Ingredient: fresh sage, chopped

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Many cultures around the world believe the key to a happy, healthy, prosperous & productive year begins with eating certain lucky foods on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. The theory is ‘do good, eat good’ on the 1st day of the year, to begin the New Year right.

It hard to believe we have arrived at the end of another ‘complicated’ year and its time to reflect and assess the year it was. The word ‘new’ brings thoughts of hope and makes us realize how precious time is.

The tradition of eating pork on New Year’s dates back to …. well, no one really knows when. If your a meat eater, chose pork over chicken or beef on New Year’s Day because pigs dig with their snout, representing forward movement or progress, while chickens or turkeys scratch backward, the cows stand still. That’s it, that’s the folklore behind the tradition!

Many European countries such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland & Ireland, eat pork not only because of the belief of moving forward but because fatty meat is also symbolic of ‘fattening’ their wallets. Germans feel that pigs are so lucky that they give marzipan pigs known as ‘Glucksschwien’ or lucky pigs, as gifts to bring good luck in the coming year. They can also be given in other forms, such as little wooden or glass figurines.

With the pandemic situation that seems to be never ending, I think anything that will help in the good luck department is a good thing.

Print Recipe

Sage, Dijon Pork Tenderloin w/ Pistachio Couscous

Votes: 2
Rating: 4.5
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Course

Main Dish

Cuisine

American, Middle Eastern

Keyword

sage-Dijon pork tenderloin w/ pistachio couscous

Servings

SERVINGS MetricUS Imperial

Ingredients

Pork Tenderloin

• 454 gm pork tenderloin
• 1 shallot, minced
• 4 galic cloves, minced
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 Tbsp Dijon mustard
• 2 Tbsp honey
• 2 Tbsp orange juice
• 1 Tbsp fresh sage, chopped
• 1 tsp EACH salt & pepper
• 1/2 tsp red onion flakes, optional
• 3 Tbsp olive oil

Pistachio Couscous

• 250 gm Israeli couscous
• 2 Tbsp parsley,
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp EACH salt & pepper
• 1/4 cup pistachios, chopped

Course Main Dish Cuisine American, Middle Eastern Keyword sage-Dijon pork tenderloin w/ pistachio couscous Servings SERVINGS MetricUS Imperial Ingredients Pork Tenderloin 454 gm pork tenderloin 1 shallot, minced 4 galic cloves, minced 1/4 cup soy sauce 2 Tbsp Dijon mustard 2 Tbsp honey 2 Tbsp orange juice 1 Tbsp fresh sage, chopped 1 tsp EACH salt & pepper 1/2 tsp red onion flakes, optional 3 Tbsp olive oil Pistachio Couscous 250 gm Israeli couscous 2 Tbsp parsley, 2 Tbsp olive oil 1 tsp EACH salt & pepper 1/4 cup pistachios, chopped

Votes: 2 Rating: 4.5 You: Rate this recipe!

Instructions

1. Cook the couscous according to package directions. Add parsley, olive oil, salt and pepper, and pistachios. Stir to incorporate. Taste and adjust for seasonings. Cover and set aside.
2. Preheat oven to 350º. Spray an 9” x 13” baking dish with cooking spray.
3. Using a knife poke several holes in the tenderloin about a half-inch deep so marinade can penetrate.
4. In a small bowl whisk together the shallots, garlic, soy sauce, mustard, honey, juice, sage, salt and pepper, and olive oil.
5. Pour the marinade over the tenderloin.
6. Bake uncovered for 45 minutes basting every 10-15 minutes.
7. Transfer the tenderloin to a large cutting board and allow them to rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
8. Slice the tenderloin and transfer to a serving dish placing atop warmed couscous. Drizzle the marinade from the pan over the sliced pork medallions & couscous.