Sesame Pork Appetizers

Asian seasonings are perfect complements to pork loin. Marinate a trimmed, 3-pound pork tenderloin in a mixture of dry sherry and soy sauce for one to two hours. Remove from the marinade and roll it in honey and then sesame seeds. Roast at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 45 minutes to an hour until the internal temperature is 140 to 145 degrees Fahrenheit. Let rest for five minutes before slicing into thin pieces. Serve with a dipping sauce made with soy sauce, sesame oil, dry sherry, crushed garlic, grated ginger, and finely chopped green onion.

Roast Pork Loin with Prosciutto on Crostini

Crostini is the ideal presentation for a roast pork loin appetizer and prosciutto accents the loin's natural flavors. Brine a trimmed, 3-pound pork loin in a cooked and cooled mixture of salt, sugar, water, bay leaves, allspice berries, and thyme for 6 to 12 hours. Wipe it dry, sear it on all sides, and roast at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 45 minutes to an hour until it reaches an internal temperature of 140 to 145 degrees. Cool and cut into slices to fit the crostini. Sweat chopped garlic and shallot in olive oil for about 10 minutes and stir in chopped prosciutto and rosemary. Adjust seasonings and set aside to cool. Top each crostini with a slice of pork and a small ball of the prosciutto mixture.

Pork Loin with Mustard Sauce

Tangy mustard sauce transforms a simple pork loin into a satisfying first course. Marinate a 3-pound pork loin in soy sauce, bourbon, and brown sugar 30 minutes at room temperature or up to 8 hours in the refrigerator. Grill covered over medium-high heat (350 to 375 degrees) or uncovered in a 350-degree oven for 45 minutes to an hour. When the internal temperature reaches between 140 and 145 degrees Fahrenheit, remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes before slicing. Make a sauce with sour cream, mayonnaise, dry mustard, minced onion, and white vinegar and serve with the pork.

Pork Loin Sliders with Cranberry Sauce and Pickled Onions

Sliders are popular as appetizers because they're easy to eat out-of-hand. Instead of serving traditional beef sliders, put a twist on the miniature sandwiches with pork loin and unusual condiments. Combine half red onion, very thinly sliced, with red wine vinegar and salt and pepper to taste. Let stand for about 2 hours to pickle the onions. Generously season all sides of a 3-pound pork loin with salt and pepper. Roast at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 45 minutes to an hour until the internal temperature reaches between 140 and 145 degrees. Set aside to cool. Thinly spread slider or dinner roll bottoms with jellied or whole-berry canned cranberry sauce. Top each with a slice of pork loin and a teaspoon of drained, pickled onions, and place the tops on the rolls.

Tips and Hints

You can substitute pork tenderloin for pork loin in these recipes. Cook a 1 1/2-pound tenderloin at 450 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 to 25 minutes until the internal temperature is between 140 and 145 degrees, and proceed with the recipe steps. The required internal temperature for pork was once 160 degrees, but the USDA guidelines have revised it to 145 degrees. Pork still cooks after being removed from the oven, so the internal temperature rises about five degrees after removal.