GLAZED PORK LOIN ROAST – An Italian Christmas Recipe

Welcome back to TortellinoTime. Today is a very special day—Tortellino’s first birthday, and to celebrate, we’re diving into one of the highlights of our Christmas recipe series: a delicious and easy-to-make Glazed Pork Loin Roast, an Italian-inspired dish that’s perfect for the festive season. In this video, I’ll show you step-by-step how to make this succulent main course that combines the sweetness of apples with the tartness of cranberries, creating a dish that’s sure to be a showstopper for any holiday meal.

But more than that, I want to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported and subscribed to TortellinoTime over the past year. Your encouragement means everything to me, and this channel wouldn’t be what it is without you. My goal is to help anyone, from beginners to seasoned cooks, learn the secrets of Italian cooking. But even more importantly, I want to inspire adults to bring children into the kitchen. Cooking is not just about food; it’s about creating lifelong memories, teaching kids valuable skills, and encouraging them to make healthier food choices as they grow.

This dish is an ideal way to get the whole family involved—especially kids. They can help with simple tasks like rubbing the seasoning onto the meat or stirring the cranberries, making it a perfect family-bonding activity during the festive season. So, let’s get cooking and make this Christmas meal extra special together.

Key Chapters
00:00 – Introduction & Tortellino’s 1st Birthday
01:45 – Overview of Ingredients for the Glazed Pork Loin Roast
02:09 – Preparing the Pork Loin Rub
04:16 – Cooking the Pork Loin
04:58 – How to Make the Cranberry and Apple Topping
06:33 – Preparing the Apple Cider Glaze
09:01 – Assembling the Dish and Presentation Tips
11:24 – Final Taste Test & Serving Suggestions

Ingredients
For a 1 kg Pork Loin:
1 kg pork loin (I use 750g in the video, but here’s the recipe for a larger roast)
2 tablespoons brown sugar
3 tablespoons Wholegrain Mustard or Dijon mustard
2 garlic cloves, minced
Fresh rosemary
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Salt
Pepper
For the Topping:
120 g fresh cranberries
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 pinch cinnamon
1 large apple, diced
1 pinch nutmeg
30 g butter

For the Apple Cider Glaze:
200 ml apple cider
2 tablespoons mustard
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

Cooking Instructions
Prepare the Pork Loin: In a large bowl, combine the brown sugar, mustard, extra virgin olive oil, minced garlic, fresh rosemary, salt, and pepper. Mix everything together to form a thick rub. This is a great step to get the kids involved—let them rub this mixture all over the pork loin, making sure it’s evenly coated.

Roast the Pork: Preheat your oven to 190°C (375°F). Place the seasoned pork loin in a roasting pan, fat side up, and pop it in the oven for about 1 hour and 15 minutes. A tip here is to check the internal temperature; you’re aiming for about 68°C (155°F) before resting. Once it’s cooked, cover the pork with aluminium foil and let it rest for 10 minutes. This step allows the juices to redistribute, making the roast tender and juicy.

Make the Cranberry and Apple Topping: While the pork is roasting, melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the fresh cranberries, diced apple, brown sugar, a pinch of cinnamon, and nutmeg. Stir well and cook for around 10 minutes until the fruit softens and the flavours combine. The bright red cranberries and soft apples are a fantastic contrast to the savoury pork.

Prepare the Apple Cider Glaze: In another saucepan, combine the apple cider, balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, and mustard. Cook over medium-high heat for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until the mixture reduces and thickens into a glossy glaze. The tangy and sweet glaze is the perfect finishing touch.

Serve: Slice the pork loin into thick pieces, then spoon the cranberry and apple topping over each slice. Drizzle generously with the apple cider glaze. This dish is a beautiful centrepiece for your holiday table, and it’s a great way to involve kids in creating a festive meal.

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