Moroccan-Spiced Pork Loin Roast - Food Wishes - Holiday Roast

honey

🥗Healthier: maple syrup

💰Cheaper: brown sugar

Maple syrup provides a similar sweetness with less processing.

dried apricots

🥗Healthier: dried figs

💰Cheaper: raisins

Raisins are often more affordable and have a similar texture.

almonds

🥗Healthier: walnuts

💰Cheaper: sunflower seeds

Sunflower seeds are less expensive and nut-free.

Butterfly the pork loin roast by slicing into the center, keeping the blade parallel to the cutting board, and stopping about an inch from the other side.

Season the inside and outside of the pork loin generously with 5 teaspoons of kosher salt.

Let the seasoned pork sit at room temperature for 30 to 45 minutes.

Prepare the Moroccan spice paste by mixing ground cumin, ground coriander, ground ginger, black pepper, smoked paprika, cayenne, cinnamon, ground cloves, and allspice with about 3 tablespoons of honey to create a paste.

Pat the pork dry with a paper towel to help the spice paste adhere better.

Spread half of the spice mixture inside the butterflied pork and the rest on the exterior, especially on the fattier side if applicable.

Tie the pork with kitchen twine every inch and a half to hold it together during cooking.

Drizzle a couple tablespoons of olive oil into a baking roasting pan and place the tied pork inside.

Surround the pork with vegetables like potatoes, carrots, red onions, and split Anaheim chilies, which should be tossed with olive oil and salt beforehand.

Clean off any excess oil or drippings from the pan before transferring it to a 350°F oven for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 140 to 145°F.

Once cooked, turn the pork in the pan drippings, transfer it to a plate, cover loosely with foil, and let it rest for 15 minutes.

While the pork rests, toss the potatoes and veggies in the pan drippings and increase the oven temperature to 425°F before returning the vegetables for an additional 10 minutes of roasting.

Remove the kitchen twine from the pork and add any accumulated juices back into the pan drippings before plating the pork and surrounding it with the roasted vegetables.

Spoon some of the drippings over the pork for presentation.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens