Asian Star Anise Pork Loin with Metis® – A recipe for a tasty family roast that is aromatic and fruity, using Metis® fruits, which are a unique new fruit, a natural hybrid of a plum with a little bit of apricot. Just as juicy as a traditional plum, but easier to eat with a crisp skin and a slightly firm flesh the fruits are perfectly portable and are guaranteed to always be perfectly ripe.

Metis® – A New Fruit

We are already half way into September, the month that heralds autumn, and my favourite season; it’s the Indian summer days of corn golden heat and crisp, cool evenings with the promise of a log fire that warms my soul, as well as an abundance of nature’s bounty at this time of year…….our garden is ablaze with Michaelmas daisies and golden hops, and every now and then there is a soft thud, as quince, apples and pears fall gently on to the dew laden grass. It’s the season of fruits and stews, slow casseroles and steamed puddings, as well as the return to school for the children.

Family meals are more often taken at the kitchen table now, instead of around the barbecue in the garden, and today’s recipe for Asian Star Anise Pork Loin with Metis® is perfect for the season, and uses a fabulous new fruit called Metis® (pronounced Metisse), which is naturally bred, with bees play a leading role in developing the fruit. Metis® is a plum-apricot-plum hybrid created by natural cross-pollination by bees between selected apricot pollen and plum blooms, and is totally GMO free. Available from Tesco, there are four varieties of this delicious fruit to choose from………

……What is Metis®? It is a family of four different fruits; Oxy, Tonic, Safari and Aroma each with its own special characteristics, as shown below:

Metis® Oxy with passion red flesh and a dark skin, it is very juicy and has an enchanting aroma. Metis Oxy also has the highest level of antioxidants, similar to pomegranate and blueberries. Available from June to October.

Available as the summer ends, Metis® Tonic is a rich tasty plum where the summer sun gives it it’s extra sweetness and juiciness to the fruit. With a reddish skin and light yellow flesh. 

Metis® Safari is the most exotic member of the family. It’s firm skin gives a crunchy yet juicy bite. The initial sharpness on the palate fades to a unusual sweetness. Safari is often the children’s favourite due to its appearance, mottled on the outside with a pinkish flesh. Available in the summer months.

With a light purple skin and a reddish yellow flesh, Metis® Aroma has the most delicious aroma. A full flavour experience, and only available in August and September.

My new recipe creation for Asian Star Anise Pork Loin with Metis® uses Oxy and Tonic – the Oxy fruits make a fabulous thick, ruby-red sauce, and the Tonic fruits are added later in the cooking process, roasting alongside the loin of pork, adding colour and texture to the dish. As well as creating this savoury recipe, I’ve also made a fabulous crumble with some of the Aroma fruits, and we’ve all enjoyed eating the exotic looking golden, peach coloured Safari fruits straight from the fruit bowl.

I hope you feel inspired to make my latest recipe, and DO try these amazing fruits, they are available in Tesco supermarkets, and you can choose from all four varieties to suit your cooking or eating needs. Serve this delicious Asian Star Anise Pork Loin with Metis® recipe with roasted sweet potatoes and steamed Chinese cabbage, or with rice and roasted cauliflower, which went down a storm last time I made this easy family recipe. That’s all for today, see you soon with more recipes and travel news from home and abroad. Karen 

Disclaimer: Paid collaborative work with Metis®

Asian Star Anise Pork Loin with Metis®

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Serves	4 with leftovers
Prep time	5 minutes
Cook time	1 hour, 30 minutes
Total time	1 hour, 35 minutes
Allergy	Soy
Meal type	Lunch
Misc	Child Friendly, Serve Hot
Occasion	Casual Party, Christmas, Easter, Formal Party, Thanksgiving
Region	Asian
By author	Karen Burns-Booth

Asian Star Anise Pork Loin with Metis® - A tasty family roast that is aromatic and fruity, using Metis® fruits, which is a lot of plum and a little apricot!

Ingredients

• 450g to 500g boned loin of pork joint (or tenderloin)
• 2 tablespoons thick dark soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons runny honey
• 4 star anise
• 2 cloves garlic (peeled and minced)
• 1 (peeled and grated)
• 3 Metis® Oxy fruits (cut in half and stoned)
• 4 Metis® Tonic fruits (cut into half and stoned)
• a little water

Note

Asian Star Anise Pork Loin with Metis® - A tasty family roast that is aromatic and fruity, using Metis® fruits, which is a lot of plum and a little apricot!

Directions

Step 1	Pre-heat oven to 180C/375F/Gas mark 4.
Step 2	Sit the loin of pork or tenderloin in a large roasting tin and pour the soy sauce over the joint of meat; add the honey, star anise, garlic and ginger and place the halved Metis® Oxy fruits around the meat.
Step 3	Place in the preheated oven and cook uncovered for 25 minutes to half an hour, until the Metis® fruits are soft and have collapsed, and the sauce is thick and bubbling.
Step 4	Take out of the oven, and mash the Metis® Oxy fruits with the back of a spoon to make a puree, then add the Metis® Tonic fruits, a little water if needed, cover the pork and cook for a further 1 hour, or until the pork is cooked through and the fruit is soft. Uncover for the last 5 minutes to colour the meat and fruit.
Step 5	Discard the star anise, and serve immediately cut into thick slices with the roasted Metis® fruits and the sauce; great when served with steamed rice and roasted Asian style veggies or noodles.

Pin this recipe for Asian Star Anise Pork Loin with Metis® for later enjoyment!

More Fruit recipes:

Spiced Oven Poached Plums with Orange, Star Anise and Cinnamon

Traditional Greengage Jam Recipe

Heirloom Apple or Fruit Tart Recipe

Spiced Mirabelle Plum Galette Recipe