I always make a point of cooking at least a few dishes with new spring ingredients before they give way to summer’s bounty. Asparagus, of course. Fresh, feisty greens; yes. And then there is rhubarb. I’m not sure I ever had rhubarb until I began eating seasonally as an adult. It did not hold rank amongst any desserts in my childhood home. I think I had a slice of Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie at a friend’s house but all I remember was the consistency was chunky and unlike any other pie I’d tasted, and the odd tang of it.
Now that I’m all grown up, that ‘odd tang’ is what I live for in spring. It’s difficult to describe as it’s not like a citrus tang. There is a second, equally indescribable flavor that goes along with it giving it a signature taste all its own. As I began to cook with it, I wanted to branch out from the iconic pie. I believed in the uniqueness of rhubarb and felt there was more it could deliver!
A first recipe I shared was for a Rhubarb Pie cocktail. Not super sweet as the name suggests, it is a fantastic, semi-sweet cocktail serving up that wonderful tang. I also made a Rhubarb Upside-Down Cake from a vintage 1930’s recipe I found in a recipe box I purchased on eBay. I loved it. Rustic and unpretentious and sort of ‘Little House on the Prairie’, cooked and serve up in a cast iron skillet. The last recipe I shared here was Rhubarb Crunch, another taste of Americana dug up from my Grandmother’s recipe box. Also simple and relaxed, it’s a great dessert for a casual Sunday dinner.
I grabbed some rhubarb at the store recently committed to make something different. I thought it was going to be a dessert of some sort. Maybe a topping for a dessert. Maybe a swirl inside a dessert. As my muse hopscotched around the possibilities, I landed on a savory option of a Rhubarb-Cherry Port Sauce for a pork dish. Don’t ask me how I got there, I have no clue. Those where the flavors that emerged from the murky, mercurial process that is recipe development inside my head!
One of my favorite cuts of pork is a Boneless Pork Loin Roast. It is the same cut a butcher would use to prepare boneless pork chops, it’s just left intact. It is very easy to cook and larger than a pork tenderloin so easier to keep moist and succulent when cooking. I prefer starting at a very high temperature and then cooking it slowly at a lower temperature which really ends up with wonderful roast. The texture of the pork loin roast is fantastic as well, giving excellent mouth-feel, which is largely why I love it so much as well as the moistness. Brining the roast overnight really ensures a moist result as well.
The Rhubarb-Cherry Port Sauce worked fantastically with the mild flavored pork roast. Tangy and sweet. When I’d made it, well before dinner, I gave my son a few small pieces to taste with a bit of sauce in the bottom of a bowl. I heard a spoon scraping as though he was savoring every last drop of ice cream. When I asked he was indeed lapping up any vestige of sauce left in the bowl!
Recipe
Brined Boneless Pork Loin Roast with Rhubarb-Cherry Port Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 to 2 1/2 Boneless Pork Loin Roast (if larger increase the cooking time until the temperatures are met)
Ingredients for Brine:
- 5 cups Water
- ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons Granulated Sugar
- 3 tablespoons Kosher Salt
- 1 tablespoon Lime Zest
Ingredients for Rhubarb-Cherry Port Sauce:
- 1 large shallot , chopped
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 1 cup Cherries (can be frozen and thawed)
- 1 ½ cups Rhubarb , chopped into ½-inch pieces
- 3 tablespoons Granulated Sugar
- 2 tablespoons Water
- 2 tablespoons Port
- 1/8 teaspoon Cardamom
- 1 teaspoon Balsamic Vinegar
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Instructions
Instructions for Brine:
- Combine the water, sugar and salt in a sauce pan and heat just until the sugar and salt dissolve. Allow to cool to room temperature.
- Place the pork roast in a plastic gallon zipper top bag or a sealable container and fill with the brine. If using a plastic bag, I suggest double bagging it in and placing it in a baking dish or bowl in the refrigerator to prevent the bag from being punctured. Place in the refrigerator and allow to sit overnight or up to 24 hours.
Cooking the Pork Roast:
- Remove the roast from the refrigerator and allow to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
- Remove the roast from the brine (and discard the brine) and allow liquid to drain from the roast. Place the roast on a rack in a baking pan. Place in the oven and cook at 450 for 15 minutes.
- Lower the temperature to 300 degrees and cook the roast until the internal thermometer inserted into the middle of the roast registers 145 degree (40-50 minutes). Check the temperature at 40 minutes and then every 5 minutes so the roast does not overcook.
- Remove the roast and tent the pan with tin foil (shiny side in) for an additional 15 minutes which allows the temperature to rise an additional 10 degrees still allowing the roast to stay moist and succulent.
Instructions for Rhubarb-Cherry Port sauce:
- In a medium saucepan, heat the oil over medium-high heat. When the oil is shimmering add the shallots and sauté until the shallots become limp; 2-3 minutes.
- Add the cherries, rhubarb, sugar, water, and port to the saucepan. Bring the mixture to a low boil, then lower the heat until the mixture is simmering. Cover and allow to cook 5-10 minutes until the rhubarb has softened.
- Remove from heat and add the cardamom and vinegar. Spoon into a free standing blender, or use an immersion blender in the sauce pan, to blend the mixture into a smooth sauce.
Notes
Nutrition
Ashley says
This sauce is making my mouth water.
Chris @ The Café Sucré Farine says
What a delicious idea Toni! I bet the leftovers (if there were any) would make a fantastic grilled sandwich with cheese and a bit of that sauce tucked in…
Toni Dash says
Yes! My family has happily repeated the initial serving of slices and the sauce loving it so much! Next time I’ll have to plan for the sandwich idea.
Sue Hill says
This sounds delicious! We have rhubarb in abundance on the allotment garden and freezer, so when the cherries arrive I will definitely be making this dish. Have you tried rhubarb fool?
Toni Dash says
Ooooo….I have not Sue! I’d love to make more with rhubarb to share here but always hate doing what everyone else is doing so am determined not to share a Rhubarb-Strawberry Pie! I’ll definitely look into that.
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers says
This looks delicious! I love finding new ways to cook pork, as I always seem to have them in my freezer. The sauce is perfect and as rhubarb is justing coming in to season here, I’ll definitely be trying 🙂
Toni Dash says
Oh good! I hope you will Jennifer. I need to stash some of these roasts in my freezer. It really is a favorite. Leftovers are great for sandwiches too.
sue|theviewfromgreatisland says
I have a thing for meats with fruity sauces, I am obsessed! i think I could be happy with that sauce all by itself, too, just pass me a spoon!
Toni Dash says
I agree Sue! Especially pork. It seems a perfect partner for fruity sauces and toppings (that makes it sound like ice cream, mea culpa).
Tricia @ Saving room for dessert says
Oh that sauce sounds so rich and packed with flavor. The color is outstanding. I haven’t made pork in a long time – love how moist and tender it looks. Have a great weekend Toni!
Toni Dash says
Sorry for the tardy response Tricia! I love this cut. I too don’t make it often but always love it when I do. It is such a mild flavor as a base for a nice sauce. We are nuts for the sauce. The best of spring for certain!