Pork Loin with Creamy Pesto Sauce

For this grilled pork main dish recipe, served with spinach and pasta, the low-fat sauce calls for a bit of pesto for flavor.

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Prep Time:
20 mins
Additional Time:
40 mins
Total Time:
1 hr
Servings:
4
Yield:
4 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 12 to 16-ounce pork tenderloin

  • 1 teaspoon olive oil

  • 1 ½ teaspoons fines herbes or dried basil, crushed

  • ¼ teaspoon salt

  • 1 tablespoon butter

  • 4 teaspoons all-purpose flour

  • ¼ teaspoon ground white pepper

  • 1 cup fat-free milk

  • 2 tablespoons purchased pesto

  • 1 cup Hot cooked pasta

  • 1 cup Wilted spinach (see Tip)

Directions

  1. Trim fat from pork. Brush pork with olive oil. Sprinkle pork with fines herbes and salt; rub in with your fingers.

  2. Prepare grill for indirect grilling. Test for medium-high heat above drip pan. Place pork on grill rack over drip pan. Cover and grill for 30 to 35 minutes or until pork juices run clear (155 degrees F). Remove from grill. Cover with foil; let stand for 10 minutes. The temperature of the pork will rise 5 degrees F during standing.

  3. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in flour and white pepper. Add milk all at once. Cook and stir until slightly thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir for 1 minute more. Remove from heat. Stir in pesto.

  4. To serve, slice pork. If desired, serve over hot cooked pasta tossed with spinach. Spoon sauce over pork. Makes 4 servings.

Tips

Tip: To wilt the spinach, place it in a colander and drain the hot cooked pasta over the leaves.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

222 Calories
12g Fat
7g Carbs
21g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Serving Size about 3 oz. pork with sauce
Calories 222
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 7g 3%
Protein 21g 42%
Total Fat 12g 15%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Cholesterol 65mg 22%
Sodium 290mg 13%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

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