Tender Orange-Glazed Pork Loin

Orange-Glazed Pork Loin is a refined and tasty main dish, a great classic, ideal for a Sunday family lunch, a special occasion, or a festive dinner. The star of this recipe is the pork loin, a prized and fairly lean cut of meat that lends itself to slow cooking in the oven or pan.

The pork loin will be marinated for about an hour in a mixture of orange juice and grated zest, rosemary, salt, and pepper; the orange marinade, besides making the cut very tender, gives the dish a unique sweetness and aroma. After marinating, the pork loin will be browned in a pan with butter and oil, deglazed with white wine, and baked in the oven for an hour; it will then be sliced ​​and served with its own cooking juices, slightly thickened over the heat with water and cornstarch, and orange slices if you want to make it more spectacular.

If you like, you can complete the dish with crispy roasted potatoes, mashed potatoes, or a delicious chicory salad, which, with its slightly bitter flavor, will counterbalance the sugary citrus flavor.

You can also flavor the dish with other spices and herbs, such as thyme, bay leaves, juniper berries, and cinnamon sticks. If you can't find pork loin, you can use a pork tenderloin or shank in the same way: in this case, you'll need to reduce the cooking time.

How to Make Orange-Glazed Pork Loin

Step 1

Step 1

Wash the oranges thoroughly, preferably organic and untreated.

Wash the oranges thoroughly, preferably organic and untreated.

Step 2

Step 2

Gently grate the zest, avoiding the bitter white part, and store everything in a bowl.

Gently grate the zest, avoiding the bitter white part, and store everything in a bowl.

Step 3

Step 3

Squeeze the oranges into the same bowl, adding salt, pepper, rosemary and mix well.

Squeeze the oranges into the same bowl, adding salt, pepper, rosemary and mix well.

Step 4

Step 4

Pour the juice into a baking dish, add the pork loin, massage it well and let it marinate for an hour.

Pour the juice into a baking dish, add the pork loin, massage it well and let it marinate for an hour.

Step 5

Step 5

After marinating, pat the meat dry.

After marinating, pat the meat dry.

Step 6

Step 6

Salt it lightly.

Salt it lightly.

Step 7

Step 7

Brown it on all sides in a pan with butter and oil.

Brown it on all sides in a pan with butter and oil.

Step 8

Step 8

Deglaze with the white wine.

Deglaze with the white wine.

Step 9

Step 9

Return the meat to the baking dish with the marinade.

Return the meat to the baking dish with the marinade.

Step 10

Step 10

Bake at 350°F/180°C for about 1 hour, basting regularly with the sauce.

Bake at 350°F/180°C for about 1 hour, basting regularly with the sauce.

Step 11

Step 11

Filter the cooking liquid, heat it with a little water and cornstarch to thicken it.

Filter the cooking liquid, heat it with a little water and cornstarch to thicken it.

Step 12

Step 12

Serve the sliced pork loin with the sauce, accompanied with orange slices. Enjoy!

Serve the sliced pork loin with the sauce, accompanied with orange slices. Enjoy!

How to Store Any Leftovers

You can store the orange-glazed pork loin in the refrigerator for 1-2 days in an airtight container.