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WW Recipe of the Day: Zero Point Pork Roast with Applesauce
I’ve been meaning to post this delicious recipe for roast pork with applesauce for a while now, but needed to wait until I was reunited with the recipe so I could get the details right.
It’s from Mark Bittman’s Quick and Easy Recipes from the New York Times (affiliate link), a book I borrowed from my sister and returned before getting the recipe. When she came for a visit last weekend, I asked her to bring the book along so I could jot it down.
I often think of applesauce when I think of pork, but had never considered combining them this way. That’s why I love Mark Bittman: He’s a genius of crafting simple and delicious recipes for everyday home cooks like me.
Recipe Notes
As Mark explains in the headnotes, “the superlean pork sold in supermarkets tends to dry out as it cooks.”
So, he experimented with coating a small pork loin with a thick layer of drained, unsweetened applesauce to protect it and keep it moist without overwhelming it with sweetness, the way jam would.
The results? Delicious!
This is a favorite WW Zero Points Recipe I can’t wait to make again, now that I have the recipe recorded.
How Many Calories and WW Points in Pork Roast with Applesauce?
According to my calculations, each serving has about 197 calories.
To see your WW Points for this recipe, track it in the WW App!
(You must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.)
3 SmartPoints (Green plan)
3 SmartPoints (Blue plan)
3 SmartPoints (Purple plan)
5 PointsPlus (Old plan)
Recipe Variation
Substitute 1 cup apricot jam or orange marmalade for the applesauce. Warm it over low heat, stirring in 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice to thin it slightly. Proceed with the recipe as directed.
Be sure to adjust WW Points accordingly when making any ingredient substitutions.
If you enjoy this easy roast pork, be sure to check out my other Weight Watchers Friendly recipes including Crock Pot Pulled Pork with Applesauce, 4-Ingredient Slow Cooker Kalua Pork, Mel’s Easy Slow Cooker Pork Chops, Crock Pot Pork Loin with Apple Butter and Easy Slow Cooker Peach Pork
If you’ve made this Roast Pork with Applesauce, please give the recipe a star rating below and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. And stay in touch on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.
Mark Bittman’s Roast Pork with Applesauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups applesauce, preferably unsweetened
- 1-1/2 pounds boneless pork loin
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Position an oven rack as close to the top of the oven as is practical (remember to take the height of the roast into account). Preheat the oven to 500F degrees.
- Meanwhile put the applesauce in a fine strainer (affiliate link) over a bowl or in the sink to allow the excess liquid to drain off.
- Line a roasting pan with a double thickness of aluminum foil (to make cleanup easy) and brush the foil with a little oil or give it a quick coating with non-stick spray.
- When the oven is hot, sprinkle the roast with salt and pepper and then spread an even layer of the applesauce all over it, using up all the applesauce.
- Sprinkle on a little more salt and pepper and roast until the internal temperature of the pork reaches 155F degrees.
- While the roast is cooking, you will want to check on it every 15 minutes or so to make sure the applesauce isn’t burning. It’s okay if it turns brown in spots, but you don’t want the top to blacken.
- After about 45 minutes in the oven, begin checking the pork with an instant read thermometer until it reaches 155F, then remove it from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes before cutting it crosswise into thin slices.
- Serve the meat along with any accumulated juices
Notes
(Must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.) 3 SmartPoints (Green plan) 3 SmartPoints (Blue plan) 3 SmartPoints (Purple plan) 5 PointsPlus (Old plan) Variation: Substitute 1 cup apricot jam or orange marmalade for the applesauce. Warm it over low heat, stirring in 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice to thin it slightly. Proceed with the recipe as directed.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Source: Mark Bittman’s Quick and Easy Recipes from the New York Times (affiliate link)
More WW Friendly Roast Pork Recipes
- Miso Glazed Pork Tenderloin (Simple Nourished Living)
- Favorite Pork Tenderloin and Pork Chop Marinades (Simple Nourished Living)
- Slow Cooker Low Carb Italian Pork Roast (Simple Nourished Living)
- Fig Balsamic Roasted Pork Tenderloin (SkinnyTaste)
- Slow Cooker Pork Loin with Apple Butter (Simple Nourished Living)
