2 to 2 1/2 pounds pork tenderloin (usually 2 tenderloins)
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
Preheat the oven to 450°F. Place a cast iron skillet or roasting pan in the oven as it is heating.
Pat the pork dry and cut off any large pieces of surface fat. Mix together all the spices in a small bowl and rub them into the surface of the pork on all sides.
Remove the hot pan from the oven and swirl the oil to coat the bottom. Set the pork in the pan and return the pan to the oven. Roast for 10 minutes, and then flip the pork to the other side. Reduce the oven temperature to 400°F and continue roasting another 10 to 15 minutes, until the internal temperature of the pork registers 140°F to 145°F in the thickest part of the meat (20 to 25 minutes total).
Transfer the pork to a cutting board, tent with foil, and let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing. For extra-thin slices for sandwiches, cool the pork completely, then refrigerate before cutting.
Leftovers will keep for one week refrigerated.
This post and recipe have been updated. Originally published August 2010.