Pork Tenderloin with Acorn Squash

Sunday I actually made a nice meal from Ina Garten’s cookbook called Go-to Dinners. My timing stunk, but squash is very forgiving. The timing in the pork is right on. I like my pork to come out of the oven at 130/135 degrees F and then tent to 140 degrees F. The rosemary rub was delicious.

Ingredients

  • 2 pork tenderloins, trimmed of silver skin
  • EVOO
  • 2 T coarsely chopped fresh rosemary
  • Flaked sea salt, such as Maldon
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • Mango chutney, for serving (Did not use.)
  • 3 honey nut squash (2 1/2-3 pounds total)
  • 4 T unsalted butter
  • 4 T light brown sugar
  • Kosher salt and black sugar
  • Pure maple syrup

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 500 degrees. Place a rack in the top third of the oven.
  2. Allow the tenderloins to sit atrium temperature for 30 minutes.
  3. Place the tenderloins smooth side up 1 1/2†apart on a sheet pan. Pat the meat dry with paper towels. Generously brush the tenderloins with 3 T oil, then sprinkle with rosemary, 1 T sea salt, and 1 t pepper. (I did a teaspoon of salt)
  4. Tuck the thing tail ends under and tie them with kitchen string to the tenderloins are an even thickness. (They were fine, I did not tie them.)
  5. Place the tenderloins on the prepared oven rack and roast for exactly 5 1/2 minutes. Turn off the oven and let the pork stay in the oven for 1 hour without opening the door.
  6. Transfer the tenderloins to a cutting board and slice thickly.
  7. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
  8. Cut the squash in half lengthwise through the stems. Scoop out and discard the seeds. Place the squash halves on a sheet pan, cut sides up, distribute the butter, brown sugar and syrup evenly among the cavities of each and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper.
  9. Roast for 30-40 minutes, until tender.
  10. Drizzle with syrup and serve hot.