Coffee-flavoured BBQ sauce? Why not? It’s a strikingly flavourful combo—sweet, tangy, bold, and rich. It can be used not only on pork but on a variety of other meats. We marinated tenderloin in it and doubled up on the smoky flavour by grilling it on a cedar plank. Serve with a side order of grilled broccolini for extra yum.
Best beer? You can’t go wrong with an IPA or a honey lager to complement this flavourful dish.
Looking for an easy way to grill broccolini?
Toss with a little oil and season with salt, pepper, and chili flakes. Near the end of grilling, place broccolini beside plank with tenderloin on hot grill for about 6 or 7 minutes. Using tongs, turn a few times until tender and lightly charred. Place on platter with sliced pork and drizzle with lemon juice and some shaved Parmesan.
Pork Tenderloin with Espresso BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup (80 mL) prepared barbecue sauce
- 1/4 cup (60 mL) strong espresso coffee
- 2 Tbsp (30 mL) tomato paste
- 1 tsp (5 mL) dried thyme
- 1 tsp (5 mL) ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp (2 mL) crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/4 tsp (1 mL) sea salt
- 1/4 tsp (1 mL) freshly ground black pepper
- 1 pasture-raised organic pork tenderloin, about 1 1/2 lbs (750 g), silverskin trimmed
Nutrition
Per serving:
- calories203
- protein33 g
- total fat6 g
- sat. fat2 g
- total carbohydrates3 g
- sugars5 g
- fibre1 g
- sodium270 mg
Directions
01
About 4 hours before cooking, place 10 inch (25 cm) cedar plank in water to thoroughly soak. Weigh it down with cans or something heavy to keep it submerged.
02
In small saucepan, combine barbecue sauce, coffee, tomato paste, thyme, cumin, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes. Remove and cool. Pour half into shallow bowl or resealable plastic bag, and reserve remaining half. Add tenderloin to bowl or bag and rotate in sauce to evenly coat. Tightly seal and marinate at room temperature for a minimum of 30 minutes.
03
Meanwhile, preheat barbecue to 350 F (280 C).
04
When ready to grill meat, place soaked plank on preheated grill. Close lid and heat plank (do not burn) for about 3 minutes. Flip plank and place marinated tenderloin on lightly smoked side. Close grill and barbecue pork on plank for 15 to 20 minutes, or until a meat thermometer registers 145 F (64 C) when meat is tested in the centre. Length of grilling time will depend on the type of barbecue you are using.
05
When pork is done, remove pork and wood plank and place on baking sheet. Tent loosely with foil and let rest for 5 minutes. Slice into rounds. Pork is perfect with a hint of pink in the centre. Serve with extra sauce and a side order of grilled broccolini.
Irene McGuinness is a writer, recipe developer, food stylist for numerous magazines and corporations, and alumna of the Writer’s Studio at Simon Fraser University
