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Pork Tenderloin With Turmeric, Squash, and Collard Greens Salad

4.4

(13)

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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell

One butternut squash gets used in two ways—raw and roasted—in this fall weeknight dinner, while fish sauce, lime, and coconut add a touch of Southeast Asian flair.

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    45 minutes

  • Yield

    4 servings

Ingredients

1 1/2 teaspoons ground turmeric
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 medium butternut squash (about 2 1/2 pounds), peeled
4 tablespoons coconut oil, warmed, divided
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon honey
3 1/2 teaspoons fish sauce
2 small pork tenderloins (about 1 1/2 pounds total)
1 large bunch collard greens (about 12 ounces)
2 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil
1/4 cup toasted coconut chips
1 cup plain Greek yogurt

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Arrange racks in middle and upper thirds of oven; preheat to 450°F. Mix turmeric, salt, pepper, and cumin in a small bowl; set aside.

    Step 2

    Using a peeler, slice ribbons off long neck of squash until you have 2 cups ribbons; set aside. Cut remaining squash in half lengthwise; scoop out and discard seeds. Cut squash into 1/2" half-moons.

    Step 3

    Toss squash pieces with 2 Tbsp. coconut oil in a large bowl. Add 1 1/2 tsp. turmeric mixture and toss to coat. Spread squash mixture on a rimmed baking sheet, reserving large bowl, and roast in upper third of oven until golden-brown and tender, about 20 minutes.

    Step 4

    Whisk lime juice, honey, and fish sauce in a large bowl. Add squash ribbons and toss to coat; let sit until ready to use.

    Step 5

    Meanwhile, rub pork with remaining turmeric mixture in reserved large bowl. Heat remaining 2 Tbsp. coconut oil in a large heatproof skillet (preferably cast iron) over high and sear pork, turning often, until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes. Transfer skillet to center rack in oven and roast, flipping pork halfway through, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of tenderloin registers 145°F, 10–12 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest 5 minutes before slicing.

    Step 6

    While pork and squash roast, remove stems from collards. Stack halved leaves into a neat pile. Starting at 1 long side, roll into a tube, then slice at 1/2" intervals across tube to create ribbons.

    Step 7

    Transfer squash ribbons to a plate. Add vegetable oil to dressing and whisk to combine. Using your hands, massage collards in dressing until dark green. Return squash ribbons to bowl and toss to combine.

    Step 8

    Divide salad among plates or transfer to a serving platter; top with coconut chips. Serve roasted squash and pork with yogurt alongside.

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