Pork Tenderloin with Pears and Shallots is THE most tender pork roast. Roast in a high heat oven quickly or slow roast in a low oven for even more flavor.

In looking for a fresh and different way to prepare pork tenderloin, a recipe using pears and shallots definitely caught my eye. Pears and shallots? Right? Well, thank you, Bon Appetit. This certainly fit the “fresh and different” bill so I dug in. Bon Appetit’s recipe had beautiful ingredients, but the process was very busy and required too much prep going on all at once. After a lot of experimentaion, I think my method is more simplified and I’ve found a way to bump up the flavor infusion. Note: At first glance, the recipe might not seem simple because it’s looks quite long. I give several detailed tips to help ensure your success. When ready to serve, Pork Tenderloin with Pears and Shallots is unique, unexpected and the most tender roast ever. I also offer you two cooking methods- The entire recipe can be completed in about 30 minutes but if you have the time, the flavor is even better slow-finished in the oven for a couple of hours.

The gravy is not heavy and uses pear nectar for a mild sweetness that is meant for this type of meat. Pear nectar can be found in the canned fruit juice aisle of most grocery stores. If you can’t find it, just buy organic stage-two pear baby food and add some water. Making your own pear nectar is a good, natural option.

The roast itself is rubbed with olive oil, fresh thyme and a touch of garlic, then browned in a skillet and quick roasted in a very hot oven. The browning bits that accumulate in your skillet will be the magic ingredient for the shallots, pears and gravy.

Using not-quite-ripe pears is best for this method, ensuring they hold their shape well. I use red anjou pears because they’re pretty. Bosc pears are another good option. Bartlets are a little too soft and break down, even if not ripe. And using shallots for the “onion” option is perfect because of the mildly sweet flavor and hint of garlic they give to the pears and meat.

If you can make this dish a few hours ahead of serving, you won’t be disappointed. Pork Tenderloin with Pears and Shallots is plenty flavorful and tender after the high-heat roasting option, but cover it all with foil and leave in a very low oven for a couple hours and the pork pan juices add even more flavor to the gravy. A versatile meal that is company-worthy with very little effort. This is the most tender, flavorful pork tenderloin I’ve ever had. Ever.

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Amazing Pork Tenderloin with Pears and Shallots

This pork tenderloin recipe is the most tender, flavorful pork roast you'll ever have. Unusual use of pears and pear nectar are perfect here. Ready in no time, but even better left to slow-finish in a low oven. Pear nectar is readily available where any canned fruit juice is stocked, but if you can't find it, purchase healthy stage 2 baby food pears (yes, really) and add water until desired consistency is reached.

Course Main Dish

Calories 2825

Author Good Dinner Mom

Ingredients

4 Tablespoons olive, avocado or canola oil, divided
1 generous tablespoon chopped fresh thyme, plus fresh thyme sprigs for garnish
1 garlic clove, finely minced
Salt, to taste
Black pepper, fresh ground, to taste
2- 1 ½ pound pork tenderloins, Usually sold in one package- Natural, not brined
1 Tablespoon butter
3 large shallots, sliced pole to pole in wide pieces
3 Bosc or Anjou pears, firm, unpeeled, quartered, cored
2 Tablespoons butter, room temperature
1 Tablespoon all-purpose flour, substitute cornstarch for gluten-free option
2 cups low-salt chicken broth
3 cloves garlic, smashed and diced
1 ¼ cups pear nectar
Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

Instructions

Heat oven to 475F degrees, place oven rack at middle position. Have baking sheet or broiler pan ready.
Heat a large non-stick skillet or deep pan to medium-high. Add 1 Tablespoon oil and heat till shimmering.
In a small bowl, combine 3 Tablespoons oil with the fresh thyme and minced garlic. Using your hands, rub this mixture over both pork tenderloins. Add tenderloins to the skillet on your stove and sear on all sides, about 2-3 minutes per side.
Remove meat from the skillet but do not clean out pan, you'll be using it again (If your pan continues to get stuck-on grease and bits in the pan, all the better! We'll be dealing with it and savoring it for the gravy. Don't worry about it now). Place tenderloins on the baking sheet and bake in the hot oven for 10 minutes*. Check for internal temperature and once center has reached 145F degrees, remove from oven (stand to side as you open oven door because oven will be initially smoky), cover with foil and set aside.
In the same pan you seared the meat, add 1 Tablespoon butter and heat to medium-high heat. Add 3 sliced shallots and cook until they barely start to brown. Add 3 pears to the pan with the shallots and cook, stirring occasionally until shallots are nice and brown and the pears have some of the pan drippings clinging to them. Remove to a plate. Still don't clean out the pan, you're not done with it yet.
In a small bowl, place 2 Tablespoons room temperature butter and 1 Tablespoon flour. With a fork, cut the flour and butter together.

Cook's Note:

For gluten-free, replace flour with cornstarch. Set aside.
Here's where you're going to love all or any of the baked on bits in that skillet- Heat the skillet back to medium-high and add the butter mixture, chicken broth, 3 cloves diced garlic and pear nectar. Whisk or stir until butter mixture has incorporated and the bits that were in the skillet have released. Let the mixture boil, stirring occasionally, until it reduces and thickens to desired consistency, about 10 minutes. Taste and add salt and pepper, if desired.
If you want to serve this meal right now, cut the pork into thick slices, place on a platter with pears and shallots on the side. Place extra sprigs of thyme over everything. Pass around the gravy to be poured over.
If you want this dish to become even more tender and flavorful and have the time, do this: Place the pears and shallots over the pork tenderloins still in the baking sheet. Pour half of the gravy over everything, and place remaining gravy in the fridge until ready to serve. Cover the pork with foil. Heat the oven to 250F degrees and place the foil covered pan back in the oven for at least one hour and even up to two (I promise it won't dry out). To serve, plate the pears, shallots and gravy that was poured into the pan. It should have mixed nicely with any pan drippings from the pork. Cut the pork into thick slices and add to plate. Heat the remaining gravy in a small pan or the microwave. Pass this amazingly tender and tasty dish around with the remaining gravy.
Leftovers (if you have any) are amazing and can be refrigerated for up to 2 days.
*Note: If you're going to use the slow roasting method and will be finishing your roast in the 250F oven, you can skip the initial cooking on the high heat. Just make sure you cook the roast for the full two hours at 250F if you skip the initial roasting.

Nutrition Facts

Amazing Pork Tenderloin with Pears and Shallots

Amount Per Serving

Calories 2825 Calories from Fat 1206

% Daily Value*

Fat 134g206%

Saturated Fat 44g275%

Trans Fat 2g

Polyunsaturated Fat 15g

Monounsaturated Fat 67g

Cholesterol 827mg276%

Sodium 1032mg45%

Potassium 5846mg167%

Carbohydrates 159g53%

Fiber 21g88%

Sugar 106g118%

Protein 250g500%

Vitamin A 1260IU25%

Vitamin C 38mg46%

Calcium 216mg22%

Iron 16mg89%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Loosely adapted from Bon Appetit.

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Amazing Pork Tenderloin with Pears and Shallots

Ingredients

Instructions

Cook's Note:

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