Thursday, May 19, 2011

Chili Espresso Pork Tenderloin with Mango Cucumber Salsa


The warm sunny days of spring have worked their magic and filled our Farmer's Markets with an eagerly anticipated bounty of produce.  Baskets overflowing with everything from fresh herbs and greens to carrots and beets and my favorite snap peas fill table after table.  Aromas of sweet strawberries permeate the area while children walk around with red stained chins from sampling the juicy treats.

Considering myself extraordinarily lucky, I have no less than 3 favorite markets to attend each week.  If I were to stretch my mile radius the options would become even more bountiful, however I'm satisfied (for the moment) with my 3 favorites.  Wednesdays offer a lovely afternoon market in downtown Carlsbad where my favorite local heirloom pesticide free tomatoes are just starting to make a most welcomed appearance.  Saturday mornings get and early start in Vista where vendors of all sorts arrive and are ready to sell by 8 AM.  Here I find my favored Herbed Olive Oils and local orange blossom honeys along with the best organic strawberries I've yet to find.  And then we have Sunday, a more leisurely market in Leucadia starting mid morning and featuring an entire row organic produce in addition to numerous prepared hot food offerings.

A recent new discovery at the Leucadia Market had me earnestly perusing the Salt Farm Gourmet Salt table.  Filled with over 20 types of salts and salt blends packaged in attractive little bottles I had a difficult time choosing only three to bring home.  After much discussion and back and forth decision making, my husband and I decided on a smoky salt, espresso salt and an Asian Salt blend.

Arriving home my planned Pork Tenderloin with a Chili Espresso Rub seemed to be the perfect way to try out my new salt finds!  Mixing a few pinches of the smoky and espresso infused salts into the rub brought a new depth of flavor to the table.  Adding ground espresso directly to the rub along with cumin, chili powder, ginger and coriander gave our pork a mouthwatering flavor and topping the grilled slices with a sweet mango salsa completed the package.  Tender and bursting with flavor the meal was finished off with grilled asparagus, a salad of market fresh tossed greens and veggies and of course, Liv's chocolate dipped strawberries.  Welcome spring!!


Grilled Chili Espresso Pork Tenderloin with Mango Cucumber Salsa
(Printer friendly recipe)

Rub
2 Tbs dark brown sugar
1 Tbs finely ground espresso
1 Tbs ground coriander
2 Tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground ginger
1-2 tsp red chili flakes or chili powder
salt and pepper to taste (I used smoky and espresso flavored salts - about a generous 1/4 tsp) 

1 or 2 pork tenderloins 

Mango Salsa
1 - 2 mangoes
1/2 cup peeled diced cucumber (or unpeeled Persian Cucumber)
1 Tbs diced jalapeño
1/3 cup diced onion (we used scallions)
2 Tbs lime juice
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
Salt to taste

In a small bowl whisk rub ingredients together.

In a medium bowl mix salsa ingredients together, taste and adjust ingredients to taste.

Rub the rub mixture over pork tenderloins and prepare grill to medium high heat.  When grill is hot place tenderloins onto grill and lower the direct heat to medium low.  Turning occasionally, grill until the pork is about 140 degrees when measure with a meat thermometer and allow pork to rest for about 10 minutes.

Slice pork and serve with salsa.



30 comments:

  1. That Mango salsa caught my eye - it looks so fresh and delicious. The idea of using espresso (I'm a fan of espresso), is also very interesting .. I'm thinking this recipe could work with chicken too. those chocolate covered strawberries, I could eat right now ... :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. This sounds so yummy, Kim! I love pork tenderloin and am always seeking out new ways to serve it to keep it fun and fresh. Saving this one for sure...and what I wouldn't give for a choc-dipped California berry right about now!

    ReplyDelete
  3. OMG, I had something very similar to this when I visited Scottsdale, Arizona a couple of years ago. I absolutely love the look of your mango salsa. Delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sounds incredible!!! What great flavor combos!!! This post def gets me excited about hitting up th Farmer's stands....been so busy/sick/tired to be an active customer lately :( You got some delicious finds there :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. What a fabulous rub for pork! My family would definitely approve! And I'm eying that beautiful salsa...now rethinking what I'm serving with our salmon tomorrow :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. That salsa...WOW! That rub...Double WOW! I have never had anything like that rub...espresso, cumin, chili flakes...um...I bet that is beyond delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  7. That sounds really great for a meal! I love the combination you have going on here. Your mango salsa sounds like it could go with a lot of different things which I really love. So bright and colorful too :-)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh my, what a delicious meal! All the photos are just beautiful, too, Kim! Your three market visits every week sounds like so much fun! I've still not even gone to ONE farmers market this year yet :-( Man, that's quite depressing but thinking back on it, it's been go, go, go with school since January 1st. Well, it's almost over now!!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. this is a great rub! awesome thanks for sharing this one~

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oh my goodness that salsa is gorgeous!!! I want those strawberries....mmmm

    ReplyDelete
  11. I can't wait to start barbecuing! This dinner sounds wonderful. I love how bright the salsa is!

    ReplyDelete
  12. That well-spiced rub coupled with the sweet salsa is a winner. And I love my mango salsa. Sometimes I forget to have it with anything else!

    ReplyDelete
  13. This looks amazing! I love mango salsa. I totally enjoy pork tenderloin when I am out but I have yet to make it myself. Your pics make me want to go get one!

    ReplyDelete
  14. What a great pork recipe! The smokey, spicy pork with the fresh fruit - yum!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Chili Espresso...say no more! I already know this recipe will be a new family favorite! Thanks for sharing it with us.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Gorgeous! The markets here in Seattle are finally starting to show signs of life and I'll definitely be keeping this recipe on hand for when spring is in full bloom!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Ohhhh Kim! This dish definitely catches everyone's attention at the table. Beautiful, fresh, colorful summer veggies.. and not just the salsa, pork tenderloin is gorgeous too. I love it. When you serve this dish, I'm sure everyone will say WOW!!! for sure. Great pictures too.;-)

    ReplyDelete
  18. 3 farmers markets?? How lucky you are. I thought that photo of the salts looked so fun. What a great thing to experiment with. Your pork sounds incredible with that rub.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I just wrote down your pork rub, that sounds wonderful! I used to go to the Leucadia farmers market when it was tiny years ago. These days I LOVE the farmers markets in Little Italy on Saturdays, and in Hillcrest on Sundays. You must make it down here one of these weekends!

    ReplyDelete
  20. What a beautiful day ...love visiting farmers markets...My market days are Tuesdays- Thursday with few very close markets. Love your dish, sound so fresh and tasty:)
    https://mywanderingspoon.wordpress.com/2011/04/14/manhattan-beach-farmers-market-homemade-carrot-soup-kumquats-bagel-shop/

    ReplyDelete
  21. Amazing Kim, I love your presentation, and ohh that strawberry just stole the show:)) Stunning pictures as always!!!Have a wonderful weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  22. What a fantastic pork rub! I love the crust & I am sure my husband would love this too! I absolutely LOVE mango salsa. I use a similar recipe and I think it goes with so many things, doesn't it? What beautiful produce at the farmers market, and those salts make me jealous I don't get them here :) Thank you for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Your photos are stunning. The pork sounds amazing. And I love that you topped it with a mango salsa.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Wow. A chili espresso rubbed pork with a cool salsa??? Yes please!! And I'll take a dozen of those chocolate covered strawberries please!

    ReplyDelete
  25. I love combining meats with fresh ingredient, makes a much more fresh meal! What a creative way to prepare pork, rubbing with espresso? briliant :)

    ReplyDelete
  26. I so want to visit San Diego again. Your Farmer's Markets sound wonderful. I love the idea of an espresso-rubbed tenderloin, and although I can't eat mango I would definitely make it for the rest of the family.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Mango and cucumber salsa looks marvelous! And what an unique coffee rub for the meat!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Kim, I adore these flavours all together. Sounds divine. Great sounding markets, too. Oh, I wish I was back in sunny CA and join with the kids with red stained chins!

    ReplyDelete
  29. That pork tenderloin looks delicious. I always love your photos. They are so bright and cheery!

    ReplyDelete
  30. I have yet to visit any of the farmer's markets up in North County, but they must be a treat given all of the local farmer's in the area!

    The pork rub looks super tasty. Definitely going to have to give that one a try!

    ReplyDelete

Your comments make our hearts sing!