As most of my readers know, I really appreciate the value of well-prepared pork, especially when you look at the low cost of pork compared to beef. Pork is a clean culinary canvas with a lot of versatility that can handle almost only preparation and flavor. These sandwiches I describe today were so easy to make it’s almost embarrassing to write a column about them, but on a positive note, they are so darn easy that if you wanted to impress your guests with a reasonably priced entree that is also really quick and delicious, this is your column.
This recipe uses the pork tenderloin as opposed to the pork loin. What’s the difference? The tenderloin is much smaller and thinner. It’s the muscle that runs along the backbone. The loin is much larger and runs along the back. We use the tenderloin in this sandwich because it is much smaller and cooks quicker. I used small buns as these mini-sandwiches were appetizers. The tenderloin is perfect for mini-sandwiches. If you are watching fat, the loin and the tenderloin are considered “extra lean.” And lastly, pork tenderloin is known as the filet mignon of pork.
Smoked Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches With Spicy Jam
½ cup smoked paprika
½ cup dark brown sugar
3 tablespoons kosher salt
3 tablespoons coarsely ground black pepper
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon granulated garlic
Rub both tenderloins down liberally with the rub. I set the pellet smoker at 200 degrees and smoked the tenderloins until the internal temperature hit 130 degrees at the thickest part of the tenderloin, which took roughly 90 minutes. I then cranked it up to 400 degrees and smoked it for another 10 minutes or so to create some texture and color. I then took the tenderloins off, placed foil over them and let them rest for five minutes or so before carving them. If you cut into them too quickly, the juice flows out. I served them on a small roll which we cut in half, resulting in a small bun, with a dab of pepper jelly on each sandwich. They were a huge hit and I would highly recommend giving these simply hoity-toity smoked sandwiches a try.
