It’s been a while since I made a pork loin. The herb gravy goes really well with the pork. I wish I would have made some mashed potatoes with it, but bread worked just fine soaking up all the goodness!
Pork Loin with Wine and Herb Gravy
(Adapted from Seasons and Suppers)
1/4 cup olive or vegetable oil
5 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced in half lengthwise
2 Tbsp fresh rosemary leaves, chopped
1/4 cup fresh sage leaves, roughly chopped
2 lb center cut, boneless pork loin roast, *see notes
1 1/4 cups dry white wine, (plus a bit more to deglaze pan)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup chicken broth or stock
1/2 cup heavy cream, (or a lighter cream mixed with 2 tsp. cornstarch)
Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven (or similar, heavy-bottomed pan) over medium-high heat.
Saute the pork for about 5 minutes on each side, then remove it to a plate. In the same pan over medium heat, saute the garlic, rosemary and sage, stirring, for about one minute. Add the wine to the pan and use a wooden spoon to scrape the bottom of the pan. Cook the wine until the smell of the alcohol has disappeared, about 1 to 2 minutes.
Lower the heat under the pan to low-medium heat. Return the pork to the pan and season with salt and pepper. Partially cover with a lid and cook for about 1 – 1 1/2 hours, depending on thickness. (considerably less if you’re using pork tenderloins). Rely on a thermometer to check for doneness, flipping the pork and scraping the bottom of the pan every 20 minutes or so and measuring the internal temperature with each flipping, to gauge the cooking progress. Make sure there continues to be some liquid in the pan. Add 1/4 cup of warm water if necessary.
When the pork is cooked through (ideally, you want to test with a thermometer, it should be about 140°F internal temperature.) Remove pork to a cutting board to rest and cover loosely with a sheet of aluminum foil to help retain the heat while it rests.
Meanwhile, increase the heat under the liquid in the pan to medium. If your pan has little liquid, deglaze with a splash of white wine. Stir well to loosen the browned bits on the bottom of the pan. Allow to cook until the alcohol smell disappears (about 1-2 minutes). Add the chicken stock and stir to combine. Heat over medium heat for a few minutes, to allow the chicken stock to heat through a bit. Reduce heat to medium-low. Add the cream. Heat gently over medium-low heat, stirring the sauce constantly, until it thickens a bit and is warmed through. Avoid vigorously boiling. A gentle simmer is fine. (*If your sauce doesn’t thicken up, mix 2 Tbsp. cornstarch with 2 Tbsp. water and add a bit at a time to your sauce until it thickens to your liking.) Taste sauce and add salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste.
When the sauce is ready, slice the pork very thinly and place on to a serving platter. Pour the warm gravy over-top to serve.
Notes:
Note that this recipe is best made with a pork loin roast, not a pork tenderloin. Pork tenderloins are considerably thinner and cook much more quickly. As such, you won’t get the benefit of the low and slow cooking or the flavors that comes from cooking a larger roast.
