Pesto Pork Recipes

PESTO PORK ROAST

Steps:

• For pesto, in a blender, combine 1/4 cup oil, basil, cheese and garlic. Cover and process until blended. Remove 2 tablespoons pesto to a small bowl; stir in remaining oil and set aside., Cut each tomato into four slices; place in a greased shallow roasting pan. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon pepper and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Sprinkle remaining pepper and salt over roast; place over tomato slices. Spread remaining pesto over roast. , Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 1-1/2 to 2 hours or until a thermometer reads 160°. , Remove roast and keep warm. Let stand for 10 minutes before slicing. Meanwhile, cook noodles according to package directions; drain and place in a large bowl. With a slotted spoon, add tomatoes to noodles; add reserved pesto and toss to coat. Serve with pork.

PESTO PORK TENDERLOIN

Steps:

• In a food processor, combine basil, walnuts, garlic, salt and pepper. Process for several minutes until blended. Add in parmesan and olive oil and blend until desired consistency.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. (or use a grill)
• Bake tenderloins on baking sheet and cook for about 10 minutes. Spread half of the pesto over the tops and return to the oven for an additional 7-10 minutes, until internal temperature of pork reaches 145 degrees. Oven temps may vary, so using a meat thermometer yields best results!
• Remove from oven and allow to rest about 10 minutes before slicing.
• Serve with remaining pesto and enjoy!

PESTO STUFFED PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Mix feta cheese, basil pesto, and pine nuts in a bowl. Use the tip of a sharp boning or paring knife to cut a 3-inch slit in the side of each pork chop, 2 inches deep and 1/4-inch away from the bone, to make a pocket for stuffing. Stuff pork chops with pesto filling and secure with toothpicks.
• Mix black pepper, oregano, garlic, red pepper flakes, and thyme in a small bowl; rub both sides of each chop with the spice mix. Place chops into a shallow baking dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven until chops are browned and stuffing is hot, about 40 minutes. An instant-read meat thermometer inserted into the center of the stuffing should read 145 degrees F (63 degrees C). Brush chops with balsamic vinegar and bake until vinegar forms a glaze, another 5 minutes.

PESTO BAKED PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Season pork chops with garlic powder and seasoned salt.
• Beat eggs in a bowl until smooth. Pour flour into a separate shallow bowl and bread crumbs into a third bowl.
• Gently press seasoned pork chops into the flour to coat and shake to remove excess flour. Dip into the beaten egg, then press into bread crumbs. Gently toss between your hands so any bread crumbs that haven't stuck can fall away. Place the breaded chops onto a plate while breading the rest; do not stack.
• Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
• Cook pork chops in hot oil until the bread crumb coating is well browned, about 5 minutes per side; transfer to a baking dish. Cover baking dish with aluminum foil.
• Bake chops in preheated oven for 1 hour. Whisk cream of chicken soup, milk, and pesto together in a bowl; pour over the pork chops. Replace foil and continue baking another 30 minutes.

PESTO PORK

Steps:

• Cut pork loin into 1/2-inch slices.
• Place flour in a shallow dish.
• Season pork medallions with salt and pepper, then place in flour and coat evenly on both sides.
• Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add pork and cook in batches for 2-4 minutes per side, or until golden, adding more butter as needed.
• Remove pork to a covered platter to keep warm.
• Add cream and pesto to skillet; mix well.
• Add tomatoes and cook 3-5 minutes, or until thoroughly heated.
• Pour over pork medallions and serve.

BACON-WRAPPED PESTO PORK TENDERLOIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°. Arrange bacon strips lengthwise in a foil-lined 15x10x1-in. pan, overlapping slightly., Cut tenderloin lengthwise through the center to within 1/2 in. of bottom. Open tenderloin flat; pound with a meat mallet to 1/2-in. thickness. Place tenderloin on center of bacon, perpendicular to strips., Sprinkle pepper over pork. Spread with pesto; layer with cheese and spinach. Close tenderloin; wrap with bacon, overlapping ends. Tie with kitchen string at 3-in. intervals. Secure ends with toothpicks., In a 12-in. skillet, brown roast on all sides, about 8 minutes. Return to baking pan; roast in oven until a thermometer inserted in pork reads 145°, 17-20 minutes. Remove string and toothpicks; let stand 5 minutes before slicing.

PESTO TOPPED PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• Preheat grill.
• When grill is heated, lightly spray with cooking spray. Place pork chops on bottom grill surface; close grill. Cook 3 minutes.
• Tope each chop with 1/2 T pesto and sprinkle with bread crumbs; close grill. cook 2-3 minutes or until chops are no longer pink and meat thermometer reads 160. Place on serving plate; top each with 1/2 T remaining pesto.

PROSCIUTTO PORK FILLET

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 220°C/425°F/gas 7. Pour the milk into a blender, grate in most of the cheese, add just 10 pieces of gnocchi and a pinch of black pepper, and blitz until smooth to make a sauce. Put the remaining gnocchi and the peas into a 26cm non-stick ovenproof frying pan, place on a medium heat, pour over the sauce and bring to the boil. Meanwhile, lay out a 50cm sheet of greaseproof paper, lay over the prosciutto slices side by side, slightly overlapping, then spread the pesto all over them. Trim the pork of any sinew, rub it all over with a pinch of black pepper, lay it across one end of the prosciutto and use the paper to help you roll it up, wrapping the pork in the prosciutto. Sit it on an oiled baking tray. Finely grate the remaining cheese over the gnocchi, then carefully transfer the pan to the oven. Place the pork at the bottom of the oven and cook both for 30 minutes.
• About 5 minutes before the time is up, take the pork tray out of the oven and use the sage as a brush to baste the pork with the juices from the tray, then carefully tear the sage leaves over the pork and return to the oven for the remaining time. Remove to rest for 5 minutes, leaving the gnocchi in the oven, then serve the pork and gnocchi together, spooning any remaining tray juices over the pork