Recipe: Cocoa-spiced beef tenderloin with pineapple salsa

Looking for a unique main dish? This flavorful beef tenderloin checks all the boxes. Bonus: It’s easy to make, too.

Serves 4.

Ingredients

• ½ tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 beef tenderloin roast (16 ounces) 

For salsa:

• ½ cup canned diced pineapple in juice
• ¼ cup red onion, minced
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

For seasoning:

• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
• 1 tablespoon cocoa powder (unsweetened)
• 2 teaspoons chili powder

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375º F.
2. Combine salsa ingredients. Let sit 10 to 15 minutes while preparing seasoning and cooking meat.
3. Combine seasoning ingredients. Lightly oil tenderloin and spread an even layer of seasoning over meat.
4. Roast tenderloin for 10 to 15 minutes, to a minimum internal temperature of 145º F. Let cool for 5 minutes before carving into 16 slices (1 ounce each).
5. Serve four slices with ¼ cup salsa on the side

Nutrition per serving: 215 calories, 9g fat, 67mg cholesterol, 226mg sodium, 9g carbohydrates, 4g sugars, 25g protein

This recipe was republished from The Circle magazine, a monthly publication of Geisinger’s Silver Circle program. Subscribe now.

Adapted from nih.gov

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