This beautiful, delicious entrée is simple to prepare, perfect for company, and because it's 21 Day Fix-approved, it's also healthy!
Come ON! Now that's a gorgeous slab of meat right there if I do say so myself! Seriously, this thing looks delicious even still on the baking sheet, check this out:
And this:
Ok, now that I've wiped up the drool... let me tell you where the idea for this dish came from. A while back, my wonderful husband took me to dinner for my birthday at a French restaurant in Louisville called Brasserie Provence. It. Was. Wonderful.
It was the first time I had ever been to a French restaurant before and it wasn't exactly what I was expecting (heavy, gorgeous sauces and such) - instead, they specialize in "southern French cuisine" which apparently is completely different (and major bonus, WAY better for you because it's much lighter fare). Who knew?
Anyway, Brasserie Provence serves a lavender-honey glazed pork chop and that's what my husband ordered for dinner. It was SO stinking good. After trying it I knew I wanted to try out my own version of it at home.
If you've never cooked with lavender before, you're in for a pleasant surprise. It's slightly lemony and just adds a really nice background note to whatever you're making. The caveat, however, is that it can be difficult to find. I'm told Whole Paycheck Foods sells it, there's one not too far from me but I had already ordered mine from Amazon, so I haven't checked that out personally
. If any of you know anywhere else to find it, please post a comment below so we can help each other out!
Have I mentioned that this is the easiest recipe ever? So simple to make, but so delicious! If you're wondering why I have you mixing up your own Herbes de Provence when you can get it pretty much anywhere, let me fill you in: I did it this way because I figured that A) you were already buying lavender flowers and who wants to buy two specialty items like that for one recipe? B) you probably have all or most of the remaining ingredients for Herbes de Provence in your spice cabinet (some of which are likely rarely used) and C) If you don't, you can just use what you've got on hand and leave out what you don't. Please don't feel like you've got to buy each of these ingredients to make this recipe. Herbes de Provence is an herb mixture that is pretty non-specific, each cook can make it in a different way, this is just how I make it (and what I keep on hand) so just use what you've got!
Btw, this goes so great with my Individual Potato Gratins, especially if you're making a special-occasion dinner 🙂
<3 Enjoy!
📖 Recipe
Lavender-Honey Roasted Pork Tenderloin
Ingredients
Herbes de Provence:
- 1 tbs oregano
- 1 tbs rosemary
- ½ tbs dried lavender flowers
- 2 teaspoon thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried marjoram
- ⅛ teaspoon fennel seed
Roasted Pork:
- 1 pork tenderloin, trimmed (about 1 ½ lbs)
- salt & pepper
- Herbes de Provence (full recipe from above)
- 3 tbs honey
- ½ tbs dried lavender flowers
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix together all of the ingredients for the Herbes de Provence. Spray a baking sheet with olive oil or coconut oil cooking spray and put your tenderloin on it.
- Season the pork on both sides with black pepper and a little bit of salt. Pat on the Herbes de Provence, also on both sides.
- Cover the pork with tin foil and roast in the oven for about 35 minutes or until a thermometer reads 170 degrees.
- Meanwhile, in a small microwavable dish, mix together the honey and lavender and microwave for about 15 seconds or until the honey is hot and liquid-y. This will get the flavor of the lavender into the honey and make it easier to put on the pork. Divide this mixture in half. (eyeball it, you got this)
- Once the pork reaches 170 degrees (or is very close), take off the foil (saving it for resting!), brush on half of the lavender-honey and stick it back in the oven for another 5 minutes. Pull pork out and let rest for 5-10 minutes under a foil tent to keep warm.
- Slice pork, drizzling each serving with an extra teaspoon of the lavender honey.
Notes
21 Day Fix Container Equivalents: 1 RED, 2 teaspoon honey
Weight Watchers Freestyle Points: 6
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: ¾ cup pork + 1 teaspoon lavender-honeyAmount Per Serving: Calories: 233Total Fat: 3.7g
David says
I get lavender products (culinary lavender, lavender syrup, etc) from Los Poblanos organic farm in Albuquerque NM.
https://farmshop.lospoblanos.com/collections/farm-foods-1
I presume your recipe uses dried herbs for the Herbes de Provence. I would imagine that's more intense than using fresh.
Stephanie says
Yes, it does, thank you for the info!
Candyce says
I tried this recipe the first time I tried cooking with lavendar. Oh my god, it was heavenly! I use fresh herbs from my garden except the fennel which I grind. This was such a hit we've made it several times. I have two tenderloin in the oven now and the house smells divine! I reheat the honey several times for 15 seconds, let it cool and heat it again to infuse it well. Fresh flowers makes a difference too I expect. I will dry some for the winter. Culinary lavendar oil would probably work too.
Thank you for this recipe!
Stephanie says
Ah! I'm so glad it was a hit! I'd be curious to hear how you like it with the dried lavender (also this makes me want to try it with fresh, I never have)!
Cindy says
Thank you so much for posting the ingredients for Herbs de Provence. I cannot find already made mix anywhere in New Zealand!
Stephanie says
You're welcome! I'm so glad it was helpful!
Amber says
The Herbes de Provence smelled amazing to the point that I made a extra bit to keep on hand for another day. Sadly that was the only thing that I liked about this dish. The lavender and honey was so nonexistent for me that I felt like it was wasted. My tenderloin was under well under the recommended weight. I would probably attempt this again but I would leave the lavender out and double the honey.
Stephanie says
Aww, I'm so bummed you didn't love this one! Did you save some of the lavender honey to drizzle over each serving of the pork at the end? If you wanted more lavender flavor, maybe think about adding extra lavender? Just some thoughts!
Nancy O’Leary says
Culinary lavender is also available on Etsy’s website.
Made this roast on the barbecue pit and it is amazing. So simple but so good.
Nancy O’Leary says
Culinary lavender is also available on Etsy’s website.
Stephanie says
Thanks for the tip!
Jess LA says
Looks yummy delicious! I've NEVER cooked with lavender although my momma loves all things lavender smelling and such-- this would be a nice surprise for her! Don't know about my 21yearold little brother though because he's a picky foodie but maybe with the honey and some chores and video games he won't notice ;D
I believe I'm definitely going to try this sometime very soon--it looks like a perfect new summer recipe to try!!
Here in PA, you can purchase the lavender seeds from Walmart and sometimes even Dollar General and Rite Aid so you can grow the plants from scratch. You can also purchase the plants, semi-fully grown at Tractor Supply, Walmart and even in local greenhouses and such.
Stephanie says
Thanks, Jess! Hope you guys love it. And sounds like you've got a pretty good plan for your brother, too! Oh, and I'm super excited because we just recently moved and now we live really close to a lavender farm, so basically I need to make this one soon, too 😉
Elizabeth says
Here in Louisville, KY you can find lavender flowers at Rainbow Blossom health food store. P.S. Lavender powder can be purchased online from various sources and is wonderful to make lavender sugar for baking or tea.
Stephanie says
Thanks for the info, Elizabeth, good to know!