Last minute dinners ~ Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Chimichurri and Summer Veggies
Even for those of us that love to tinker around our kitchens, there are days…dare I say it out loud? Days I just don’t feel like it! Days I’m either so busy or so focused on something else, the idea of cooking dinner just hangs over me like a wet blanket.
Of course in grown-up land, the words ‘don’t feel like it’ mean nothing. As we all know, responsible people do PLENTY of things every day that they don’t feel like doing. I don’t EVER feel like unloading the dish washer, or doing laundry, or scrubbing bathrooms. Yet they are done every week without fail. So this shifts cooking dinner into the proper light. I may not feel like cooking today, but most days it’s a joyous experience!
On a day like today, there are options.
1. Leftovers… I seem to be the only person in the house that enjoys them.
2. Takeout. Hmmm, might be MORE work to load the kids in the car and drive somewhere to get it.
3. “Snack-tray” as the kids call it. Cheese, olives, sliced salami, crackers. The most appealing choice so far, but not very healthy.
4. Make something super quick and delicious, that doesn’t seem like work.
I’ll go with option 4. Here is a meal I make on just such an occasion, that fills the roll of healthy home-cooked dinner. It starts and ends with chimichurri, a bright, bold, aromatic, Argentinian sauce. Chimichurri is essentially a thick vinaigrette that can be used as a marinade or sauce for just about everything. SERIOUSLY. I have used chimichurri with beef, chicken, seafood, potatoes, salad, bruschetta and numerous other items. It always tastes as if it was made solely for that one dish!
I begin this quicky dinner by pureeing the ingredients for chimichurri in the food processor for approximately NO TIME WHATSOEVER. Then I simply rubbed it over my protein and sliced veggies. I put them in the fridge until everyone is good and hungry. Later I grill both the pork and veggies up and, Voila! Dinner (a dinner you could even serve to guests) is served! A dinner that far surpasses leftovers OR takeout!
To Prepare Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Chimichurri and Summer Veggies:
Place the parsley and the following 7 items in a food processor. Puree 30 seconds, scrape the sides down, puree again.
Cut the squash and carrots in half. Place all veggies in a baking dish and add 1/3 cup chimichurri. Sprinkle with salt.
Rub ¼ cup of chimichurri over the pork loin and sprinkle with salt. Let the veggies and pork marinate for at least 30 minutes.
Preheat grill to medium heat. Grill the pork for 15-18 minutes, rotating every 4-5 minutes. Let the meat rest 5-10 minutes, then slice into ½ inch pieces. After the pork comes off the grill, place the veggies on. Grill 3-5 minutes per side. Salt and pepper if needed. Serve the pork with the remaining chimichurri drizzled over the top. Serves 4.
Recipe: Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Chimichurri and Summer Veggies
Ingredients
- 2-1 lb. pork tenderloins
- 1 bunch fresh parsley, stems removed
- 1 cup olive oil
- 3 Tb. red wine vinegar
- 2 Tb. dried oregano
- 1 Tb. cumin
- 1 tsp. salt
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ tsp. dried crushed red pepper
- 3 small zucchini
- 3 small summer squash
- 6 medium carrots
- 1 lb. asparagus
- (ANY combination of long veggies would work for this!)
Instructions
- For the Chimichurri: Place the parsley and the following 7 items in a food processor. Puree 30 seconds, then scrape the sides down and puree again.
- Cut the squash and carrots in half, by length. (Cut fat carrots in quarters.) Place all veggies in a baking dish and add 1/3 cup chimichurri. Sprinkle with salt.
- Rub ¼ cup of chimichurri over the pork loin and sprinkle with salt. Let the veggies and pork marinate for at least 30 minutes.
- Preheat grill to medium heat. Grill the pork for 15-18 minutes, rotating every 4-5 minutes. Let the meat rest 5-10 minutes, then slice into ½ inch pieces. After the pork comes off the grill, place the veggies on. Grill 3-5 minutes per side. Salt and pepper if needed. Serve the pork with the remaining chimichurri drizzled over the top.
Preparation time: 30 minute(s)
Cooking time: 30 minute(s)
Number of servings (yield): 4
Love the idea of using chimichurri with pork. Thanks for your post.
Ok, don't think I am weird, but I have never had chimichurri! I think I will now though, it looks quick and easy and delicious!
Oh boy..that's a plate of summer and goodness! The chicken looks so delectable with all the grilled veggies!
Last night I got home and felt physically drained. I was on the verge going for your option 2. I deliberated over option 3 and in the end pulled myself together and went for option 4.
It's so much more satisfying make something quick and homemade. I wish I'd seen your chimichuri last night though. I totally would have made it. It looks perfect and so tasty too.
What a platter of summer bounty! Those vegetables look stunning, and I'm sure they tasted better. The heat and busyness of summer makes me want to turn to easy, light and healthy meals too. This looks wonderful!
Well, I'm back offering up witty and humoures comments. Alright, nothing comes to mind other than I hear your becoming a known face around the culinary world known as Asheville. Getting identified public is cool, congratulations! Keep up the hard work and good cooking, Giada may be in fear of losing her job…….
I definitely have "I don't feel like it" days!
This looks fantastic and delicious!
This is also one of my go to sauces. We love it over fish and steak. I so hear you on the days that you just don't feel, but I find that usually after I finish making dinner, I'm happy that I did it.
We all have those days where we wish for that day we had a live in chef. Nice save on a I don't feel like cooking day.
This looks delicious and so easy! I will definitely be putting it on my rotation. I love how quickly it comes together. Your pictures make it mouthwatering as well!
The colours are so vibrant! YUMMY summer!
Oh how lovely this is!!! So fresh.
Yum… I feel the same way about getting meals ready. There are days I love to putter in the kitchen and it's a stress reliever, and then there are days it's pure stress to have to figure out what to have for supper. Great choice on your part.
wow,looks amazing!very beautiful pics!
There a days I feel the same way. For a quickie dinner, this looks fresh and healthy.
Oh, I have many of those "don't feel like it days" too. That's a great marinade. Didn't know it is called Chimichurri. The pork and veges looked very tasty.
Ah – I definitely feel this way about dinner many nights, but more so about grocery shopping! Maybe because I do not have any nice groceries nearby, or maybe because racing through the store trying to beat a two year old melt down is always a challenge – but nevertheless, this sounds perfect for a simple yet delicious meal. I have not had chimichurri sauce in ages – will have to do this soon! ( :
I have plenty of days that I don't feel like cooking! I agree that a fresh sauce like chimichurri can elevate a simple dinner of grilled meat and veggies to another level. Thanks for the recipe:-)
Oh wow, if this is your 'I don't feel like cooking' food, I want to come live with you! In our house, when I don't feel like cooking we eat salad. Yeah, that's not nearly as fun as chimichurri!
Hey Sommer, i always like leftovers too. It seems like food that has rested a bit in the fridge is always tastier the next day?!?
This looks wonderful too-your vegetables are perfect looking.
Big fan of the chimi. Great job with the pork dish.
I love that everything was done right at the grill! So easy and looks beautiful!
Usually I would go for the snack tray but this looks so refreshing!
Wow, this pork tenderloin with the chimichurri marinated looks fabulous…
I feel the same way sometimes too, but like what you said, we still do what we need to do in the house. The snack tray sounds good to me, but your vegetables looks amazing, and sounds even greater with the chimichurri sauce. Loving the grilled pork too. Great photos too.
This looks delicious! Beautiful photos, too!
everyone has days like this, I have many,lol great chimichurri and how wonderful for all that summer bounty!!
sweetlife
did I miss a post? international signs of friendship?
Sweetlife~
You didn't miss a post…someone, ahem, accidentally posted an unfinished write-up! Oops!
The vegetables look fantastic and that tenderloin looks soooooo moist!
This sounds super easy and looks great! I bet everyone was happy you went with option #4!
Mmmmm, that looks so good, I love pork tenderloin, and the veggies looks fantastic.
This sounds wonderful, I had never thought of grilling a whole pork tenderloin. Plus chimichurri is always good!
I love chimichurri on practically anything! Those grilled veggies look great!
We love leftovers in our house! And chimichurri sauce! What a delicious meal! I'm especially loving those veggies – the chimichurri makes them special.
I LOVE leftovers! Maybe only the cooks in the house do?
This certainly looks like you had fun doing it – need I say how amazing the pictures look, as always?
Of course, that there are days when it is impossible to cook! It was so hot here, that the the last thing I was thinking about was to use my cooker or my oven.
I like a lot grilled vegetables, however the season for asparagus is finished here and I will have to wait nearly the whole year for it!
The dish presents – as always – very appetizing – congratulations!
This looks delicious! I never would have guessed you weren't in the mood to cook, but I definitely can relate to that mood. I think my problem is sometimes figuring out what to make. It sounds weird, but sometimes I think that's half the battle!
What an amazing looking feast…Wow, these flavors are delectable, and beautifully presented:)
Awesome idea, especially for when you don't feel like cooking (grill pork and veggies). Thanks for the recipe~can't wait to try it out!
been in a cooking rut lately. i think you have single-handedly snapped me out of it! grazie!
For not feeling like cooking you sure made a great meal! when I don't feel like cooking we order out..lol…I have never seen chimichurri on veggies thats a wonderful idea!! and your pork loin looks perfect with the sauce….what an inspired recipe!
You've just gave me an idea for an interesting bbq dish instead of the usual meat with salt and pepper. I love herb-based marinate.
Oh I love chimichurri, such a fragrant sauce! you made such perfect combination, all those grilled veggies are so tempting! and yes it's quick to make yet delicious…(I hate unloading the dishwasher, that is one of the things I really hate doing)
I have just come back from a holiday travelling round Argentina….that brings back memories of fantastic food!
This looks fabulous! Definitely beats take-out any day (although as someone with no children that is usually the option when I don't want to cook). I love summer veggies.
It sounds tasty!
I will definetely try it!
http://xs-recipes.blogspot.com
Dear Sommer – If this is you when you DON'T want to cook what's your form when you DO? Fantastic, fragrant, delicous recipe.
LOVE the chimichurri!
The lovely fresh ingredients with the pork and veggies is perfect and so very healthy too. Another great one Dahling
Ciao, Devaki @ weavethousandflavors
Just made the chimichurri with shrimp and grilled veggies! Love it! I kept dipping raw veggies in the chimi, it was awesome. Thanks
that looks GREAT!!! I am definitely going to try that as I have a large pork tenderloin in the freezer.
I just found your blog this morning!! And I'am so glad I did!! Your photos are amazing and your recipes are out of this world..
Wow, that is one nice article. You sure did a lot of work with the pictures and all, I love it and will make it for sure. I am all about home made scratch cooking! I am putting this in the healthy blog carnival that will be published next week at: http://www.BestBlogReview.com
That is a wonderful sauce! A delightful combo. So summery and delicious.
cheers,
Rosa