A unique and tasty take on pork

Few foods boast the versatility of pork. It can be grilled, smoked, slow-cooked, fried or baked, and professional and amateur chefs alike know there’s no end to recipes where pork is the main attraction.

Cultures across the globe feature pork in their native cuisines, which means it’s possible to go anywhere in the world and enjoy a new and delicious pork dish. This recipe for matambre de cerdo, or stuffed pork tenderloin, from James Campbell Caruso’s “España: Exploring the Flavors of Spain,” showcases a Spanish take on pork. The recipe might provide insight into Spanish cuisine for those who have never been to Spain, while those who have might be instantly transported back to southwestern Europe with their first delicious bite.

Matambre de cerdo

Serves four

• 2 pork tenderloins, trimmed of fat
• Salt and pepper
• 1⁄2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1 yellow onion, diced
• 4 cloves garlic, slivered
• 1⁄2 cup finely diced jamón serrano
• 4 cups diced mushrooms
• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
• 1 tablespoon chopped sage
• 1⁄2 cup Spanish white wine

Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Open the tenderloins with a full-length cut that goes about three-fourths of the way through the meat. Flatten out the tenderloin and season it on both sides with salt and pepper. Set aside.

Heat the olive oil in a skillet and sauté the onion and garlic on medium heat for 12 minutes. Add the jamón, mushrooms, parsley and sage and continue cooking for 20 minutes. Add the wine and cook for five more minutes.

Remove from heat and allow to cool. Spread the mixture over the flattened tenderloin. Roll the tenderloin around the filling and set it on a sheet pan with the seam side down. Roast in the oven for 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and cut into 1-inch slices. Serve two slices per plate.