Sauteed Beet Greens with Roasted Beets and Pork Tenderloin

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Photo: KATE SEARS
Prep Time:
25 mins
Total Time:
1 hr 20 mins
Servings:
4

If you haven't roasted beets before, you're in for a treat. Although they take a bit more time, it's well worth it; roasting intensifies their sweet, earthy flavor.

Ingredients

  • 2 bunches beets (3 to 4 pounds with greens), greens removed, chopped, washed, and drained with some water clinging (about 9 cups greens)

  • 2 pork tenderloins (12 ounces each), trimmed of excess fat

  • Coarse salt and ground pepper

  • 4 tablespoons olive oil

  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

  • 2 teaspoons plus 1 tablespoon red-wine vinegar

  • 2 garlic cloves, smashed

  • 2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Loosely wrap beets in a 12-by-20-inch piece of foil. Place on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until easily pierced with a knife, 35 to 45 minutes. When cool to touch, grab beets with a paper towel and slip off skins. Reserve one beet; halve and slice remaining beets. Set aside.

  2. Season pork generously with salt and pepper. Place on a rimmed baking sheet and roast until pork registers 150 degrees on an instant-read thermometer, 14 to 16 minutes.

  3. Meanwhile, in a food processor, combine the reserved beet and 1 tablespoon oil; process until smooth. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve (or strainer) lined with cheesecloth into a small bowl to yield 4 teaspoons juice; discard solids. Add mustard, 2 teaspoons vinegar, and 2 tablespoons oil; whisk to combine. Set aside.

  4. In a large skillet, heat remaining tablespoon of oil over medium. Add garlic and cook until fragrant and golden, about 1 minute. Add beet greens, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until wilted and tender, 2 to 4 minutes. Remove greens from heat and discard garlic. Add reserved beets and remaining tablespoon of vinegar, and toss to combine.

  5. To serve, top sauteed greens with toasted pine nuts. Drizzle a little of the beet vinaigrette on the plate and top with sliced pork.

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