Kiwi-marinated Grilled Pork Tenderloin with a Kiwi and Fig Sauce
Kiwi or kiwifruit, so named to distinguish it from kiwi, the hen-sized flightless bird of New Zealand. The comical and adorable-looking kiwi is native to New Zealand and is a natural choice for the national symbol of the country. Although there is no national fruit of New Zealand, the kiwifruit would be the likely candidate. The fruit is a native to Southern China and holds a special place in New Zealander’s hearts as a major crop.
Figs abound in Oregon. Kiwi, only so-so, but there are growers here developing crops.
Kiwifruit - Hairy and Plain Jane brown on the outside • Simply gorgeously green with black seeds inside
Let’s just throw the whole book at these beauties above and below: Luscious, delicious, succulent, lush, juicy, mouthwatering, lip-smacking, sweet, tasty, appetizing, scrumptious, yummy, nummy, ambrosial, sexy, nubile, ravishing, gorgeous, seductive, alluring, sultry, beautiful, stunning, gorgeous, hot, curvy.
Rich red color and seedy figginess inside our fig
The kiwifruit, native to Southern China where it is called yang tao or Chinese Gooseberry, began its journey to worldwide cultivation in the early 20th century. It was unfortunately named “melonette” for a brief period until New Zealand growers and exporters brilliantly renamed it kiwifruit after their famous bird.
The three major cultivators are Italy, New Zealand and Chile.
Kiwi is an exceptional source for vitamin C, fiber, potassium, antioxidants, lutein and zinc. It boasts a low glycemic index and is a natural blood thinner. Raw kiwi is rich in a protein-dissolving enzyme called actinidin, which also appears in papayas and pineapple. NOTE: Because of the actinidin, you should marinate any meat for no more than about 2 hours, or just enough time for the flavor to penetrate the meat slightly.
Kiwi-marinated Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Fig and Kiwi Sauce
Kiwi-marinated Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Fig and Kiwi Sauce
Serves 4-6
For the pork marinade:
- 1 kiwifruit, peeled and cut into pieces
- 4 teaspoons (20 ml.) soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons (10 ml.) lemon juice
- 3-4 teaspoons (15-20 ml.) agave syrup
- 1 large clove garlic, minced
- 2 pork tenderloins, about 1 pound (455 gr.) each
- Place all ingredients except pork in a blender and blend until smooth.
- Taste and adjust to balance sweet, sour and salty.
- Place pork in a large resealable plastic bag, pour marinade over and seal. Massage bag to distribute the marinade so every surface of meat is covered. Place bag in the refrigerator and marinate for up to two hours, no longer.
For the pork and sauce:
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml.) butter
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml.) shallots, minced
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml.) ginger, grated on a citrus zester
- 4 figs, cut in small dice
- 1 kiwifruit, cut in small dice
- ½ cup (120 ml.) dry white wine such as 2009 Cuvée A Amrita from Anne Amie
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml.) agave syrup
- 1½ tablespoons ( 23 ml.) fig jam
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml.) balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml.) white balsamic vinegar
- ½ stick cinnamon
- Pinch of ground cardamom
- Salt and fresh ground pepper to taste.
- Melt butter in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat.
- Add shallots and cook until tender.
- Add ginger and stir.
- Add figs, kiwifruit and stir.
- Add the wine and mix thoroughly.
- Add remaining ingredients and stir until mixed.
- Lower heat and cook while stirring frequently until sauce thickens. If it gets too thick, add a little more wine.
- Taste and adjust seasonings to suit you: too sweet, brighten with a splash of lemon; too sour, add a bit more agave.
- Remove from heat and hold until pork is cooked.
Note: The kiwi will lose its bright green color and meld into the sauce.
Grilling the pork:
- Prepare a charcoal grill.
- Remove the pork from the marinade and grill over hot coals until the temperature of the thickest part reaches 145-150 °F (63-66 °C) for medium rare (pink center).
- Remove to a platter, cover lightly with aluminum foil and let rest for 10 minutes.
- Slice diagonally and place on a serving platter.
Presentation:
- Four kiwifruit, peeled, halved lengthwise and sliced
- Arrange the kiwi slices decoratively around the pork.
- Drizzle some of the sauce over the pork and serve the remainder on the side.
We enjoyed this with the last of the 2009 Cuvée A Amrita from Anne Amie
Bon appétit
— Charles
Print 
PDFCategory: Pork
About the Author (Author Profile)
Music, food and photography are at the center of Charles’ life. He performed with the Dallas Symphony, Dallas Opera and was assistant principal bassoonist with the Fort Worth Symphony for more than 20 years. When Charles and Victor moved to Baltimore, Charles created Lone Star Personal Chef and Catering Service and taught cooking classes at Williams-Sonoma. Now in Salem, Charles is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Mountain West Real Estate, taught cooking classes for children at the A.C. Gilbert Discovery Village, and owns and operates Charles Price Photography. Charles and Vic enjoy entertaining and frequently host dinners as fundraisers for local non-profits and charities
Subscribe
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive more just like it.
Do you have a good source for agave syrup? Not available locally in our neck of the woods
Delicious…. I’m not a big pork fan unless it is ham or bacon. Your blog post has changed my mind and we must try this on the Traeger. Where do you get the agave syrup and fig jam?
Graham, agave syrup is a by-product of tequila making I believe and not aggressively flavored. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agave_nectar ) If you have a natural or health foods store they may stock it. Otherwise it’s mail order or substitute honey.
Mel - fig jam on top of the cheese case at Roth’s (Vista) and the syrup from LifeSource on S Commercial.
Thanks Charles. I printed this recipe out. I’ll let you know how it works on the Traeger.