Citrus Free Apple Cider Pork Tenderloin
Warm spices meet the natural sweetness of unfiltered apple cider in this elegant yet weeknight-friendly pork dish. The tenderloin gets rubbed with turmeric, ginger, and Ceylon cinnamon before a hard sear in coconut oil, building a beautifully caramelized crust that locks in all the juices. From there, a quick oven roast brings it to a perfect 145°F, keeping the meat tender and just slightly blush in the center. The real magic happens in the pan sauce — garlic, fresh thyme, bone broth, and apple cider reduce down into something glossy and lightly syrupy, finished with a touch of honey and apple cider vinegar for depth. For anyone avoiding citrus, this recipe is a genuine win because it delivers that bright, tangy complexity you'd normally expect from lemon or orange entirely through apple cider and vinegar — no citrus fruit anywhere in sight. Sliced into medallions and draped with that rich pan sauce, it looks impressive enough for a dinner party but comes together with minimal fuss. Fresh thyme scattered over the top is the finishing touch that makes the whole platter feel a little special.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
- 1 pork tenderloin (about 1 ¼ lb), silver skin removed
- 1 tsp fine sea salt
- ½ tsp ground turmeric
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp ceylon cinnamon
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
For the sauce
- 3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 1 cup fresh apple cider (unfiltered, no added sugar)
- ½ cup bone broth (homemade or aip-compliant brand)
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp honey
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme
For serving
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 400°F (205°C). Pat the pork tenderloin completely dry with paper towels. In a small bowl, stir together the salt, turmeric, ginger, and Ceylon cinnamon, then rub the mixture evenly over all sides of the tenderloin.
- 2
Heat the coconut oil in a 12-inch oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the tenderloin and sear, turning every 2 minutes, until browned on all sides, about 8 minutes total.
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