Cuban Spiced Pork Tenderloin with Soffrito Rice

My son's birthday is this month.  Tonight he was free to join us for dinner.  I know he enjoys Cuban food ever since visiting Miami several years ago.  I don't know much about the spin on Cuban food.  I dug my heels in and researched a  little to give him a birthday treat.  Rachel Ray provided this recipe that I adapted.  I am sensitive to cilantro (did you know there is a certain percentage of the population that when they taste cilantro it tastes like soap?  That's me, I can't stand it.).  So, I made a few adaptions and made a spicy, fun, Cuban meal.  It was a hit.  So much so, he asked to take the leftover home.  BIG Mom SMILE!

Cuban Spiced Pork Tenderloin

2 pork tenderloins, about 2-1/2 lb. total weight
4 cloves of garlic
4 Bay leaves
2 tsp. anise seed
2 tsp. ground coriander
1 T. ground cumin
2 limes zested
2 T. Steak Season, I used Baja brand
olive oil

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
Cut 4 slits into each tenderloin.  Smash the garlic cloves with the flat edge of a knife.  Insert 2 garlic cloves into each tenderloin.  Stuff the other two slits with the bay leaves.

Mix coriander(I had to grind mine from seed because I couldn't find ground), anise, cumin, steak season and lime zest.

Drizzle olive oil on meat.  Rub seasoning all over the tenderloins.  Place on a baking sheet.
Bake for 25 minutes.  Remove from oven and allow to rest before serving.

I served with lime slices to drizzle on meat and fresh mango to balance the spice.

Soffrito Rice

2 slices of bacon
1 small white onion, chopped
1 small green pepper, chopped
2 c. chicken broth
2 c. white rice
2 pinches of saffron or 1/4 tsp. turmeric

Heat a medium pot with a tight fitting lid over medium high heat.  Add bacon and cook till crisp.   Remove the bacon, chop and set aside.

Add the onion and pepper.  Saute until soft, about 5 minutes.

Add broth, rice, chopped bacon and turmeric.
Bring to a boil.
Simmer for 15-20 minutes.

OOPS I totally forgot to take a photo of this done.  I also made a banging Spicy Chili Roasted Broccoli.

He may not have been transported to Miami, however this was an appreciated birthday meal.  As a matter of fact, it was so relaxed, my son and his dad are still at the table arguing baseball!