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    Culinary Lion » Recipes » Keto Dinner Recipes » Keto Appetizer Recipes » Smoked Pork Loin Asian Lettuce Cups

    Smoked Pork Loin Asian Lettuce Cups

    by Frank Campanella 2 Comments

    smoked pork loin asian lettuce cups, Keto low carb recipe

    Smoked Pork Loin is so tasty but often overcooked or prepared poorly.

    These Asian lettuce cups are loaded with amazing condiments and perfectly cooked pork loin sliced thin.

    smoked pork loin lettuce cups with kimchi chopped peanuts and asian bbq sauce, Keto Low carb
    Jump to Recipe

    Pork Loin Abuse is Real!!

    As much as I love a juicy tender smoked pork loin I’ve also had some dry nasty sawdust tasting ones.

    Pork loin doesn’t have near the fat content that a pork shoulder or pork belly has so it needs a different cooking approach.

    When you cook a Pork butt you need to cook it to above 200 degrees F. to break down the muscle fibers and make it tender.

    If you cook a Pork loin the same way you will end up with a dry, mealy unpleasant piece of meat.

    For me the perfect internal temperature to cook pork loin is about 145 degrees F.

    Carryover should take the pork to about 150 degrees F.  giving the meat time to rest giving you juicy tender pork loin every time.

    smoked pork loin lettuce cups with kimchi chopped peanuts and asian bbq sauce, Keto Low carb

    Safe Temperature for Cooked Pork

    In 2011 the USDA lowered their guidelines for cooked pork from 160 degrees F to 145 degrees F. followed by 3 minutes resting time before serving.

    This recommendation is for all whole pork roasts, chops and loins.

    Ground pork is still recommended to be cooked to 160 degrees F. to prevent foodborne illness.

    As I mentioned above the pork will continue to cook after it has been removed from the heat. If you see a light pink color that’s a good thing, the outer pink color is just a smoke ring.

    If you are not comfortable cooking the pork to 145 degrees feel free to cook it well done but you are sacrificing a good amount of moisture and flavor.

    how to cook smoked pork loin to the correct temperature

    How to Smoke Pork Loin.

    Because Pork loin doesn’t have a lot of fat or connective tissue it cooks very quickly not giving it much time to absorb smoke flavor.

    The trick I use to give your loin more time on the pit is to make sure the pork is as cold as possible when it goes on.

    I sometimes will put the pork loin on the smoker while it’s still half frozen.

    This will let you season the meat and begin smoking as the center slowly thaws out never reaching an internal temperature of 145 degrees F.

    To keep the meat moist I like to spray the pork loin with avocado oil a few times during the cooking process.

    smoked pork loin

    Slicing the Pork Loin

    Once the Pork Loin is smoked and rested it’s time to slice. If you have a meat slicer at home this would be a great time to bust it out.

    I actually have one but they can be a pain to clean and I was lazy. Instead I cut the pork loin by hand.

    To slice the pork as thin as you can make sure you have a sharp knife. Make long clean strokes to smoothly cut through the pork in as few motions as possible.

    Only cut as much Pork as you need to serve at that time. The Pork loin stays juicier longer when it’s left whole. I slice as much as I think I need and then just shave a few slices as needed.

    thinly sliced smoked pork loin cut with a sharp knife
    smoked pork loin lettuce cups with kimchi chopped peanuts and asian bbq sauce, Keto Low carb

    Condiments and Cabbage 

    This recipe works with any kind of lettuce or cabbage you like. It just so happens that I had Savoy cabbage on the day I prepared this dish.

    If I had my choice my favorite cruciferous vessel is actually Napa cabbage. Leaf lettuce, romaine, red or white cabbage also do just fine for this recipe.  

    Once you have your pork sliced and your cabbage cup ready it’s time to load it up with tasty condiments.

    Kimchi is a must for me because it’s delicious and nutritious along with chopped peanuts, crispy garlic, sesame seeds, scallions and carrots.

    For some spice I add in some sliced jalapeños and everything needs a good sauce and my Asian Bbq sauce.

    Kinders Sugar Free Jalapeño BBQ Sauce combined with soy sauce and sambal oelek is a great condiment for all sorts of Asian recipes so I often make a double batch and keep it in the Fridge.

    Other great condiments include Wasabi Mayo, Sriracha or a Thai Peanut sauce.

    smoked pork loin lettuce cups with kimchi chopped peanuts and asian bbq sauce, Keto Low carb

    More Meaty Keto Recipes

    • Chili Rubbed Wings 
    • Keto Carnivore Calzone
    • Keto Sheet Pan Nashville Hot Chicken Thighs
    • Pork Larb Lettuce Cups

    smoked pork loin lettuce cups with kimchi chopped peanuts and asian bbq sauce, Keto Low carb

    Smoked Pork Loin Asian Lettuce Cups

    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course, Meal Prep
    Cuisine: asian, BBQ
    Diet: Low Fat
    Keyword: lettuce cups, pork loin
    Servings: 10
    Calories: 222kcal
    Author: Culinary Lion

    Ingredients

    • 3 lbs Pork Loin
    • 1 head Savoy Cabbage or Napa Cabbage, Romaine or Bibb Lettuce
    • 2 tbsp Dry Rub
    • 1 tsp Chinese 5 Spice
    • 1 tbsp Dijon Mustard

    Asian BBQ Sauce

    • ½ cup Kinder Sugar Free BBQ Sauce
    • 2 tbsp Gluten Free Soy Sauce
    • 1 tsp Sesame Oil
    • 1 tbsp Sambal Oelek or Sriracha

    Condiments/ Toppings

    • Kimchi
    • Chopped Peanuts
    • Sesame Seeds
    • Scallions
    • Sliced Carrots
    • Sliced Jalapeños
    • Fried Crispy Garlic

    Instructions

    • Set Smoker for 275 Degrees F. Brush a light coat of mustard on the pork loin then season with a combined mixture of dry rub and Chinese 5 spice. Smoke Pork Loin for about 90 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees F.
    • Wrap the Pork loin in foil and let it rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing the pork loin as thin as possible. use a slicer if you have one available.
    • to prepare the Asian BBQ sauce combine all ingredients and stir until smooth. Prepare all other condiments and set aside while pork loin is resting.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 222kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 86mg | Sodium: 311mg | Potassium: 741mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 921IU | Vitamin C: 28mg | Calcium: 49mg | Iron: 2mg

    Nutrition Facts
    Smoked Pork Loin Asian Lettuce Cups
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 222 Calories from Fat 54
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 6g9%
    Saturated Fat 2g13%
    Cholesterol 86mg29%
    Sodium 311mg14%
    Potassium 741mg21%
    Carbohydrates 7g2%
    Fiber 3g13%
    Sugar 2g2%
    Protein 33g66%
    Vitamin A 921IU18%
    Vitamin C 28mg34%
    Calcium 49mg5%
    Iron 2mg11%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Allison Kroom

      June 07, 2020 at 2:40 am

      5 stars
      Do you love smoked meat?!? Do you love FLAVOR? You’re gonna love this one by Culinary Lion! Don’t worry if you don’t have all of the ingredients! There are so many ways to dress up these lettuce cups you can even get creative! We went with everything in the recipe and all sides shown except the BBQ sauce! Made our own quick Thai peanut sauce and added a few more sliced veg and BAM! Quick and easy dinner (I mean smoking meat is pretty much set it and forget it with digital…) but PACKED WITH A PUNCH!! Add this one to your “make soon” list!

      Reply
      • Culinary Lion

        June 08, 2020 at 3:50 pm

        Thank you so much!! Love hearing you enjoyed the recipe!!!

        Reply

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    Frank

    Hey Everyone, My name is Frank Campanella. I've spent the last 20 years as a chef in restaurants throughout the mid Atlantic cooking everything from seafood and steak to classic pub grub. Now I'm taking all thoses recipes and giving them a low carb/ Keto facelift. I hope you love flavorful delicious food because that is the only recipe you will find here. Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to sign up for the mailing list so you can get all the latest recipes.

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