Description
Southern cooks perfect Old South Coca-Cola Pork Loin with tangy soda-infused marinade. Succulent meat promises a delightful culinary journey through classic American comfort cooking.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 lbs (1.4 kg) pork loin
- ¼ cup (60 g) brown sugar
- 1 can (12 oz/355 ml) coca-cola (not diet)
- ½ cup (120 ml) ketchup
- ¼ cup (60 ml) soy sauce
- 2 tbsps worcestershire sauce
- 2 tbsps vegetable oil (for searing)
- 2 tsp dijon mustard
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp salt
Instructions
- Preparation: Pat pork loin dry and generously season with salt, black pepper, and smoky paprika, massaging spices thoroughly into meat’s surface.
- Searing: Heat vegetable oil in heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Sear pork loin on all sides until golden-brown caramelization develops, creating rich exterior. Transfer browned meat to roasting pan.
- Glaze Creation: Whisk together Coca-Cola, ketchup, soy sauce, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, garlic, and onion powder until smooth and well-integrated.
- Initial Roasting: Preheat oven to 350F (175C). Pour half of cola mixture over pork, covering pan tightly with foil. Roast for 45 minutes, basting every 15 minutes with pan liquids to enhance moisture and flavor.
- Final Caramelization: Uncover pork, drizzle remaining cola sauce, and increase oven temperature to 400F (200C). Continue roasting 20-25 minutes until internal temperature reaches 145F (63C) and glaze transforms into sticky, rich crust.
- Resting and Serving: Remove from oven and let meat rest 10 minutes, allowing juices to redistribute. Slice against grain and serve, drizzling remaining pan juices over carved meat for maximum flavor and tenderness.
Notes
- Moisture Management: Pat pork loin completely dry before seasoning to ensure perfect caramelization and prevent steaming instead of searing.
- Searing Technique: Create golden-brown crust by using high heat and avoiding moving meat during initial pan contact, which locks in rich flavors and develops deep color.
- Glaze Monitoring: Baste meat regularly during roasting to maintain moisture and build complex flavor layers, preventing potential dryness in lean pork loin.
- Temperature Precision: Use meat thermometer to confirm internal temperature reaches exactly 145F, avoiding overcooking which can result in tough, dry meat.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 470
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 51 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg