Sunday 8 February 2009

Bacon wrapped stuffed pork fillet

I'm a firm believer that everything is better with bacon. It adds an extra layer of flavour and succulence, stops food from becoming dry, looks good and, well who doesn't love bacon? So when I got this pork fillet I knew exactly what to do with it.

Pork fillet is a fantastic cut of meat, it cooks quickly and so is great if you don't have much time to cook. The main drawback is that unusually for pork it contains very little fat, this means it can become dry and tough. A problem which can be solved with bacon, stuffing, or both.

To give my pork bags of flavour I decided to stuff it with olives, basil and feta cheese and wrap it in streaky bacon. It tasted fantastic, the pork was perfectly cooked and it wasn't at all dry. Result!
Recipe

Ingredients:
For the stuffing:
  • A large handful each of basil and black olives.
  • 100g (half a pack) of Feta cheese
For the pork:
  • 1 pork fillet (sometimes called tenderloin) about 500g.
  • 200g good streaky bacon.
Method:
  • Preheat your oven to gas 5/190c/375f.
  • To make the stuffing chop the olives, basil and Feta and mix together well the set aside. (it should be quite finely chopped but some bigger chunks are good).
  • To prepare the pork first lay bacon rashers out on a board next to each other and place the pork fillet on top.
  • Using a sharp knife slice the fillet lengthwise but not all the way through and open it out.
  • Pack the stuffing mixture into the pork, try to get as much in as you can.
  • Close the pork and roll the bacon around it.
  • Roast for 45-50 minutes then rest for 5 minutes before serving.

15 comments:

Sylvie said...

I'm of the evrything is better with bacon opinion as well! Te fillet looks wonderful, Sam.

kat said...

I agree just about anything is made better by bacon! especially pork with more pork

Beth (jamandcream) said...

Im with you on the bacon. This sounds delicious Sam - I did Pork Tenderloin on Friday! I just rolled the fillet in smoked paprika and oil and roasted it for 25 minutes - it was perfection. Will be trying this one soon as both hubby and I are really into pork at the moment

pigpigscorner said...

The pork looks really tender and juicy! And I agree with you on the bacon!

Hopie said...

Ah yes, bacon improves almost ANY dish :-) This looks like a delicious way to eat pork filet!

Karen said...

Oh yeah, the world would be a sad place without bacon :) This looks delicious!

Pam said...

Oh Sam, this looks so tasty. I love feta and I am always looking for new recipes using it.

The Caked Crusader said...

I love pork fillet - it's such a succulent cut. I cook mine stuffed with cheese and prunes in a mustard & cider sauce. Seeing your lovely dish I feel a pork fillet dinner coming on.....!

Word verification: carsore
The lazy person's version of saddle sore?

Amanda said...

Be still my heart... gorgeous! We love pork tenderloin anytime, and I've never stuffed it, as I usually roast it quickly in a hot oven. This looks fantastic.

Anonymous said...

Like everyone else I feel the need to agree that - everything IS improved by bacon!

Anonymous said...

pork and feta and streaky bacon wrapped around? YUM! I love this combination of ingredients.

Joie de vivre said...

That is LOVELY! Perfect for company.

Unknown said...

anything wrapped with bacon must taste good... lovely post... :)

Alicia Foodycat said...

Everything is better with bacon! And that looks so good!

Anonymous said...

mmmmm. love that it's stuffed with feta. the saltiness must do some flavoring along w/ the bacon.