Persimmon Prosciutto Pork Tenderloin

Persimmon Prosciutto Pork Tenderloin is an unforgettable savory persimmon recipe. Hearty, comforting and exploding with sweet and savory flavors that will keep everyone coming back for more, this is a delicious entrée to serve during the fall and winter months.

Inspiration

My dad comes over every Thursday night for dinner. While I certainly try to serve delicious food all week, this tradition makes Thursday night’s dinners a little bit more special.

And this past Thursday was made even more special with a very timely Fuyu persimmon delivery from my friends at Melissa’s Produce.

With a pork tenderloin and prosciutto in the fridge, I almost instantly thought of making this Persimmon Prosciutto Pork Tenderloin Recipe.

We see lots of dessert recipes using persimmons, but not as many savory persimmon recipes. That makes this dish even more special.

On Thursday’s I really try to do it up, so it’s extra exciting for my dad.

And we all reap the benefits. Win-win.

Fuyu Persimmons vs. Hachiaya Persimmons

Fuyu Persimmons, like other varieties are truly gorgeous. Unlike Hachiya persimmons, which can only be eaten once they’re super soft and unable to be sliced, Fuyus are a non-astringent variety, that are sweet and delicious when firm and can be easily sliced.

They are so lovely to have around during their fall season — their orange-red color exudes warmth and beauty.

I used the Fuyu persimmons two ways in this recipe:

1. They’re sliced super thinly inside of the rolled pork
2. The persimmons are also sliced into wedges in a mixture of sweet caramelized onions and herbs.

What makes Persimmon Prosciutto Pork Tenderloin so delicious?

• Fuyu persimmons become softer during the cooking process, but remain intact, so you get a nice piece in every bite.
• While the persimmons do add sweetness to the recipe, it’s indeed a savory persimmon recipe, which are not very common.
• The prosciutto crisps up perfectly, almost working as a “crust.”
• Bits of melting gorgonzola add just the right amount of punch to bring this to the next level, without interfering with the sweetness of the persimmons.
• Juicy, succulent pork holds everything together and is what makes this such a hearty dish.

How to Make Persimmon Prosciutto Pork Tenderloin

– Combine rosemary, thyme, garlic and olive oil.

– Peel and cut the persimmons — some into thin slices and some into wedges.

– Butterfly and pound the pork until it’s as smooth and even as possible.

– Lay the prosciutto slices on plastic wrap, layering them lengthwise, like this . . .

– Rub about half of the rosemary mixture evenly on top, like this . . .

– Season the pork with salt and pepper and then place it directly on top of the prosciutto with the rosemary mixture, smooth side down. Rub the remaining half of the rosemary mixture on top, like this . . .

– Layer the thinly sliced persimmon on top, overlapping a them a bit, like this . . .

– Sprinkle gorgonzola evenly over the persimmon slices.

– Roll up the pork as tightly as possible. You’ll be rolling the pork off of the prosciutto — don’t roll the prosciutto with the pork! Once the pork is tightly rolled, with the seam side down, use the plastic wrap to help you wrap the prosciutto around the pork roll, as tightly as possible. It should look like this . . .– Coat the bottom on a large oven-proof sauté pan with olive oil and place it over medium heat. Add onions and dried thyme and sauté, stirring often, until the onions are soft and become golden. Add the sliced persimmon wedges, mix and sauté for another minutes.

– Turn the heat to medium-high, spread the onion-persimmon mixture to the edges of the pan, and add a bit more olive oil. Being very careful, use your hands or kitchen tongs, gently place the pork in the pan, seam side down. Sauté long enough to brown the bottom, about 1 minute.

– Place the pan in a preheated 450°F oven, and roast just until the pork is cooked through, about 15 minutes.

– Let it sit for a few minutes before slicing it into rounds and serving.

More detailed instructions are below.

Oh and of course, in honor of my mom, this is appropriately served with double the onions!

Enjoy!

5 from 3 votes

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Persimmon Prosciutto Pork Tenderloin Recipe

Prep Time

45 mins

Cook Time

15 mins

Total Time

1 hr

 

An unforgettably delicious entrée to serve during the fall and winter months. It’s a hearty, comforting dish that’s bursting with sweet and savory flavors that will keep everyone coming back for more.

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: recipes with pork, holiday meat recipes

Servings: 4

Calories: 629 kcal

Author: Valentina K. Wein

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, washed and dried, finely chopped
• 1½ teaspoons dried thyme divided
• 2 teaspoons garlic, minced (about 4 small cloves)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil and a bit more for the pan
• 3 (approximately 4-ounce) Fuyu persimmons
• 1 (1½-pound) pork tenderloin
• 5 ounces prosciutto, very thinly sliced
• 3 tablespoons gorgonzola, crumbled
• 2 cups yellow onion, thinly sliced
• salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 450°F and adjust a rack to the center.

2. In a small bowl, combine the rosemary, 1 teaspoon of the thyme, garlic and the 1 tablespoon of oil. Set aside.

3. Slice about ½ inch off the stem end of each persimmon, and about ¼ inch off the bottoms, and peel them. Cut two of them into rounds, as thinly as possible. Set aside. Then cut the third one into approximately ½ inch wedges and set it aside (separate from the rounds).

4. Working on a clean, dry surface, use a boning knife to trim the pork of any excess fat. Next, butterfly it in a roll cut. To do this, cutting lengthwise, slice about ½ inch from the edge, starting to cut down at a 45 degree angle. When the knife is about ½ inch from the bottom of the tenderloin, angle it parallel to your work surface and continue to slice, gently pulling the pork back as you go. You’ll end up with a somewhat flat piece that’s about ½ inch thick. Now sprinkle it very lightly with water, and then place a large piece of plastic wrap on top. Use a smooth meat pounder or the bottom of your smallest sauté pan, to pound the pork until it’s as smooth and even as possible, if possible without thinning it. (It will tear if it's too thin.)

5. On another clean dry surface, place another large piece of plastic wrap, and lay the prosciutto slices on it, layering them by about ½ inch along their edges, lengthwise. It's should be about the length of the pork. (If you have leftover slices, place them in any thin areas.)

6. Gently rub about half of the rosemary mixture evenly on top, like this . . .

7. Season both sides of the pork with salt and pepper and then place it directly on top of the prosciutto with the rosemary mixture, smooth side down. Rub the remaining half of the rosemary mixture on top.

8. Layer the thinly sliced persimmon rounds on top, overlapping a bit along the edges.

9. Sprinkle the gorgonzola evenly over the persimmon slices.
10. Now, starting with the end closest to you, roll up the pork, as tightly as possible. You’ll be rolling the pork off of the prosciutto — don’t roll the prosciutto with the pork! Once the pork is tightly rolled, with the seam side down, use the plastic wrap to help you wrap the prosciutto around the pork roll, as tightly as possible.

11. Set the pork aside and coat the bottom on a large oven-proof sauté pan (approximately 14 inch) with olive oil and place it over medium heat. Add the onions and remaining ½ teaspoon of dried thyme. Sauté, stirring often, until the onions are soft and becoming golden, about 10 minutes. Add the sliced persimmon wedges, mix and sauté for another minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Here's How to Season to Taste.)

12. Now we’re going to add the prosciutto wrapped pork to the pan. It will most likely be too long to fit, so cut it in half, horizontally, in the center. Turn the heat up to medium-high, spread the onion-persimmon mixture to the edges of the pan, and add a bit more olive oil in the center. Being very careful, use your hands or kitchen tongs, gently place the pork in the pan, seam side down. If it’s in two pieces, try to have at least an inch between them. Sauté long enough to brown the bottom, about 1 minute. (It’s okay if they become unwrapped a little — they might not be perfect.)

13. Turn the heat off and spread the onion-persimmon mixture evenly around the pork, and between them if there are two.

14. Place the pan in the preheated 450°F and roast just until the pork is cooked through, about 15 minutes.

15. Let it sit for a few minutes before slicing it into rounds and serving.

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