A delicious and easy pork tenderloin recipe, with a coconut milk, peanut butter, lime and cilantro sauce. Ready in 30 minutes!
I first published this recipe back in 2016. It’s a favourite of mine, so I wanted to update it and bring it back around. This pork tenderloin recipe is delicious, easy and ready in 30 minutes! The sauce is such a unique combination of flavours, that it’s probably difficult to imagine how it will taste. Take my word for it though, you won’t be disappointed if you try this one :)
If you are a fan of pork tenderloin, delicious sauces and quick and easy meals, then this one is for you! This Pork Tenderloin with Peanut Cilantro Sauce is a regular in my household, for all those reasons :)
In the warmer months, the pork cooks up quickly on the BBQ. In the colder months, it can be cooked quickly on the stove-top in a grill pan or on a baking sheet under the broiler. Butterflying a pork tenderloin is the secret to quick cooking!
Beyond the quick-cooking pork tenderloin, let’s talk about the delicious sauce. It’s Indonesian in it’s flavour profile, with a nice bit of ground coriander to complement the peanut butter, soy sauce and coconut milk. A generous hit of fresh lime juice lightens and freshens the flavours. The fresh lime juice is a must!
Ingredient Notes for Pork Tenderloin with Peanut Cilantro Sauce
Coconut Milk: I always use and do recommend full-fat coconut milk, as it makes for the thickest and richest peanut sauce. Low fat coconut milk will work here, but will result in a thinner and less creamy sauce.
Peanut Butter: Use whatever is in your cupboard, as long as it’s smooth. Natural and regular peanut butter will both work nicely here.
Lime Juice: Fresh is best and for best results, don’t skip this! The freshness and acidity really elevates and balances the sauce.
Brown Sugar: The recipe specifies dark brown sugar, for the richest taste, but I’ve made it with light brown sugar, as well, and it works just fine.
Ground Coriander I hope you have this wonderful spice in your spice rack. Coriander is dried cilantro seeds and ground coriander is, well ground up :) If you don’t have it and you want to make this dish anyway, simply finely chop some of the fresh cilantro and simmer it with the sauce instead. And in case you’re wondering, even if you don’t generally like cilantro, you will probably like coriander. It doesn’t elicit the same response in cilantro haters.
Cilantro: Hate fresh cilantro? Replace it with flat-leafed parsley.
Cook’s Notes for Pork Tenderloin with Peanut Cilantro Sauce
A quick marinade is all that is needed, but if you like, you can start it marinating well ahead (up to 8 hours) and then just cook it up when you’re ready.
You’ll notice that the marinade is cooked down to make the sauce. As such, you’ll want to be sure that you bring the sauce to a boil and allow it to simmer for several minutes. This ensures that any raw meat juices are thoroughly cooked in the sauce.
Serve with a simple vegetable, salad and/or with rice for a delicious and easy weeknight meal (that’s also company worthy!). I love a cilantro-lime rice with this one!
Pork Tenderloin with Peanut Cilantro Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 cup coconut milk full-fat recommended
- 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter natural or regular
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 3 Tbsp fresh lime juice
- 3 Tbsp dark brown sugar or light brown sugar
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tsp ground coriander
- 2 lb pork tenderloin 1 large or two small
- Fresh chopped cilantro for garnish
- Fresh lime wedges for serving/drizzling
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together the coconut milk, peanut butter, soy sauce, lime juice, brown sugar, garlic, and coriander to make a smooth sauce.
- Trim the pork of excess fat and silverskin. Butterfly the tenderloins by splitting each one lengthwise almost, but not quite all the way through, so the halves remain attached.
- Open each tenderloin like a book, cover with plastic wrap, and pound to an even 1/2-inch thickness with a meat mallet or the bottom of a small skillet. Put the pork tenderloins in the large, shallow bowl with the marinade and turn to coat. Let marinate for 10 to 20 minutes on the counter (or up to 8 hours in the refrigerator).
- While the pork marinates, heat a BBQ on high. Remove the tenderloins from the marinade, letting the excess marinade drip back into the bowl (don’t discard the marinade). Grill the tenderloins, turning once, until just cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes total. Transfer to a carving board and let rest for 5 minutes.
- *Alternately, preheat oven broiler to high with rack about 6-inches from heat. Place tenderloins on a foil-covered baking sheet and broil, turning once, until cooked through, about 10-12 minutes. You could also cook in a large grill pan on the stove-top.
- Meanwhile, pour the remaining marinade into a small saucepan and add 1 Tbsp. water. Bring to a boil then reduce the heat and simmer for 3 minutes. **Important to thoroughly boil and thoroughly heat the sauce for the full time specified! Remove sauce from the heat. If the sauce seems too thick, thin it with a tiny bit more water. Slice the pork and serve drizzled with sauce. Top with chopped cilantro and serve with lime wedges for drizzling.Additional sauce can be placed in a small bowl for passing.
Mary says
Lovely recipe. Made this for dinner tonight after marinating it overnight. I added the lime zest as well as the juice along with maple syrup in place of the sugar. Meat was really tender. Thanks for this lovely recipe which will happen more than once. :))
Jennifer says
So glad you enjoyed it, Mary :) Thanks so much!
Leanne says
Pork is a go-to in my house as it is something both the hubby and I will eat (he’s a bit picky!). So I need to add this to the list to try, and I can see that peanut sauce going into regular rotation!
Jennifer says
Thanks Leanne and yes, the sauce it a great one to tuck away and use for other things, as well :)
Matt - Total Feasts says
This looks fantastic, I love lime and peanut combo. If I wanted to add some heat to this, is there any chili you would suggest?
Jennifer says
Hi Matt, I think I would add a very tiny bit of minced Thai red pepper. Those peppers pack a punch, so I’m always careful with them. You wouldn’t need much (maybe just the tip).
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says
I remember this one well Jennifer. Tom and I both love pork tenderloin and we love that sauce! So tasty!
Jennifer says
Thanks Mary Ann! It remains a favourite of mine, too :)
Randi says
Funny you should post this today, as I made your earlier version last night for dinner. Both my parents spent their childhood in Indonesia so I am very familiar with this. I swear I could eat a bowl of the sauce alone. I like the tenderloin cooked this way. Thanks!
Jennifer says
That is a coincidence! I enjoyed it this past week myself. It’s a favourite here, so I wanted to re-share to remind others how tasty this one is :) Thanks!
Melissa says
I made this last night with a couple substitutions because I didn’t have any Coriander or Limes at home. Instead of the brown sugar I used raw honey and I just added a bit more garlic. I also just had a can of regular coconut milk. This sauce was so creamy and smooth and went very well with the pork! I also used a Japanese rice noodle to go along with it instead of rice and the sauce paired so nicely with the sweetness of the noodle, they really balanced each other out well. This will definitely become a frequently used recipe in our household!
Jennifer says
So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks :)
Karen (Back Road Journal) says
A tasty and quickly prepared meal, thanks for sharing…it looks great.
Jennifer says
Thanks so much, Karen :)
Cathy | whatshouldimakefor.com says
Pork tenderloin really is a winner for a weeknight meal or company. I’m always looking for a new spin on it and this sauce is a keeper! Sweet and tangy and perfect for pork. Can’t wait to try!
Jennifer says
Thanks Cathy. I think you will enjoy this :)
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
This dish is a stunner, Jennifer!! I absolutely LOVE pork tenderloin, but I have never had it with a peanut sauce before!! I bet this tastes seriously amazing! I have a feeling I will need to double that sauce because I’ll want to smother everything with it! Cheers, friend!
Jennifer says
Thanks so much, Cheyanne and yes, doubling the sauce is never a bad idea :)
Tricia @ Saving room for dessert says
Wow Jennifer – this dish really speaks to me! I love peanuts and pork but never thought to combine the two with a rich gravy style sauce. I bet it is lip smacking good! Sharing!
Jennifer says
Thanks Tricia :) The peanut sauce is so perfect with the pork. You’ll want to lick the plate!
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says
That sauce!! It sounds so incredibly tasty Jennifer! Tom and I eat pork tenderloins quite often, so I’ll be getting this sauce on our menu soon.
Jennifer says
Thanks Mary Ann. I think you will love this one. Quick, easy and delicious :)
Chris Scheuer says
I love pork tenderloin, Indonesian spices and peanut sauce so I know already we will love this. It looks so pretty with your bright green broccoli too! And what a wonderful technique for cooking tenderloin quickly, I love it!
Jennifer says
Thanks so much, Chris and yes, this pork cooks up lickety split! :)
Yuri says
Hi
It seems like very tasty recipe !
Do you think I can using lemon juice instead Lime.
Thank you
Jennifer says
Hi Yuri! I think the lime is an important flavour here and I’m not sure that lemon would play the same role with these flavours. Is lime hard to get for you?
Yuri says
I just made it ! That was amazing . Because first , I read about this ingredients are quite unpredictable taste , so I like or not.
But that was wrong ! This is very good and Coriander spice also not strong flavor at all . I was using Lemon juice instead Lime. I think you are right, maybe Lime is more tasty with this recipe . Peanuts Butter killed Lemon taste . After adding Lemon , nothing taste like Lemon . : (
But definitely I’m going to make this one again !!
Thank you
Jennifer says
So glad you enjoyed it and you’re right, it’s hard to imagine the taste just from reading the ingredients. You must try with limes, if you can get hold of some!
sue | theviewfromgreatisland says
I know next to nothing about Indonesian food, so this is a real treat Jennifer!
Jennifer says
It’s a lovely combination of flavours, Sue. The coriander is so nice with the peanut butter and coconut milk :)