Juicy pork tenderloin served with a creamy Mushroom Marsala Sauce that’s SO GOOD it will take serious self control not to the lick the plate! This is one of those recipes that is easy enough for midweek but fancy enough for company.
Cooking the pork tenderloin whole keeps this lean healthy cut of pork lovely and juicy!
So basically, this sauce is like gravy on steroids. Good steroids, that is. Not the kind that naughty athletes use. 😉
Have you ever had Marsala Sauce before? Or made anything with Marsala? Marsala is a fortified wine, so it’s thicker and sweeter than normal wine. It has many layers of flavours in it which makes it a fantastic secret weapon in the kitchen, one that chefs in posh restaurants use regularly.
It holds true for alcohol generally. A splash of wine, sherry, marsala or even brandy to deglaze a skillet after cooking a piece of protein = instant sauce. (PS “Deglaze” simply means simmering a liquid in a skillet to get the flavour of the brown stuck-on bits into the sauce. Fancy word, simple in reality!)
For this particular recipe, I’ve made a basic gravy but taken it up a notch by adding Marsala.
Scratch that. The Marsala takes this up 10 notches. This sauce….it’s so good it’s ridiculous. I could honestly drink it straight out of the jug. I want to drink it straight out of the jug!
While my plating up effort above might look a little sloppy and doesn’t compare to what a posh restaurant could do, I can absolutely promise you this – the flavour will knock your socks off and rival anything you can get at fine dining restaurants.
And this is easy. Easy, easy, easy (picture me jumping up and down as I chant that!). It’s as easy as 1-2-3:
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Sear pork tenderloin, plonk in oven to finish cooking, remove from skillet to rest;
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Cook mushrooms, remove, then cook onion and garlic; and
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Add Marsala wine, chicken stock/broth then cream. Simmer to reduce and that’s when the magic happens and this incredible gravy sauce is created…
Actually, it’s funny I mention posh restaurants because I actually did a photo shoot for a client for a Matt Moran recipe. (Matt Moran is one of the top serious chefs / restauranteurs in Australia). And the sauce for his recipe was very similar to this, except he used vermouth instead of Marsala. It was that photography assignment that prompted me to share this recipe. 🙂
Hope you consider trying it! – Nagi x
Pork tenderloin recipes
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Also try serving pork tenderloin with this Creamy Mushroom Sauce – just sear/roast pork per this recipe
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Pork Tenderloin with Creamy Marsala Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb / 500g pork tenderloin (Note 1)
Creamy Marsala Sauce
- 2 tbsp butter (salted or unsalted)
- 5 oz / 150g mushrooms , sliced (I used Swiss Brown)
- 1/4 cup finely chopped shallots or onion
- 1 garlic clove , minced
- 1 1/2 tbsp flour
- 1/2 cup / 125 ml marsala (Note 2)
- 2 cups / 500 ml chicken broth , low sodium
- 5 tarragon leaves (optional) (thyme is also lovely) (Note 3)
- 1/4 cup / 65 ml cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 200C/390F.
- Sprinkle pork with salt and pepper.
- Heat oil in an ovenproof skillet over high heat. Sear on all sides until nicely browned.
- Place in the oven for 15 minutes for the faintest blush of pink (pictured) or 18 to 20 minutes for no pink. See Note 4 for internal cook temperatures.
- Remove pork from skillet onto a plate, cover with foil and set aside in a warm place while you make the sauce.
Creamy Marsala Sauce
- Melt 1 tbsp butter in the same skillet over high heat. Cook mushrooms until browned, then remove.
- Reduce heat to medium high, melt 1 tbsp butter,. Add onion and garlic, cook for 2 minutes or until onion is softened. Add flour and mix.
- Add marsala, cook until mostly evaporated (about 1 minute). Add tarragon and chicken broth, whisk until dissolved. Bring to simmer and cook until the liquid reduces by half - 3 to 5 minutes.
- Add cream and mix, then return the mushrooms and pork into the skillet as well as juices pooled on the plate. Simmer for 1 - 2 minutes until the sauce thickens into a thin gravy consistency (it will thicken more as you serve).
- Transfer to serving platter with the gravy on the side or poured over the top. Serve with mashed potatoes of course!! (Here is my Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes recipe)
Recipe Notes:
Non alcoholic option: This sauce is very much based on the Marsala flavours but if you need to make this non alcoholic, you can leave the marsala out in which case this will be like a creamy gravy. SWEET OR DRY? I use sweet, I think it goes beautifully with pork. But dry is absolutely gorgeous too, and if you want a touch of sweet just add a wee bit of sugar or honey into the gravy! 3. Tarragon is a herb commonly used in French cooking. It has a very unique flavour, almost like aniseed. It goes spectacularly well with alcohol based creamy sauces like this one, and it's based on a recipe by Matt Moran, one of Australia's most famous chef's, that I made and photographed for a client. You can sub with thyme or leave it out. I promise the sauce is delish even without! 4. Internal Temperature of Cooked Pork (using a meat thermometer inserted into the middle of the thickest part):
* For a slight blush of pink, which is how I like it (per photo), take it out of the oven when the internal temperature of the pork is 150F/65C - takes 15 minutes at 200C/390F. After resting for 10 minutes, it will be 155F/68C.
* For no pink, take it out of the oven when the internal temperature of the pork is 155F/68C - takes 18 minutes at 200C/390F. After 10 minutes, it will be 160F/70C
Nutrition Information:
This is one of those dishes that has a high pay off for the time and effort it takes to make. Tender, flavorful pork smothered in delicious sauce. Do use marsala for that flavor punch! My family really liked this dish. Your recipe is a keeper!
Hi. I only came across your fabulous site this week, and we have been eating from your recipes every night since. This one got rave reviews and was judged to be “real food”and “you can’t get better than this”. Wait until they see what we have tonight! You are inspirational. Thanks Nagi.
Made this last night, the pork just melted in our mouths and the sauce/gravy was amazing, served it with mash, steamed veg and yorkshire puddings, hardly any left overs. x
Looks wonderful! How can I make this ahead of time for company?
Best pork tenderloin ever! Pork was moist and tender. The gravy is to die for. Didn’t have tarragon so subbed dried thyme. Thank you, Nagi, for another incredibly delish recipe.
AMAZING!! I’ve made this a couple times and it is SO good! First time I used Marsala (the best!) and second time sherry (still good). Tarragon is a must! I love this recipe!
I’ve used your recipe on many occasions for special friends and it goes down a treat.I stuff the pork with bacon and spinach for flavour and colour presentation.The sauce is fab.Thank you.
Incredible. It was devoured by all. Made with sweet potato mash – should have done regular potatoes as it clashed a little.
This was absolutely delicious!
hello Nagi
I love your recipe. On your marasala pork tenderloin, when u mention cream? It is half and half or whipping cream? Thank you Dianna
Hi Dianna, it’s called thickened cream here which would be equivalent to whipping cream – N x
Hi NagiJust cooked this tonight with saute potatoes was delicious and so easy.Didnt have marsala so used brandy instead.Thank for another great recipe.Yumm🙂
What a wonderful, tasty dish. My family loved it & all said it was a definite “keeper!” I used cremini mushrooms and the Sweet Marsala and that gravy…………😋😋😋 yummm.
This was the most juicy tender pork we’ve had. The gravy was amazing and yes my husband could drink it from a jar too!
This was an easy amazing recipe. perfect for week nights or entertaining!!! everyone was ranting and raving about this when I made it. Thank you for a great easy meal..Five stars for sure
What a beautiful taste. 65 yr old, only follow recipes. always looking for a new one. Marsala. WOW.
This was SO good! It’s definitely a Company is Coming Over dish.
Thanks Nagi for this pork tenderloin recipe. I’m in total agreement with you on this mushroom gravy! I didn’t have Marsala wine but used sherry. Perfection!
Amazing recipe I made this for my mother for Mother’s Day and she absolutely loved it. Very easy and incredible
Perfect Christine!! N x
Did you use sweet Marsala or dry
So during these COVID-19 times I now have three more family members living with me so they too have been exposed to the Magic of Nagi!! As I’ve said before you are my go to. This was phenomenal, just like the pork tenderloin with honey garlic sauce. Everyone used to turn their noses up at pork but no longer thanks to you. My family asked me tonight whose recipe this was, so I said “guess?” Nagi was the response from all four of them and my husband asked if you have a cook book.
You are a legend here in New Jersey!!
Wahoo!!! Love this Samantha!! N x
WOW!! I made this dish for dinner this evening. Incredible how good it is. Easy to make and tastes like food you get at a fine dining establishment. My partner Sharron and granddaughter both gave it a 10/10. Thank you Nagi for this spectacular recipe.
That’s great to hear Davo, thanks so much! N x