Spicy Pork Tenderloin with Ginger-Maple Sauce

If you're craving meat but want something light that's loaded with flavor, this will definitely hit the spot. The maple syrup and spice blend offer sweetness with a kick. It's so easy, anyone can make this dish and look like a star.

Yield:

6 servings (serving size: 3 ounces pork and 2 tablespoons sauce)

Ingredients

1. 2 teaspoons chili powder
2. 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
3. 1 teaspoon black pepper
4. 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
5. 1 1/2 pounds pork tenderloin, trimmed
6. 2 tablespoons butter
7. 1 cup chopped onion
8. 2 tablespoons bottled ground fresh ginger
9. 1 cup fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
10. 1/2 cup maple syrup

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375°.
2. Combine first 4 ingredients in a small bowl; rub pork with spice mixture. Refrigerate 30 minutes.
3. Heat a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat; add pork. Cook 6 minutes; brown on all sides. Place on a broiler pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 375° for 30 minutes or until thermometer registers 155°. Let stand 10 minutes before slicing.
4. While pork bakes, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion, and cook 10 minutes or until golden brown, stirring frequently. Add ginger, and cook 4 minutes. Stir in broth and syrup, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Bring broth mixture to a boil; cook until reduced to 3/4 cup (about 10 minutes). Cut pork into 1/4-inch-thick slices; serve with sauce.

Notes