Here’s one of those recipe gems that proves you can make something really incredible with very few ingredients! It’s a Pork Tenderloin with a Mustard Cream Sauce that looks and tastes like far more than the sum of its parts – just 3 ingredients, would you believe?! This is a sauce that’s truly excellent for pork fillets. It’s elegant and indulgent enough for company, yet quick enough for family dinner tonight too!
Pork Tenderloin with Creamy Mustard Sauce
With a sauce made from just cream, mustard and a pinch of tarragon, this is one of those recipes where I actually had to restrain myself from adding more ingredients. I thought, “It just looks too simple.” A ridiculous statement, I know. But if it were me reading this recipe, I would be suspicious. “How can such a simple sauce be as good as this lady says?”, I would think.
Well, I can do no different from everyone else in the online world and just use lots of CAPS and EXCLAMATION MARKS and write, “This is the BEST pork tenderloin recipe ever!!!!!” to do my best to convince you.😂
I can tell you that I did consider adding garlic and/or eschalots*. I thought about deglazing the skillet with white wine or masala. I pondered even boosting the sauce body with some stock.
But I realised it just doesn’t need it. This sauce is terrific as it is. It’s glorious. Sophisticated. Luxurious. <Insert more gushing adjectives here! 😂>
And YES it really only calls for cream, mustard and a pinch of tarragon!
* That’s shallots to those of you in the US.
Ingredients in Pork Tenderloin with Creamy Mustard Sauce
So with that, hopefully I’ve convinced you that this really is all you need:
Pork tenderloin – Also called pork fillet, this is a lean and tender cut of meat. When cooked properly, it’s juicy and succulent. Tenderloins range in size from small ones around 300g (10oz) to very large ones weighing up to 700g (1.4lb). (Not in Australia, but I’ve seen ones this large overseas!) An average size is around 450 – 500g (16oz – 1 lb) each;
Oil – For searing. Any neutral-flavoured oil is fine here – vegetable, canola, or a mild olive oil;
Dijon and seeded mustard – Two different mustards here. They provide the flavour for the creamy sauce, including a welcome touch of tang. They also help thicken the sauce. Dijon is for the creaminess while seeded mustard brings textural pops of mustard flavour as well as a lovely look. I don’t recommend skipping the Dijon mustard, but if you don’t have seeded mustard that’s ok. Just add a bit of extra Dijon mustard to make up;
Cream – Full-fat for the best results. Low-fat cream works just fine, but won’t have the same rich and luxurious mouthfeel and flavour; and
Fresh herbs – A bit of tarragon adds lovely gentle aniseed notes to the sauce, while parsley brings a touch of freshness. I don’t recommend skipping the tarragon because it’s the “secret ingredient” here that adds intrigue to what would otherwise be a pretty pedestrian sauce. Parsley can be skipped on the other hand because it doesn’t contribute as much to the flavour.
How to make Pork Tenderloin with Creamy Mustard Sauce
It’s as simple as: Season → Sear → Bake → Make pan sauce!
Season the pork all over with salt and pepper;
Sear the pork in a large skillet, turning to colour all sides (I do 4 sides in total). It takes about 5 minutes to get a nice colour all over. If your tenderloin is too long for your skillet (which most will be) just curl it to fit. The tenderloin shrinks as it cooks, so I find by the time I’ve finished it fits nicely inside the skillet;
Bake – Transfer to oven in the skillet and bake for 10 – 15 minutes, depending on the size of your pork tenderloin, or until the internal temperature is 65°C (149°F). This yields medium doneness, which will have the faintest blush of pink inside with beautifully juicy flesh. To cook fully with no pink at all, just take it to 68°C (155°F) – around 3 more minutes baking time;
Rest – Rest the pork for 5 minutes before slicing and serving along with the sauce;
Sauce – While the pork is resting, make the sauce. Return the skillet to the stove over medium heat. Add the cream and both mustards. Now mix, scraping the bottom of the pan to dissolve the tasty golden bits stuck to the bottom of the pan into the sauce (free flavour!); and
Add herbs – Once the sauce is hot, add the salt, pepper, parsley and tarragon. There is no need to simmer this sauce, it’s ready as soon as it’s warmed up! The mustard acts as a thickener so there’s no need for reduction.
How long it takes to cook pork tenderloin
As a guide, a 400g (14oz) pork fillet will take 10 – 11 minutes, and a 500g (1lb) pork fillet will take around 13 – 15 minutes to reach my recommended internal temperature of 65°C/149°F for medium doneness. “Medium” means a hint of pink inside with optimum juiciness. Cooking less than medium is not recommended for pork, for food safety reasons.
If you do not want any pink at all, just add 3 minutes to the baking time and target an internal temperature of 68°C/155°F.
These internal temperatures are what you should target when you take the pork out of the oven. It will rise by a further 3 – 5°C (5°F) as it rests. (This is called “carry-over cooking”.) Therefore the final internal temperatures are slightly higher.
I know it’s frustrating but I can’t give you an exact baking time. Such is the case with pork tenderloin as there are many variables. It depends on the size and width of the pork fillet (these darn pigs, why can’t they all just be exactly the same size??! 😂). Also, heat retention of your skillet (a better skillet = faster cooking). It also depends on how long it took you to sear it and the accuracy of your oven.
So to ensure your pork tenderloin comes out perfect every time, I really recommend using an instant read thermometer. I have a Thermapen – more on this cool gadget here;
Do you really have to cook the pork fillet on the stove THEN the oven?
Yes, for the best results! Two reasons:
Only stove = 90% overcooked pork – If you try to cook the pork fillet only on the stove, you’ll end up with a thick outer band of waaaaay overcooked pork before the centre of the pork is cooked through;
Searing → Golden crust → Flavour, flavour, flavour! – Not just on the pork tenderloin but also crucially in the sauce. The golden bits stuck on the base of the pan after you sear the pork end up dissolving in the sauce. That “stuff” has a proper name: it’s called fond. These concentrated flavour deposits are culinary gold and are the same reason gravies made from roast drippings always taste amazing. Here it’s why we can make a sauce with just 3 ingredients taste so incredible!
If you cook the pork tenderloin only in the oven and skip the pan sear, you will miss out on the golden crust and bits, and in turn flavour. 😩
What to serve with this pork fillet
The pork is pictured in this post with a kale salad which is actually this Kale & Quinoa Salad, minus the quinoa. Oh and minus the feta. And I used hazelnuts instead of almonds because I had them. 😂 Alright, so it barely resembles the original recipe at all!! But I did use the raw kale marinating technique and the same lemon dressing.
I also used a Cauliflower Mash for a change-up from the usual Mashed Potato that I always reach for. I do think some kind of mash, rice or similar starchy side is essential here, to make the most of that Sauce. Especially because we don’t make loads of sauce, just enough for serving with the pork. So we really do want to capture every drop of it, and a bed of something that will soak up the sauce is ideal! – Nagi x
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Pork Tenderloin with Creamy Mustard Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 pork tenderloins , 500g / 1lb each (Note 1)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- 2 tbsp oil (vegetable, canola, or olive oil)
Sauce:
- 1/2 cup cream , heavy / thickened (Note 2)
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard (Note 3)
- 1 tbsp whole grain mustard (Note 3)
- 2 tsp tarragon , finely chopped (Note 4)
- 2 tsp parsley , finely chopped (Note 4)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1 – 2 tbsp water , as needed
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat oven to 200°C / 390°F (180°C fan). Place a rack over a tray (for resting the cooked meat).
- Season pork: Sprinkle the tenderloins all over with salt and pepper.
- Sear pork: Heat oil in a large oven-proof skillet over medium-high heat. Sear pork all over until golden. This takes around 5 minutes (I sear 4 sides).
- Bake (Note 5): Transfer the skillet with the pork in it to the oven. Bake for 12 – 15 minutes or until an instant read thermometer reads 65°C / 149°F. This will have a blush of pink, a perfect medium for optimum juiciness. (For no pink at all, add 3 minutes cooking and target an internal temperature of 68°C / 155°F.)
- Rest: Remove pork from skillet and transfer to the resting rack for 5 minutes.
- Creamy Mustard Sauce: Return same skillet to the stove over medium heat. Add cream and both mustards. Mix well, scraping the bottom of the pan to dissolve any golden bits stuck to the base of the pan into the sauce (free flavour!). Once it becomes hot but not simmering, stir in salt, pepper, tarragon and parsley. If the sauce seems too thick, thin with a little water as needed. No need to simmer, the sauce is done!
- Serve: Slice into 2 – 2.5cm (0.8 – 2") slices. Serve with Creamy Mustard Sauce!
Recipe Notes:
- 1/2 tsp thyme + 1½ tsp parsley
- All parsley
- 1/2 tsp chives + 1½ tsp parsley
- 300g (10oz): 9 minutes
- 400g (14oz): 10 – 11 minutes
- 500g (1lb): 13 – 15 minutes
Nutrition Information:
Life of Dozer
When he’s caught somewhere he is NOT supposed to be!
(Also happy that there’s no sign of any of my Dirty Secret Foods in the photo of my pantry. Looks rather virtuous actually! 😂 Lot of canned vegetables and legumes, Asian packets you can’t read, and I even spy a packet of quinoa!)
My family raved about this dinner! We doubled the sauce, it was so amazing! We substituted thyme for the tarragon. Excellent cooking time for the pork, great recipe.
You were right!
Less was AMAZING
(Sauce recipe)
Even my not so love it mustard hubby loved it!
Served it with broccolini and your cauliflower mash.
I made this for dinner tonight and what a winner. So delicious Nagi, made all the better because apart from the pork I had everything to hand. Another great recipe from you thank you
This was my first recipe of yours that I have tried and it was sooo delicious! It was super easy but impressive enough to serve for special company. Can’t wait to try another one of your recipes.
Did this again today for Sunday Roast for 26 guests. Seared the fillet early and left it covered in the fridge. Pulled it out for half an hr and finished it in 180deg oven for 30 mins, rested 10 mins before carving. Also made the sauce easy and warmed it in the microwave. Such an easy, delicious lunch for a crowd! Pork stayed incredibly moist, nice an pink still, and the sauce was amazing. Thanks again Nagi!
Hi Nagi! This isn’t a comment on this particular recipe (which I’m actually cooking right now)! I was just curious about why you call your site Recipetin Eats.
Absolutely. Fabulous!
The tarragon , chef’s touch. I’ve been trying for years to get the perfect mustard sauce. I used half / half instead of full cream and I didn’t have full grain mustard but did use a healthy dose of country grain Dijon.
My husband scraped his plate. I can’t imagine how good this would taste if I had the ingredients on hand. But the great thing about Nagi’s recipes… improvisation can still be a game changer!
Had this for dinner tonight and it was “plate lickingly” delicious! So easy and so tasty. I have so many of,your recipes bookmarked Nagi – thank you for sharing.
PS: can’t wait for your cookbook (which I’ve pre-ordered) comes out.
Absolutely amazing! I’ve made this twice. The first time, 100% as written. Tonight, no tarragon (I’m in an RV), but I had French thyme. I used one of the grocery marinated garlic/rosemary tenderloins (for 2ppl) and used the full amount of sauce. This time I used pappardelle pasta, cooked very al dente, and added it to the sauce with a little extra water to finish the cook. Then I sliced the pork thin and layered the pasta and sauce over the top. Perfectly fork tender meat. My husband LOVED it.
Perfect. Was a bit concerned at one point with the sauce but combined with the pork it was so delicious. Didn’t change a thing except couldn’t find fresh tarragon so used dry herbs….so yummy . Thank you. Already looking forward to tomorrow leftovers.
Had this for dinner tonight and it was “plate lickingly” delicious! So easy and so tasty. I have so many of,your recipes bookmarked Nagi – thank you for sharing.
PS: can’t wait for your cookbook (which I’ve pre-ordered) comes out.
Just made this and it was delish. I took a previous commenters advice and pre seared, then took to friends house to finish in oven. So tender, CANNOT fault it. Chefs Kiss!
Made this recipe from start to finish in 30 mins – and the result was delicious. I doubled the sauce because we ate it with pappardelle and added a side of steamed broccolini, which went beautifully with the sauce. This is such a quick and simple way to cook pork … I was sure I’d undercooked it but it was perfect. Thank you (once again) for another perfect recipe.
I was in need of something different for boneless pork chops last night and stumbled upon this recipe and boy was it a hit. Being it was the last minute I didn’t have any plain Dijon mustard. I did have about tablespoon of Grey Poupon County Dijon. So, to substitute for the plain Dijon mustard I used 1 tsp. of mustard powder and 1 Tbsp. of salted butter. If you want to be a hero, make this sauce the next time you make pork for dinner, well maybe not pulled pork but you know what I mean.
Cooked this tonight. First time since the 80s I’ve cooked pork fillet, and it was easy and delicious. The fresh tarragon made all the difference. We all loved it and it will be on regular rotation at our place!
Needed a new way to serve pork tenderloin, made this with your roasted asparagus and your baby potatoes with butter & herbs for my husband and I. YUM! Everything was wonderful. Still thinking about that cream sauce and wondering why I’ve never tried tarragon before. Thank you!
Made this tonight to go with pork chops, delicious! My husband was really impressed, thanks Nagi 😊
We all know Nagi is flat out but wondering if anyone can advise if you have used *dried* tarragon?
thanks in advance !
You can Mari but it won’t be quite as strong a tarragon flavour. Use half the amount of fresh! N x
My family mostly loves your recipes! They are delicious. But this one didn’t fly. Followed exactly, but over the top salty for the sauce.
So simple, so delicious. Nagi, my favourite list is growing so quickly. Happy Easter.
Beautiful recipe. My husband is doing most of the cooking at the moment and he’s mastered this one!
Lucky you!!! Now just get him to master a few more – no more cooking for you!! N x