Pan Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Carrots, Chickpeas, and Cranberries

If you want something both delicious and healthy, here it is!!

Ingredients

Pounds pork tenderloin (455 g), trimmed of fat

Kosher salt or fine sea salt

1 pound carrots*, peeled and cut into 2-to 3-inch pieces

1 pound of other root vegetables including red beets, white beets, celery root, daikons, rutabaga, whatever you can find at your local store (great vitamins!)

 Freshly ground black pepper

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 cup drained canned chickpeas (85 g), rinsed and blotted dry

1/2 cup fresh orange juice (120 ml)

1/2 cup water (120 ml)

2 tablespoons unsweeteend dried cranberries (we used fresh!)

1 tablespoon firmly packed light brown sugar

1 star anise pod

1/4 teaspoon pimenton (Spanish smoked paprika)

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh oregano

Directions

1. Place rack in center of oven. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Season pork generously on all sides with salt and pepper. In a 12-inch ovenproof skillet heat oil over medium-high heat. Add pork. Sear on all sides until browned, about 6 minutes total. Transfer the pork to a large plate; set aside
3. Add carrots and sliced root veggies to pan. Cook and stir until browned at the edges, about 5 minutes. Add the chickpeas and 1/2 tsp. salt. Cook for 1 minute more. Using a spatula, make two wide channels through the vegetables. Place pork tenderloins in the channels so they rest directly on the pan surrounded by the carrots.
4. Transfer pan to oven. Roast 10 to 15 minutes (Ours took more like 25 minutes, use a thermometer!) or until an instant read thermometer inserted into the center of a tenderloin registers 145 degrees F. The center should be rosy when cut into with a knife. Transfer the pork to a carving board; tent loosely with aluminum foil. Let rest for 10 minutes.
5. Carefully place the pan with the vegetables over medium heat. Add orange juice, water, cranberries, brown sugar, star anise, and paprika; mix well. Bring to simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is reduced by half, about 3 minutes. Stir in butter, parsley, and oregano. Season to taste with salt.
6. To serve, cut the pork on a slight diagonal into slices 1-inch-thick. Serve with roasted vegetables.