I participated in the National Pork Board Porksgiving program as a member of One2One Network. I received compensation but all opinions are my own.

Give thanks to the whole family with this Asian recipe for Hoisin BBQ Pork Tenderloin. #Porksgiving

I love a family dinner. Beyond having fun in the kitchen with new recipes, it’s my way of showing love. You know the 5 Love Languages? Well they need a sixth… cooking.

Because of all of the travel I’ve been doing lately, it had been awhile since I’ve been able to gather my extended family together for a family dinner. This past Sunday, however, the stars aligned. My in-laws were in town, my mom available, and my sister and husband all joined my family of five for supper around the kitchen table. Seeing my people all sharing, laughing, eating makes my heart warm.

At a time of the year when the kids are crafting their gift lists and shopping is at the forefront of everyone’s minds, to me, it’s nice to say thank you and share the love with a family meal. My in-laws have been so giving with their time in taking care of my children; my mom and my sister’s family have also been there over the last year as my family has grown and become quite the circus. To take the time to give thanks to them with dinner is priceless.

To inspire people across the country to take the time to give and say thanks, the National Pork Board will celebrate “Porksgiving” – a time for giving back (with pork) to those who give back – from November 2, 2015 through the end of the year. After all, there’s no better way to show someone how much you appreciate them than with a home-cooked dinner like this pork tenderloin recipe.

When it comes to big family dinners my number one rule is to make something that doesn’t require a lot of last-minute hands on prep. I’ve been experimenting with a pork tenderloin recipe and perfecting a Asian marinade, and decided to try it out on the fam. Turns out, it’s a winner. After marinating in a combo of hoisin, sugars and soy sauce, the pork gets a tremendous flavor boost and a delicious glaze while roasting.

First, combine brown sugar, honey, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, Chinese Five Spice powder and vegetable oil in a small mixing bowl. Place pork tenderloin in a large ziploc bag and pour sauce over it. Squeeze the air out of the bag when sealing, the massage the marinade into the meat. Allow it to marinate at least four hours or overnight if possible.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Place a piece of parchment paper on a rimmed baking sheet and set tenderloin on top. Reserve extra marinade. Bake in oven approximately 45 minutes or until meat thermometer reaches an internal temperature between 145°F (medium rare) and 160°F (medium), followed by a three-minute rest.

While roasting, pour your marinade into a small sauce pan and bring to a low simmer for five minutes. About five minutes prior to removing pork from the oven, pour some of the marinade over the top.

Remove from the oven and allow to rest. DON’T cut into it for at least three minutes! This will cause the juices to run out of the meat and result in bleh, dry pork. I know you’re going to wanna make sure it’s done. That’s why we’re using the thermometer!

Set a timer for a minimum of five minutes, then slice it up. Pour remaining sauce over pork, if desired.

I made a little extra, and plan to use it in a pork fried rice later on in the week. Yum!

Hoisin BBQ Pork Tenderloin

Ingredients

2 to 2 1/2 pounds pork tenderloin
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 cup honey
1/3 cup hoisin sauce
3 tablespoons light soy sauce
1 teaspoon Chinese Five Spice Powder
1/4 cup vegetable oil

Instructions

First, combine brown sugar, honey, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, Chinese Five Spice powder and vegetable oil in a small mixing bowl. Place pork tenderloin in a large ziploc bag and pour sauce over it. Squeeze the air out of the bag when sealing, the massage the marinade into the meat. Allow it to marinate at least four hours or overnight if possible.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Place a piece of parchment paper on a rimmed baking sheet and set tenderloin on top. Reserve extra marinade. Bake in oven approximately 45 minutes or until meat thermometer reaches an internal temperature of until the internal temperature of the pork reaches between 145 degrees F. (medium rare) and 160 degrees F. (medium), on a meat thermometer. About five minutes prior to removing pork from the oven, pour some of the marinade over the top.
Remove from the oven and allow to rest. DON'T cut into it for at least three minutes! This will cause the juices to run out of the meat and result in bleh, dry pork. I know you're going to wanna make sure it's done. That's why we're using the thermometer!
Set a timer for a minimum of five minutes, then slice it up. Pour remaining sauce over pork, if desired.

Get inspired to give back with juicy, tender pork all season by visiting this link. There, the National Pork Board will share inspiration via stores that feature how Americans are giving back and the fans who are saying thanks with the gift of pork. Looking for more great pork recipes? Connect with the National Pork Board here: