Lunch: Quinoa Stuffed Pork Tenderloin

Recipe by cameal I've been searching for stuffing recipes that don't use bread as I try and avoid gluten. This quinoa stuffing was my own solution. The sweetness of the apple and raisins in this dish plays nicely with baked yams. Hopefully there are othe

This recipe includes fertility superfoods such as:

Cinnamon, Apples, Nuts

Health and fertility benefits of Quinoa Stuffed Pork Tenderloin

Cinnamon is one of the best ingredients that someone with insulin sensitivity can eat. Half a teaspoon of cinnamon per day has been shown to be very effective at normalizing blood sugar levels. Cinnamon contains hydroxychalcone, which is thought to enhance the effects of insulin. It has also been suggested that Cinnamon prevents post-meal blood sugar spikes by slowing the gastric emptying rate - meaning that food digests slowly. (Reference: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11506060). Apples will improve your body's sensitivity to insulin (Reference: http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/27/1/281.full) Nuts are a natural source of Inositol, a derivative of Vitamin B (which is often prescribed in the form of supplements for women with PCOS). Inositol can effectively control the symptoms of PCOS by reducing insulin resistance and improving insulin sensitivity.

Ingredients

1/4 cup uncooked quinoa
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 small apples - peeled, cored and chopped
1/4 cup raisins
2 tablespoons pine nuts
4 mushrooms, chopped
2 tablespoons white wine
1 (1 pound) pork tenderloin
1 pinch ground cinnamon
1 pinch garam masala, or to taste
salt and ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

Bring the quinoa and water to a boil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until the quinoa is tender, and the water has been absorbed, about 15 minutes.
Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir the onion, garlic, apples, raisins, pine nuts, and mushrooms until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 8 minutes. Stir in the white wine, and cook another minute until the liquid has evaporated. Combine the apple mixture and quinoa until evenly mixed; set aside.
Preheat an oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
Cut the pork tenderloin from one side through the middle horizontally to within one-half inch of the other side. Open the two sides and spread them out like an open book. Place between two sheets of heavy plastic (resealable freezer bags work well) on a solid, level surface. Firmly pound the tenderloin with the smooth side of a meat mallet to a thickness of 1/2 inch.
Season the tenderloin on both sides with cinnamon, garam masala, salt, and black pepper. Spoon the quinoa filling onto the tenderloin, then roll up and secure with kitchen twine or toothpicks. Place onto a roasting pan.
Roast in the preheated oven until the pork is no longer pink in the center, about 35 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of the filling should read 145 degrees F (63 degrees C). Cover with aluminum foil, and let rest for 10 minutes before slicing.

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