Spiced Pork with Apricot and Saffron Rice makes an ideal complete midweek meal for two.
By cooking the pork and the rice in separate pans this meal can be on the table in under 30 minutes.
Pork Tenderloin - A Lean and Economical Cut
A few week back I bought a pack of 3 pork tenderloins at my butchers in Suffolk. It was on special offer and the price was too good to ignore, even though at the time I didn't know what I would do with them.
In the end I used two of the of them to make my Stuffed Pork Tenderloin Roll which I served as a weekend family roast. The other I used to make this Spiced Pork with Apricot and Saffron Rice. A perfect midweek meal for Mr. B and myself.
Even when pork tenderloins are not on special offer it always amazes me what an economical, tender cut this is. Because it is very lean it is ideal if you are watching your fat or calorie intake.
Cook's TIps
One word of warning though. Because it has very little fat it can be a little dry, especially if overcooked. That's why I add a little water to the pan rather than just pan frying it.
After browning the meat in the pan it just gently poaches in the liquid. Covering with the lid keeps the steam in so the pan doesn't boil dry and the meat retains its moisture.
Variations
I often cook pork as I have such a good supply of quality outdoor reared pork from my local butchers in Suffolk, but this dish will work well with other meats.
- You could use lamb neck fillet or chicken breasts instead.
- You can also vary the rice, try adding a different nut such as chopped pecans.
- Replace the apricots with a few peas added to the rice for the last few minutes of cooking.
More Pork Recipes Made Easy
If you love pork as much as we do you may want to try these recipes.
How to make Spiced Pork with Apricots and Saffron Rice Step by Step
Step 1
Brown the almonds in a frying pan until golden. Set aside,
Step 2
Coat the tenderloin in spices and cut into two pieces.
Step 3
Fry until browned on all sides
Step 4
Add the water, cover and cook.
Step 5
fry the onion then add the rice and saffron to the pan. Add the water and cook.
Step 6
Add the chopped apricots and flaked almonds to the cooked rice and mix together.
To Serve
Divide the rice between two serving plates. slice the pork and arrange on top of the rice.
I completed the dish with a dollop of Greek yogurt and a sprinkling of chopped parsley. It doesn't really need anything else with it, although you could serve some green beans or tender stem broccoli on the side if you want to add some vegetables alongside.
Spiced Pork with Apricot and Saffron Rice
Equipment
- frying pan
- lid
- saucepan
Ingredients
for the spiced pork
- ½ teaspoon dried chilli flakes
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 pork tenderloin (fillet), about 250-350g (8-12oz)
- 1 tablespoon rapeseed or olive oil
for the rice
- 25 g flaked almonds (1oz)
- 1 tablespoon rapeseed or olive oil
- 1 onion , chopped
- 225 g basmati rice (8oz), rinced until water runs clear
- large pinch saffron
- 3-4 cardamon pods , crushed
- salt
- 500 ml water (18foz)
- 50 g dried apricots (2oz), chopped
- Natural yogurt and chopped parsley to serve
Instructions
- Brown 25g almonds for the rice by dry frying until golden. Set aside.
Cook the Spiced pork
- Place ½ teaspoon chilli flake,1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon ground corianedr and ½ teaspoon salt in a small bowl and mix well. Tip onto a plate and roll the pork fillet in the spice mixture to coat all over.
- Cut the pork into two pieces.
- Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a frying pan. Fry the pork over a medium high heat until browned on all sides. Add about 4 tablespoons( ¼ cup) water or stock to the pan and bring to the boil.
- Reduce the heat and cover with a lid. Cook the pork for about 10 minutes or until cooked through. Remove from the pan, discarding any remaining liquid and keep warm.
To make the appricot and Saffron rice
- Meanwhile, cook the rice. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a saucepan and sauté the onion for 2 to 3 minutes until beginning to soften. Stir in 225g rice and add a large pinch of saffron and 3-4 cardamon pods. Add 500ml water and a generous pinch of salt and bring to the boil.
- Stir well, cover and cook for 10 minutes over a very low heat. Allow the rice to stand for 2 minutes. Add 50g chopped apricots and most of the browned almonds and fluff up the rice with a for,k mixing in the fruit and nuts as you do so.
To Serve
- Divide the rice between two serving plates. Cut the pork into thick slices and arrange on top of the rice.
- Serve with natural yogurt, a sprinkling of chopped parsley and the remaining nuts
Notes
Nutrition
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jenny walters says
This looks absolutely divine.I love all these flavour combos.PIcs are gorgeous too.Def one on my to do list xx
Jacqueline Bellefontaine says
Thank you Jenny. I keep working on my pics, I have the advantage of years of food styling experience behind me but trying to get to grips with the camera and lighting is completely new to me.
jenny paulin says
I have a confession, I do not eat pork like this (I am a peasant for I like bacon, ham and sausages though and sometimes pork mince in a ragu sauce) but you have made such a pretty and delicious looking plate of food. The spices you have chosen and the apricots I can imagine work so well together alongside the pork. x
Jacqueline Bellefontaine says
Oh Jenny in that caseyou should definitely try my stuffed pork tenderloin roll. It has both bacon and sausage as well. I look great and tastes amazing!
Kate says
This looks so delicious, I bet the spices go so well with the apricot. I love cardamon infused rice. #CookBlogShare
Jacqueline Bellefontaine says
Thank you Kate , the apricot does go well with both Saffron and Cardamon.
mandy says
What a lovely looking meal. The spices you've used sound lovely - I'm all out of saffron at the moment, must pick some up.
Jacqueline Bellefontaine says
It's lovely spice to use even if sometimes it feels a bit luxurious. Then again what's wrong with a bit of luxury.
Monika Dabrowski says
I do love fruit in savoury dishes (I might have said that before), and yours looks super yummy:) Saffron goes so well in a dish like this!
Jacqueline Bellefontaine says
Thanks Monika. I'm lucky that a friend of mine bought back some amazing Saffron from Kabul so I have a good supply of it at the moment although its not going to last and she is unlikely to be going back.