Barbecue Pork Sandwiches
1. Combine 1 Tbsp. barbecue seasoning and 1 tsp. salt; rub evenly over pork roast. 2. Stir together tomatoes, next 7 ingredients, remaining 1 Tbsp....
Barbecue-Rubbed Pork Loin with Raisin-Mustard Chutney
To prepare chutney, heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion, 2 teaspoons fresh ginger, and garlic; sauté 4 minutes. Stir in j...
Barbecue Sandwiches
1. Preheat oven to 375°. Stir together roast and barbecue sauce in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, 8 to 10 minut...
Brined Pork Loin with Brown Sugar-Bourbon Glaze
1. Combine 1 gallon water and salt in a large stockpot, stirring until salt dissolves. Add pork to brine; refrigerate for 24 hours. 2. Remove pork ...
Brined Pork Loin with Onion, Raisin, and Garlic Compote
Combine first 7 ingredients in heavy large pot. Bring to simmer over medium heat, stirring to dissolve salt and sugar. Remove from heat. Cool to ro...
Charmoula Roasted Pork Loin
Heat the oven to 450°F and arrange a rack in the middle. Trim the pork loin as needed, rinse, and thoroughly pat dry with paper towels. Place in ...
Cheddar Beer Kettle Crusted Smoked Pork Loin
About four hours pre-cooking, rinse pork loin in cold water and pat dry completely Combine the dry rub and ground Kettle chips Coat pork loin wit...
Chinese Barbecued Roast Pork
Cut the pork loin lengthwise into 4 equal strips. Using a small knife, pierce each strip 4 times to help the marinade penetrate the meat. Put the p...
Chinese Pork & Mushroom Wraps
Put the cabbage in a colander over the sink and toss with 1/2 tsp. of the salt. Let sit for 10 minutes. Transfer to a baking sheet lined with paper...
Chorizo-Stuffed Pork Loin with Green Apple Salsa
In a mixing bowl, combine the sausage, breadcrumbs, jalapeño, scallions, and apple. Mix well and transfer to a pastry bag without a tip or to a h...
Cider-glazed Pork Loin Sandwich with Walnut Pesto
Heat vegetable oil in a large ovenproof skillet over high heat. Add pork loin and cook 2 to 3 minutes on each side or until browned. Bake pork loin...
Cider-Glazed Pork Loin with Fennel Coulis and Smashed Red-Skinned Potatoes
In a medium saucepan, melt the butter. Add the ginger and sauté gently for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the cider, sugar, and peppercorns. Simmer vigorously...
Company Pork Roast
Bring first 13 ingredients to a boil in a saucepan; reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes. Remove and discard bay leaf. Prepare fire by piling charcoa...
Cornmeal-and-Chile-Cumin Coated Pork Loin
Preheat oven to 350°F. Pat pork dry and season with salt and pepper. Stir together cornmeal and cumin and transfer to a plate. Turn pork in cornmea...
Cranberry Glazed Pork Roast Recipe
1. Combine salt and pepper; rub over the roast. Place roast, fat side up, on a rack in a greased roasting pan. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 40 minu...