Making casseroles, once in a while, is my love. I like different casseroles, either with meat or vegan, as they are so delicious and warm. Today, I have made an Asparagus Pork Casserole with herbs and a tasty feta cheese dressing with capers.
It may sound complicated and has many ingredients, but trust me, it tastes delicious and has a mouthwatering balanced flavor.
So, baked pork with asparagus in the oven turns out super tender and juicy, with a crispy and moist texture inside. I guarantee your family will moan with delight as it bursts colors and an intoxicating aroma.
You can use here pork or any meat you like better: either chicken, turkey, duck, or rabbit, as well as veggies. I used fresh asparagus as now it is in its season, and they taste so fresh, but anyway, you can replace it with spinach or broccoli. Usually, pork meat pairs great with anything, this is why this casserole will taste fantastic and gooey.
Asparagus pork casserole is a fantastic leftover dish if something will remain. Just reheat on the next day and enjoy next to some mashed potatoes or a green salad.
My husband likes pork meat, so I have bought a good slice of pork with less fat, and tastes fantastic – tenderloin cut. Tossed in lots of herbs and honey, this cut of meat tasted fabulous, while feta cheese topped at the end made a great combination and a pleasant discovery for me. Feta is a little salty, the cappers are a little sour, and the pork with asparagus has an earthy taste – all together contributed to the delightful texture and aroma.
How to trim pork tenderloin silver skin?
Tenderloin was my choice for today! As I always mention, always opt for fresh meat, not frozen, for the best and tastiest results. Purchase meat from a local butcher that you trust. Tenderloin usually comes with silver skin on it. If you prefer to avoid fiddling with the meat, ask your butcher to remove it for you. Otherwise, arm yourself with a sharp knife. So, use a small sharp knife to remove the silver skin/fibrous layer. Loosen it at the corner under the silver skin and, running it in one direction, remove it from the meat.
How to make Asparagus Pork Casserole?
This delicious and flavourful one-pan asparagus pork casserole is a real comfort food. Aromatic, sweet, and spicy – a finger-linking dinner that can be prepared so quickly that you cannot even imagine. Cut, splash, and season – all manipulation you must make. Finish your easy dish with a combo of crumbled feta cheese and salty capers.
For the meat, as you probably noticed, I used pork tenderloin. But I also like to use skinless, boneless chicken/turkey thighs or breasts.
The seasoning is also very simple – everything you like and have in your pantry – lots of dried herbs, spices, garlic, sesame seeds, salt, pepper, and olive oil.
Now let’s proceed to the recipe. Once you have the meat cleaned and trimmed, as said above, cut it into 1/2-inch-thick slices. In a bowl, toss together meat, lemon juice, olive oil, honey, thyme, paprika (or better smoked paprika), ground coriander, garlic powder, sesame seeds, salt, pepper, and some chili flakes. Set aside to marinate for a while. Meanwhile, wash and pat dry the asparagus. Then trim the ends of it.
Grease the bottom of the baking dish with some olive oil. Arrange the slices of pork and then top with a layer of asparagus. Add some minced garlic cloves. Season with some salt and drizzle the remaining marinade from the meat. Send the pan to the preheated oven at 350 F for 35 – 40 minutes until the pork is cooked. Make sure you keep an eye on the asparagus.
Meanwhile, prepare the dressing. In a bowl, crumble the feta cheese. Add a bit of olive oil, lemon juice, capers, sliced chili pepper and chopped parsley. Season with salt & pepper and mix them all together. Set aside.
Remove the asparagus pork casserole from the oven. Take the feta mixture and spoon it over the casserole. Sprinkle some fresh parsley if desired.
Enjoy!
Asparagus Pork Casserole
Equipment
- baking pan
Ingredients
- 1 pork tenderloin
- 4 tbsp olive oil for marinating meat
- 2 tbsp honey or agave syrup
- 2/3 tsp salt
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 2 tbsp sesame seeds
- 5 garlic cloves
- 1 bunch asparagus
- 1/2 cup fresh parsley chopped
- pinch of chilli flakes
For the feta dressing:
- 6-8 ounce feta cheese
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/2 cup capers
- 1 chili pepper
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley chopped
Instructions
- Cut the meat into 1/2-inch-thick slices. In a bowl, toss together meat, lemon juice, olive oil, honey, thyme, paprika (or better smoked paprika), ground coriander, garlic powder, sesame seeds, salt, pepper, and some chili flakes. Set aside to marinate for a while.
- Meanwhile, wash and pat dry the asparagus. Then trim the ends of it.
- Grease the bottom of the baking dish with some olive oil. Arrange the slices of pork and then top with a layer of asparagus. Add some minced garlic cloves. Season with some salt and drizzle the remaining marinade from the meat.
- Send the pan to the preheated oven at 350 F for 35 - 40 minutes until the pork is cooked. Make sure you keep an eye on the asparagus.
- Meanwhile, prepare the dressing. In a bowl, crumble the feta cheese. Add a bit of olive oil, lemon juice, capers, sliced chili pepper, and chopped parsley. Season with salt & pepper and mix them all together. Set aside.
- Remove the asparagus pork casserole from the oven. Take the feta mixture and spoon it over the casserole. Sprinkle some fresh parsley if desired.
