Pork tenderloin is an excellent main dish to include in a low calorie diet because it is naturally very lean, making it low in calories. Yet, it is loaded with flavor! Soaking it in a brine before grilling helps to make sure that it does not dry out during the cooking process. Just remember to soak the pork 4-12 hours before you want to grill it.
The menu is complete with a few other barbecue staples such as potato salad, grilled vegetables, and a cool, homemade ice cream dessert.
1. Grilled Pork Tenderloin
Kimberley K. Eggleston
The star of the meal is the pork tenderloin, yet I think it is the easiest component to prepare. The brine is simply a salt and water mixture which will keep the meat extra moist and juicy, and the pork is rubbed with lots of spicy black pepper to really give it a flavor boost. Really, any other spices that you like, such as garlic or cumin can be rubbed on the pork before grilling as well for extra flavor.
When it is finished cooking, don't forget to let the pork sit for a few minutes after removing it from the grill to allow the juices to settle into the pork.2. Potato Salad
Perhaps you have denied yourself the enjoyment of a nice summer potato salad because typically potato salad is loaded with fat and calories from the creamy mayonnaise dressing. Well, you can enjoy potato salad again with this low calorie recipe. The dressing uses reduced-fat mayonnaise, and greek yogurt for extra creaminess and a little kick, so the calories are kept on the lower side.3. Grilled Vegetables
Grilling vegetables along with the pork tenderloin is a wise thing to do as it keeps your kitchen from getting quite so messy, and is simply easy to do since the grill is already going. The possibilities for grilling vegetables are endless. Dig out whatever you have in the crisper! Anything from mushrooms to sliced bell peppers to onions or squash slides onto a skewer quite nicely, and provides a lovely side dish to your grilled pork tenderloin.4. Homemade Raspberry Ice Cream
Kimberley K. Eggleston
