Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Fresh Plum Sauce

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 pork tenderloin
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 1 red onion , sliced
• 2 shallots , sliced
• 3 freshs thyme sprigs , or more to taste
• 2 firms plums , pitted and each cut into 4 wedges
• 1 cup water
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• 1 teaspoon cold butter

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

2. 2

   Heat oil in a large, oven-proof skillet over medium-high heat. Generously season pork tenderloin with salt and black pepper. Cook tenderloin in hot oil until browned on all sides, 2 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer tenderloin to a plate and set aside.

3. 3

   Sauté onion and a pinch of salt in drippings in the skillet until onion begins to soften, 3 to 5 minutes. Add shallots; reduce heat to medium. Cook and stir until onion and shallots are golden brown and caramelized, about 10 minutes.

4. 4

   Stir thyme into onion mixture, then place tenderloin on top. Set plums, skin-side down, around tenderloin. Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven.

5. 5

   Cook until pork is slightly pink in the center, about 20 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 145 degrees F (63 degrees C). Transfer pork and plums to a clean plate; cover with aluminum foil to keep warm.

6. 6

   Place the skillet over medium-high heat. Pour water and vinegar into onion mixture. Bring to a boil while scraping the browned bits of food off of the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Cook and stir until liquid is reduced by half, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Whisk in cold butter until melted and sauce is shiny.

7. 7

   Pour sauce over sliced pork and plums to serve.