Honey Sesame (or Flax) Pork Tenderloin

Although sesame seeds are the traditional topping in an Asian-inspired dish, I was curious to see how flax seeds would work. I thought they offered a hint more crunch and the color was more golden brown. Feel free to use either one or a mix of both.

Ingredients

2 pork tenderloins (about 2 pounds)
1/3 cup soy sauce
2 garlic cloves, crushed and roughly chopped
1 tablespoon grated ginger root (could substitute one rounded teaspoon dry ginger)
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/3 cup sesame or flax seeds or a mix of both (plus a bit extra for sprinkling)

Mix the soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and sesame oil in a zipper-top bag. (I place it in a bowl so it doesn’t flop over and spill out. I learned that the hard way!)
Add the tenderloins, turning to coat, and seal the bag.
Refrigerate several hours or overnight, turning a few times if you remember.
When ready to cook, preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Place the seeds in a shallow bowl. Mix the honey and brown sugar and brush over the tenderloins.
You may heat 10-15 seconds in the microwave if the mixture seems too thick to brush on. Roll the tenderloins in the seeds to evenly coat. Place the tenderloins in a lightly greased baking dish and sprinkle with a few more seeds to evenly coat.
Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the internal temperature reads 145 degrees F. Allow to rest for about 5 minutes before slicing.

In years past, it was customary to cook pork to an internal temperature of 160 degrees F. Recently, the USDA lowered its temperature recommendation for pork to 145 degrees F, and I think this produces a juicier, more tender outcome. In my oven, these particular tenderloins took 26 minutes and were juicy and delicious.