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This post is sponsored by our friends at Smithfield and the Virginia Pork Council. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Holiday Pork Loin Filet with Cilantro & Date Relish

I love entertaining during the holidays! Every year we host several dinners for friends and family to celebrate the season, get together to share a meal and spend time catching up. It’s always nice to slow down and remember what the spirit of the holiday season is all about after all.

Holiday Pork Loin Filet with Cilantro & Date Relish

I recently hosted a small dinner party and invited a few of our neighbors over. We moved in to our new home in February but with the move, pregnancy, and bringing a new baby home, we’ve hardly had a chance to have people over. Things are finally starting to settle down and we are settling into our new home and our new life as a family of four, so I was really excited to welcome new friends.

Holiday Pork Loin Filet with Cilantro & Date Relish

This recipe is so easy to make and so full of flavor! It also makes for a beautiful meal presentation that’s perfect for serving as a holiday dinner. The key is to choose a good, high-quality cut of pork that’s fresh and tender. I love Smithfield Marinated Fresh Pork, and it’s my go-to for a delicious, hassle free holiday meal. It’s perfectly seasoned so all the prep work is already done for you. And you can prepare it in so many ways- slow-cook, roast, grill or sauté it.

Smithfield Marinated Fresh Pork is available in a wide variety of fresh cuts, from pork roasts and loin filets to chops, ribs, sirloins and tenderloins. Sliced or cubed, it’s quick and easy to cook and perfect to serve for dinner or any special occasion.

Holiday Pork Loin Filet with Cilantro & Date Relish

For this recipe I used the Smithfield Slow Smoked Mesquite Marinated Fresh Pork Loin Filet which I picked up at Food Lion (you can also find the Marinated Fresh Pork products at Walmart). The pork loin filet is perfectly seasoned and full of flavor, so you only need a few more ingredients to create this delicious dish.

Pork Loin Filet with Cilantro & Date Relish Servings: 6-8 servings

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 20 minutes

Total time: 35 minutes

Ingredients:

1 2 lb. Smithfield Slow Smoked Mesquite Marinated Fresh Pork Loin Filet

3 tablespoons olive oil
4 ounces Medjool dates cut into small pieces
3 tablespoons fresh orange juice
¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro

1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 425°F. Slice pork loin filet into 1 inch slices. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear pork on each side.
  2. Transfer pork to roasting pan and place in oven. Cook for 10–15 minutes, until the pork slices reach an internal temperature of 145°F.
  3. In a medium bowl, toss dates, orange juice, chopped cilantro, 2 tablespoons of oil and apple cider vinegar. Serve over pork slices.

Holiday Pork Loin Filet with Cilantro & Date Relish

My pork dinner was a big hit! We had a wonderful meal and really enjoyed getting to know our neighbors. If only holiday shopping were this easy. I need to finish mine up and get presents wrapped and under the tree. Wishing you and yours Happy Holidays!

Holiday Pork Loin Filet with Cilantro & Date Relish

Smithfield products are made with 100% fresh pork with no artificial ingredients and are packed with protein. I love cooking with fresh pork because it’s so versatile – it pairs well with a wide variety of flavors and seasonings and is so easy to cook and incorporate into any style of dish.

For more product information and recipe inspiration, visit Smithfield.com and VirginiaPork.org 

Holiday Pork Loin Filet with Cilantro & Date Relish

This post is sponsored by our friends at Smithfield and the Virginia Pork Council.