Grilled pork tenderloin with a mustard and herb marinade is a staple around our house. This mustard and herb marinade is a slight variation of a recipe that was given to me years ago by my mother-in-law. It's super easy and very delicious.
The ingredients for the mustard and herb marinade you will probably have on hand except, maybe, the fresh herbs and sherry. I mix the herbs up in this recipe depending on what I have. In the summer my garden is full of fresh herbs so I have unlimited choices. In the winter I usually have some rosemary and thyme in my freezer so I will use that. I've also made it without any herbs at all and it still tastes amazing! As for the sherry, you can pick up an inexpensive bottle of dry sherry and it will always be there when you need it for this recipe. We don't drink much sherry but I always have a bottle in my fridge to use for different sauces and marinades.
Removing the silver skin
Before marinating your tenderloin you are going to want to remove the silver skin. What is silver skin you ask? It is a piece of connective tissue that runs about half the length of the tenderloin on one side. It is silver-ish in colour. Once cooked it becomes very tough and chewy so unless you want to give your jaw a good work out I suggest getting rid of it. You do this by slipping a boning knife or paring knife just underneath the skin enough so you can grab onto a piece with your fingers. While holding the skin in one hand slice away from you with the blade angled slightly upward slicing just underneath the skin until it is all removed.
How to make this recipe
- Combine all the marinade ingredients in a dish large enough to hold the tenderloin.
- Remove silver skin from the pork and place in the marinade. Turn to coat.
- Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes or up to 24 hours turning occasionally.
- Oil the grill and preheat to medium-high.
- Place tenderloin on hot grill and cook for 15-25 minutes, until internal temperature reaches 135 degrees F.
- If you would like to use marinade as a sauce, reserve.
- Remove to a plate and tent with foil. Let rest for 10 minutes.
- If making a sauce with the marinade, place in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Pour over the sliced tenderloin.
If you don't have a meat thermometer I highly recommend getting one. It takes all the guess work out of cooking meat properly. This one is my fave quick read thermometer by ThermoWorks. It's brilliant and I use it all the time!
Let the pork rest, tented with foil, for 10 minutes before slicing. This helps retain the juiciness. Try this Shaved Asparagus Salad with Creamy Parmesan Dressing
PRO TIPS FOR BEST RESULTS
- Keep a bottle of inexpensive dry sherry in your fridge for use in sauces and marinades.
- If you don't have sherry substitute with white wine, vermouth or 1 tbsp. white wine or rice vinegar.
- Switch up the herbs to suit your taste and what's available.
- Remove the silver-skin from the tenderloin before marinating.
- Grease the grill with oiled paper towel.
- Cook until a thermometer reads 140°F.
- Let rest, tented with foil for 10 mins. This should bring the internal temperature up to 145°F and help to retain juiciness.
- Simmer the extra marinade for a lovely finishing sauce.
Side dish ideas
- CREAMY CAULIFLOWER AND CELERY ROOT PUREE
- CUMIN AND LIME COLESLAW
- CORN SALAD WITH CREAMY DILL DRESSING
- SUMMER SUCCOTASH
Mustard and Herb Grilled Pork Tenderloin
Ingredients
- 1 pork tenderloin
- 3 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 tablespoon whole grain mustard, can substitute regular Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp each of chopped fresh rosemary, thyme and chives, or any other combination of herbs you like
- 2 tablespoon dry sherry
- 1 teaspoon salt t or to taste
Instructions
- 1. In a dish large enough to fit the pork, combine all the marinade ingredients.
- 2. Prepare the tenderloin by removing the silver skin (detailed instructions in above post). Place in the dish with the marinade turning to coat. Spoon some of the marinade over top of the pork. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to overnight.
- 3. Pre-heat your grill and lightly oil. Remove the pork from the marinade and place on the hot grill. Reserve the marinade in a small sauce pan if using as a sauce later. Cook the pork for 7-10 minutes per side or until internal temperature reaches 135°F.
- 4. Remove from grill and tent with foil for 10 minutes.
- 5. Prepare the sauce by bringing the marinade to a boil. Let simmer for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened.
- 6. Slice pork into 1-2 cm thick slices and serve.
Notes
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- In a large oven proof skillet, heat 2 tablespoon olive oil over medium high heat.
- Add tenderloin and cook until browned on the bottom, about 5 mins
- Flip and transfer to the oven.
- Roast for 15 - 20 mins. or until a thermometer, inserted in the thickest part, reaches 135 degrees F.
- Transfer to a plate, cover loosely with foil, and let rest for 10 minutes.
- Slice and serve.
Jackie says
Could you put the tenderloin in a ziplock bag with the marinade and freeze it in this for another time…. Then thaw and grill?
Andrea says
Hi Jackie! Yes absolutely! In fact I have one in my freezer right now! 👌😄
Margaret Christie says
Made this last might, actually for the second time. First time I did the marinade part them didn’t read rest of recipe and just put it in the oven like I do for another tenderloin recipe I make. Oh and I used Dijon instead of grainy mustard. But this time I read the whole recipe and followed it and used grainy mustard which I think is best, Dijon was ok. Dinner was delicious and my friends loved it too. I tripled the recipe. Marinated it about 4 hours and did the browning, put all in oven but it did take about 30 minutes to be cooked. Boiled the marinade. Nice that could do all ahead of guests arriving, served just like in the picture on top of arugula as my greens, made roast veggies and the cauliflower celeriac mash. Was such a good dinner. Thx for creating the recipes!
Andrea says
That all sounds wonderful! Thanks for sharing Margaret!
Susan Godfrey says
I've made this twice and both times it was a hit! Mostly, I haven't been a pork tenderloin fan, but the flavor of this is fantastic! I served it with your brussel sprout recipe, and my tummy is so happy:) Thanks for providing the group with these excellent healthy recipes!
Sandy dasilva says
Another family favorite! Even my daughter wants the recipe, sides tonight was shaved brussel sprouts with pecans, bacon and apple salad another of Andrea’s recipes and mashed potatoes. Can’t thank you enough for your easy to follow and tasty recipes❤️
Karen MacIntyre says
I haven’t made the recipe yet, but 3 Tbsps of brown sugar seems like a lot for 1 pork tenderloin. Is it correct?
Andrea says
Hi Karen! Yes that's correct. It's a marinade so the pork doesn't absorb it all. The marinade is discarded before cooking the pork.
Jackie says
Another great recipe !
Tamy says
Hi Andrea! Thank you for all the great recipes!!!
I was wondering - if you don’t have access to a grill, how would you adjust for oven cooking?
Andrea says
You want to bake at 400 degrees F. for about 20-30 minutes, until just slightly pink in the center or a meat thermometer reads 145 degrees F. 😃