Pork Tenderloin Skewers With Potatoes

It's been a while since I posted an Instructable, but I'm back from vacation and it's time to cook something good again, righty?

Today I'm making pork tenderloin skewers, which happens to be one of my kids favorite summer dishes. These are very easy to make and cook pretty quickly in the oven. Since I'm baking them in the oven, I will use the size of my sheet pan to bake some potatoes at the same time. And to make it a complete meal, I will prepare a simple salad, while the skewers are baking.

No need for a lengthy introduction, so let's start cooking.

I'm always starting my Instructables with a video, so let's not break this "tradition" :)

The recipe starts below and you can also check some optional tips on how to tweak these pork skewers on my blog.

I've broken the ingredients down into 3 parts, check them below:

For the skewers:

2 pork tenderloins approx. 1kg (2lbs)
500g (1lb) potatoes
large red onion
1 red bell pepper
1 yellow bell pepper
large kielbasa or sausage
200-250g (½ lb) bacon

For the marinade:

4 tbsp. olive oil
½ tsp dried thyme
½ tsp dried rosemary
2 tsp red paprika
1-2 tbsp. mild yellow mustard
2-3 tbsp. soy sauce
2 cloves crushed garlic
1 tsp salt or to taste
black pepper to taste

For the vegetable salad:

1 large cucumber
1 pack of rucola (rocket)
handful of red radishes
cherry tomatoes
lime juice
1 cup sour cream
olive oil
2 tsp sugar
salt & pepper to taste

Slice the potatoes into wedges, 6 wedges per potato.

Boil them in salted water for about 20 minues. This way, they will bake faster.

While the potatoes are cooking, work on the meat.

Remove the silver skin and cut each tenderloin into half an inch thick chunks.

Prepare the marinade by simply mixing all the ingredients listed above. Make sure to mix everything properly so the salt dissolves and all spices combine. Use your hands to properly cover every bit with the marinade.

Tenderloin doesn't need to marinate for a long time, but I recommend at least 30 minutes.

This step is rather self explanatory and doesn't need any special instructions.

Simply cut everything into bit size chunks.

Just a bit of planning is needed. You will need about 5-6 pieces of everything per skewer, so make sure you have enough of all the ingredients.

I made 5 skewers so follow the amounts I listed in the ingredients list, if you plan to prepare the same amount.

Now to the fun part.

Thread everything onto wooden or metal skewers. The only rule to follow here, is to make sure you mix it up properly... start with a piece of vegetables, then some meaty part, then vegetables...

TIP: Since we are baking in the oven, no need to soak the wooden skewers in water. If you plan to use a wood or coal fired grill, you need to soak the wooden skewers first or else they would burn.

Greace the sheet pan with olive oil, so the skewers and potatoes do not stick to it.

Now place the skewers on the sheet, move them to one side so we have enough place for the potatoes. As you can see, I've used all of the space, do the same. The more potatoes you can fit in, the better.

Don't forget to season the potatoes with some olive oil, salt and a bit of pepper.

Cover the sheet pan with aluminum foil and bake at 200-220 C or 450 F for 25 minutes.

We have enough time to make a simple salad now.

I've used rucola (rocket), cherry tomatoes, cucumber and radishes, but feel free to use different types of vegetables. Add some olive oil, lime juice, salt and pepper.

I like some dressing on my salads, so I've mixed a cup of sour cream (yoghurt works too) with lime juice and some sugar. You can skip this, but I would say it makes the salad better.

25 minutes later, the skewers are cooked half way through and it's time to remove the foil. Flip the skewers so they bake from both sides.

Back to the oven they go now and it will take about 20 more minutes to bake fully and catch a nice color. I recommend to flip the skewers once more after about 10 minutes.

Once the potatoes turn golden brown it's time to serve.

Place a skewer in the middle of a plate, then the potatoes and salad on the sides.

We're done, how do you like it? I think it turned out pretty good.

Bon Appetit! :)