Prepare to impress with this stunning dish featuring tender prosciutto-wrapped pork tenderloin, elevated by a bright Granny Smith apple gastrique. Complementing the star are luxurious crimini mushroom potato puree, a vibrant root vegetable melange, a refreshing apple frisee salad, and a beautiful carrot oil garnish. This recipe, while appearing sophisticated, is surprisingly approachable, offering a truly rewarding culinary experience.
Recipe Overview and Details
This recipe offers a delightful culinary experience that is surprisingly accessible, making it perfect for home cooks of all levels.
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Skill Level: Easy (Don’t be intimidated by the elegant presentation; the steps are straightforward and manageable.)
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Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes (This includes all preparation and cooking time, allowing for a relaxed cooking process.)
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Active Preparation Time: 35 minutes (The hands-on time is minimal, leaving you free to enjoy the process or attend to other tasks.)
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Yields: 3 servings (This recipe is perfectly portioned for a small gathering or a delicious meal for three.)
Ingredients
Prosciutto-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin:
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3 pork tenderloins, cleaned and trimmed
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6 thin slices of prosciutto
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2 tablespoons vegetable oil
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Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Granny Smith Apple Gastrique:
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1/2 cup granulated sugar
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1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
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Apple trimmings (from preparing the apples)
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1/2 cup apple juice
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3 sprigs fresh thyme
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4 cups chicken stock
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2 tablespoons unsalted butter
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Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Accompaniments (Recipes Follow):
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Crimini Mushroom Potato Puree
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Root Vegetable Melange
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Apple Frisee Salad
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Carrot Oil
Crimini Mushroom Potato Puree:
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2 Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
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1 cup sliced crimini mushrooms
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1/4 cup unsalted butter, plus 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
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2 cloves garlic, minced
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Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
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1/2 cup heavy cream
Root Vegetable Melange:
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2 leeks, white part only, diced and thoroughly washed
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2 tablespoons unsalted butter
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1 large beet, peeled and diced
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2 parsnips, peeled and diced
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1 large turnip, peeled and diced
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Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
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1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage leaves
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1/2 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
Apple Frisee Salad:
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1 Granny Smith apple, peeled and cut into 2 by 1/8-inch sticks (batons)
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1 head frisee lettuce, cored and washed
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1/2 red onion, thinly julienned
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2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
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1/4 cup vegetable oil
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1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar
Carrot Oil
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1 large carrot, peeled and cooked in salted water until tender
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1/2 to 3/4 cup vegetable oil (adjust for desired consistency)
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Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Directions
Preparing the Prosciutto-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin:
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Slice the cleaned pork tenderloin into 12 pieces, each approximately 1 inch thick.
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Generously season the pork medallions with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
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Cut the prosciutto slices in half lengthwise. Wrap one half-slice of prosciutto around the circumference of each pork medallion and secure it with a toothpick.
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Heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat until hot.
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Carefully add the prosciutto-wrapped pork medallions to the hot pan. Sauté for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, or until the internal temperature of the pork reaches 155 degrees F (68 degrees C).
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Remove the cooked pork from the pan and set aside.
Making the Granny Smith Apple Gastrique:
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Heat a large, heavy-bottomed pan over medium-high heat.
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Add the sugar to the hot pan and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar melts and turns a rich brown color (caramelizes).
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Carefully and slowly add the cider vinegar to the caramelized sugar. Be cautious as it will produce a significant amount of steam.
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Add the reserved apple trimmings, apple juice, fresh thyme sprigs, and chicken stock to the pan.
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Bring the mixture to a simmer and let it gently reduce until it thickens to about 1 cup. As it simmers, skim off any foam that rises to the surface.
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Season the reduced gastrique with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. You may want to add an additional teaspoon of cider vinegar at the end for a touch of brightness.
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Swirl in the butter until it is fully incorporated into the sauce, creating a smooth and glossy finish.
Crafting the Crimini Mushroom Potato Puree:
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Place the peeled and cut Yukon gold potatoes in a pot of cold, salted water. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce the heat to a low simmer. Cook the potatoes until they are very tender when pierced with a fork.
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Drain the cooked potatoes thoroughly and mash or puree them until smooth.
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In a separate pan, sauté the sliced crimini mushrooms in 1 tablespoon of butter over medium heat until they are softened.
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Add the minced garlic to the mushrooms and cook for another minute until fragrant.
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Season the mushroom mixture with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
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Add the heavy cream and the remaining 1/4 cup of butter to the mushroom mixture and bring it to a gentle boil.
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Carefully transfer the mushroom and cream mixture to a blender and puree until completely smooth.
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Gently fold the smooth mushroom puree into the mashed potato puree.
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Season the finished mushroom potato puree with additional salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
Preparing the Root Vegetable Melange:
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In a medium pan, sauté the diced leeks in butter over medium heat until they are soft and translucent.
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Bring a pot of salted water to a boil.
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Add the diced root vegetables (beets, parsnips, and turnips) to the boiling water, one at a time, and cook each until tender-crisp.
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Drain the cooked vegetables well.
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Add all of the cooked vegetables, except for the beets, to the sauté pan with the softened leeks.
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Toss the vegetables in the butter until they are heated through.
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Season the vegetable melange with salt, freshly ground black pepper, and the chopped fresh sage and thyme leaves.
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Gently toss in the diced beets just before serving to heat them through without bleeding their color into the other vegetables.
Assembling the Apple Frisee Salad:
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In a medium bowl, combine the prepared Granny Smith apple sticks, frisee lettuce, and julienned red onion.
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Add the cider vinegar, vegetable oil, and sugar to the bowl.
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Toss all the ingredients together until well combined.
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Let the salad sit for approximately 15 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
Creating the Carrot Oil:
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Combine the cooked and peeled carrot with the vegetable oil in a blender.
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Blend until the mixture is completely smooth and emulsified.
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Season the carrot oil with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
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Use the vibrant carrot oil as a decorative garnish to plate the finished dish.