Moroccan-Spiced Pork Roast

Chef John uses Moroccan-inspired spices to take this pork roast to a new level, making it the perfect centerpiece for your holiday dinner.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 1 hr 25 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 55 mins
• Calories: 333 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• salt to taste
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 (3 pound) boneless pork loin roast
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 5 teaspoons kosher salt
• 2 Anaheim chile peppers, halved and seeded
• 2 carrots, cut into 2-inch chunks
• 1 clove garlic, finely crushed
• 3 tablespoons honey, or as needed
• 8 baby potatoes
• 1 red onion, roughly chopped
• 2 tablespoons thinly sliced fresh mint
• 0.5 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 0.25 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 0.25 teaspoon ground cloves
• 0.25 teaspoon ground allspice
• 0.5 cup plain Greek yogurt

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Season the butterflied pork on both sides with kosher salt and let sit out at room temperature for 30 to 45 minutes, or 2 to 3 hours in the fridge.

Step 2

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a roasting pan with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Pat the tenderloin dry with a paper towel.

Step 3

Mix cumin, coriander, ginger, black pepper, smoked paprika,cayenne, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and honey together in a bowl with a spoon. Spread about half of the spice mixture inside the butterflied pork, fold it back together, and spread the remaining mixture all over the surface. Use 3 or 4 pieces of kitchen string to tie the loin up every few inches, cutting off extra string.

Step 4

Toss potatoes, carrots, chile peppers, and onion with olive oil and salt in a bowl.

Step 5

Place the pork into the prepared roasting pan and surround with vegetable mixture.

Step 6

Roast in the preheated oven until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the loin reads at least 140 to 145 degrees F (60 to 63 degrees C), about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and turn roast over with tongs in pan drippings. Transfer to a plate, cover loosely with foil, and let rest for 15 minutes.

Step 7

Increase oven temperature to 425 degrees F. Toss vegetable mixture in pan drippings and return to the oven to crisp up, about 10 minutes.

Step 8

Combine yogurt, mint, and garlic in a small bowl for sauce.

Step 9

Remove strings on roast. Slice, spoon pan drippings over, and serve with vegetables and yogurt sauce.

Step 10

Butterfly the pork loin by cutting almost all the way through, starting on the thinnest side, keeping your knife flat and parallel to the cutting board. Stop about 1 inch from the opposite edge you started, so that the meat opens up like a book. A few more shallow cuts can be made if the pork is not opening up enough to flatten out, but do not cut all the way through, otherwise you'll end up with two pieces.