Puerto Rican FoodPork Tenderloin with Rum and Culantro over Sweet Potato Mash and Warm Corn Salad
An original Puerto Rican-inspired dish featuring pork tenderloin medallions marinated with garlic, culantro, and a touch of dark rum, served over silky sweet potato mash with a warm salad of corn, red onion, and sweet pepper. It delivers classic island flavor, contrasting textures, and an elegant yet homey presentation.
Ingredients
- 600 g pork tenderloin (cut en medallones gruesos)
- 45 ml dark rum (for the marinada and desglasar)
- 20 g fresh culantro (chopped fino)
- 18 g garlic (majado or chopped)
- 2 g dried oregano
- 1 g ground cumin
- 8 g salt (divided)
- 2 g black pepper (divided)
- 30 ml olive oil (divided)
- 700 g sweet potato (pelada and cut diced)
- 30 g butter
- 120 ml milk (tibia)
- 240 g sweet corn kernels (fresh or congelado)
- 100 g red onion (in strips finas)
- 60 g sweet chili pepper (in strips finas)
- 15 ml apple cider vinegar
- 120 ml chicken broth (for the sauce of the cerdo)
- 10 ml honey
- 15 ml lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
Nutrition facts
per serving
Approximate nutritional information. Estimated from the recipe’s ingredients and amounts, using standard reference nutrition values. It may vary with brands, sizes and cooking method. For guidance only; not a substitute for medical or dietary advice.
Allergens
Instructions
- 1
1. In a bowl, combine the dark rum, half of the culantro, the garlic, oregano, cumin, 4 g (about 3/4 tsp) salt, 1 g (about 1/2 tsp) black pepper, and 15 ml (1 tbsp) olive oil. Add the pork tenderloin medallions and coat well. Marinate for 15 minutes in the refrigerator.
- 2
2. Place the sweet potato in a pot with enough water to cover and add a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, then cook over medium heat for 15 to 18 minutes, until very tender. Drain well.
- 3
3. While the sweet potato cooks, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 15 ml (1 tbsp) olive oil and sear the pork medallions for 2 to 3 minutes per side until nicely browned. Transfer them to a baking tray or oven-safe dish.
- 4
4. Finish cooking the pork in a preheated oven at 400°F / 200°C for 8 to 10 minutes, or until cooked through but still juicy. Cover loosely and let rest for 5 minutes.
- 5
5. In the same skillet used for the pork, add the red onion and sweet chili pepper. Cook for 2 minutes over medium heat. Stir in the sweet corn, the remaining salt, and the remaining black pepper, and sauté for 3 more minutes.
- 6
6. Add the apple cider vinegar and lemon juice to the skillet. Cook for 1 minute, mix in the remaining culantro, and remove from the heat. Set aside this warm corn salad.
- 7
7. For the mash, mash the hot sweet potato with the butter and warm milk until smooth. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
- 8
8. In the empty or cleaned skillet, pour in the chicken broth, honey, and any juices released by the resting pork. Cook over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes until the sauce reduces slightly. If desired, add the leftover marinade as well and cook the sauce thoroughly until it boils for at least 2 minutes.
- 9
9. To serve, spoon sweet potato mash onto each plate, arrange the pork medallions on top, and finish with the rum and culantro sauce. Serve with the warm corn, red onion, and sweet pepper salad on the side.
Chef tips
For better browning, pat the pork lightly dry before searing. The mash becomes silkier if you mash the sweet potato while it is still very hot.
Substitutions
You can substitute the pork tenderloin with boneless chicken thighs, adjusting the cooking time as needed. Culantro can be partially replaced with cilantro if unavailable. Sweet potato may be swapped for pumpkin for a lighter mash.
What I used to make it
Generic kitchen tools that work for this recipe. You don’t need to buy anything to make it.
Illustrative imageNinja Professional BL610 Blender
Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Easy-to-wash jar
- Check the power and jar size
Illustrative imageCosori Pro LE 5 Qt Air Fryer
Browning and baking with little oil
- Browns food with very little oil
- Handy for vegetables, chicken and reheating
- Check the basket capacity
Illustrative imageTempPro TP19H Digital Thermometer
Checking doneness of meat and chicken
- Checks doneness of meat and chicken
- Quick reading
- Clean the probe after each use
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