This savory Pork Roast Stuffed with Roasted Red Peppers, Feta and Spinach brings Mediterranean deliciousness. To begin, loads of spices create a rub that infuses this meat with a rich depth of flavor. The center overflows with spinach, roasted red peppers, feta cheese and garlic which make for not only an amazing healthy main dish but a beautiful presentation on your table at any gathering.
A Healthy Start to the New Year
This Pork Loin Roast Stuffed with Roasted Red Peppers, Feta, and Spinach is the perfect meal to begin a fresh healthy pursuit in this New Year. After all the sugar I’ve consumed over this holiday season, my body is desperately craving “the healthier side of life.”
Don’t get me wrong, I do love all the holiday menus, the overabundance of goodies, delicious cocktails, and the unending parties. Treasured memories are created during this time with a fresh appreciation for old and new relationships in my life. I would NOT change a thing in how I indulged with friends and family over the holidays. For me, it’s time well spent! But now, the time has come to get back on track.
Choosing the Right Cut of Meat to Stuff this Roast
There are two cuts of meat that many people think are interchangeable in recipes when it comes to pork roasts – the pork loin and the pork tenderloin. But there are major differences in these two.
Pork loin and tenderloin do not even come from the same part of the animal and have very little similarities. The pork tenderloin is small and thin which makes stuffing this cut more difficult. The pork loin is larger and thicker which once butterflied can be packed with an array of yummy ingredients. A boneless pork loin is what this recipe calls for.
BUTTERFLYING a Boneless PORK LOIN
With the fat side of the roast up, use a long sharp boning or serrated knife and cut horizontally lengthwise into the roast but not through it. You will want to stop about 1/2-1 inch short. Open up the roast like turning the page of a book and, there, you have successfully butterflied your roast. Lay the butterflied pork (open and fat side down) between several pieces of parchment paper and pound the roast with a meat mallet or a rolling pin for an even thickness.
If you would like to have a more circular rolled stuffed roast, you can create a thinner and longer portion of meat by cutting while you roll the roast out. You can check out this YouTube link here to see how to accomplish that. I chose a one-cut open book butterfly because it is simpler and in my opinion just as beautiful.
Adding a Spice Rub infuses the meat with wonderful flavor
Fresh herbs and spices are rubbed on all sides of this roast to give fabulous flavor to the meat itself. After I apply the rub I let the flavors permeate for 24 hours before I stuff it. The dimension this adds to the finished “chef-d’oeuvre” or masterpiece, as I call it, is well worth the wait.
Pull the roast out of the refrigerator around 30 minutes before you’re ready to stuff it. Then by the time you prepare it for cooking, it will have come to room temperature. In this way, you’ll take the chill off the meat so that it will be juicier and cook more evenly throughout.
Pork Roast Stuffed with Roasted Red Peppers, Feta Cheese and Spinach
Now, this is where all the magic happens! When it comes to stuffing this roast, I tend to always “overstuff.” My philosophy is “the more the merrier.” So I load this up with fresh spinach, roasted red peppers, and feta cheese. But before I get to that stage, I spread a good amount of minced garlic on the cut side of the meat. In my opinion, garlic makes any savory dish 100% BETTER!
Rolling up the Roast and Keeping all the Goodies in tack
Since I tend to overload the inside with all these goodies, rolling it up and keeping them inside can be a little tricky. But believe me, I manage to cram everything. If any of that yumminess tries to escape though, it gets my full “stuffing” attention. None of the spinach, roasted red peppers or feta cheese is found lying around outside this roast once I’m done with it.
Tying a Stuffed Pork Loin
With all that deliciousness inside now, you want to be able to keep it contained. The best way to accomplish this is by tying the stuffed roast with kitchen twine. If you’ve never done this before, it initially looks quite complicated. But honestly, it’s very easy and doesn’t take much time at all. I have included a YouTube video to help instruct you.
Cooking this Pork Loin Stuffed with Spinach, Roasted Red Peppers and Feta Cheese
Since we’re not searing this roast before it goes in the oven, I started out with a high temperature of 450°F (uncovered) for 10 minutes to get a good browning on it. I then tented the roast with foil and turned down the oven to 325°F. At this point, I let it cook for about 45 minutes with an instant-read thermometer showing 140°F in the thickest part of the meat.
Is “pink” Pork safe to eat?
It used to be everyone was afraid to eat pork that was still pink inside. That’s just not the case anymore. Not only is it safe, but it is much more tender and juicy this way. Overcooked pork becomes dry, tough and loses much of its flavor. That’s why you pull it out of the oven when the internal temperature reaches 140°F. And of course, let it rest for 10 minutes under foil to make sure all the juices stay in.
I wish you could smell the fragrant aromas lingering in my kitchen from this delectable pork roast right now. Oh, the flavors, the textures and the beauty that awaits you if you decide to cook this lovely baby. Please leave a comment in the space below, as I would love to hear from you.
If you’re looking for more main dish recipes, check these out:
Fruit Stuffed Pork Loin
Roasted Leg of Lamb
Pan-Seared Salmon with Fruit Salsa
Chicken in White Wine Sauce with Vegetables
PrintPork Roast Stuffed with Roasted Red Peppers, Feta, and Spinach
This Stuffed Pork Roast is bursting with flavor. A Mediterranean rub adds intensity to the meat. Garlic, spinach, roasted red peppers and feta add another dimension that creates an entree both stunning in presentation and scrumptious to eat.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes (not including marinating)
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
- Yield: 10 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Ingredients
Spice Rub
- 1 1/2 tablespoons Fresh Oregano, chopped
- 1 1/2 tablespoons Fresh Thyme, chopped
- 1 1/2 tablespoons Smoked Paprika
- 1 teaspoon Ground Cumin
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Poultry Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Kosher Salt
- 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper, freshly ground
- Olive Oil for rubbing on the Roast
Stuffed Roast
- 3 – 3 1/2 pound boneless Pork Loin Roast, butterflied
- 6–8 cloves Garlic, minced
- 4 cups Baby Spinach
- 16 ounce jar Roasted Red Peppers, drained
- 6–8 ounces Feta Cheese, crumbled
Instructions
Spice Rub
- Combine 1 1/2 tablespoons each of fresh oregano, thyme and smoked paprika. Add in 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 1/2 teaspoons poultry seasoning, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt and 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper.
- Lay the roast out butterflied and pound between several sheets of parchment paper or plastic wrap with a meat mallet until there is an even thickness.
- Rub a generous amount of olive oil on all sides of the roast and rub the spices on all sides as well.
- Place in a large ziplock bag and store in the refrigerator for 24 hours or overnight.
Stuffed Pork Roast
- Preheat oven to 450° F.
- Lay the butterflied roast open on a large piece of parchment paper. Rub 6-8 cloves of minced garlic on the cut side facing up.
- Layer 4 cups baby spinach, 16 oz jar of roasted red peppers (drained) and 6-8 oz of crumbled feta cheese on top of the butterflied roast.
- Begin rolling from the end that is parallel to the fold in the roast. Roll tightly as you work with all the filling to keep it in tack. Or you can simply fold it over like your closing a book.
- Tie the roast with kitchen twine. I have included a YouTube video with instructions on how to accomplish this.
- Place the roast cut side down on a wire rack in a shallow roasting pan. Cook in a 450°F oven for 10 minutes to get a good browning. Reduce heat to 325°F, cover the roast with tented foil and cook for an additional 45 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer registers 140° in the thickest part of the meat.
- Remove from the oven and let sit for 10 minutes. Slice and serve warm.
Notes
- How to butterfly a pork loin roast – with the fat side of the roast up, use a long sharp boning or serrated knife and cut horizontally lengthwise into the roast but not through it. You will want to stop about 1/2-1 inch short. Open up the roast like turning the page of a book.
- Pull the roast out of the refrigerator around 30 minutes before you’re ready to stuff it. Then by the time you prepare the roast for cooking, it will have come to room temperature. In this way, you’ll take the chill off the meat so that it will be juicier and cook more evenly throughout.
- Tying the stuffed roast with kitchen twine. If you’ve never done this before, it initially looks quite complicated. But honestly, it’s very easy and doesn’t take much time at all. I have included a YouTube video to help instruct you.
- Since we’re not searing this roast before it goes in the oven, start out with a high temperature of 450°F (uncovered) for 10 minutes to get a good browning on it. Tent the roast with foil and turned down the oven to 325°F. At this point, let it cook for about 45 minutes or an instant-read thermometer showing 140°F in the thickest part of the meat.
- It used to be everyone was afraid to eat pork that was still pink inside. That’s just not the case anymore. Not only is it safe, but it is much more tender and juicy this way. Overcooked pork becomes dry, tough and loses much of its flavor
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/10 of the Roast
- Calories: 514
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 1134 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 44 g
- Cholesterol: 131 mg
Keywords: Roasted Red Pepper Stuffed Pork, Stuffed Pork with Roasted Red Peppers, Stuffed Pork Loin
This is so delicious! The pork roast came out perfect–so tender, moist and oozing with rich succulent flavor. The instructions were excellent and so easy to follow. The salad accompanied the roast beautifully, with all the vegetables, fruits. cheese and olives – the stage was set to perfection!!
This is a must-do again ,including some lovely guests! My husband loved it!
Thanks Kristy for all the joy in preparing this beautiful meal
★★★★★
You are so kind Carol. Thanks so much for the lovely comments and I am so thrilled that you enjoyed this recipe. It has become one of my favorite.
Pork, roasted red peppers, and feta cheese! Perfection!
★★★★★
Kristy,
Haven’t made this yet but have made similar with tenderloin. Glad to see you enjoy the pink side of pork. I intend to make this as our New Year dinner. Any suggestions for sides?
I’ll let you know just how much they are going to savour this.
Hi Laureen! I’m thrilled that you are using this Stuffed Pork recipe for your New Year’s dinner. I would love to hear what you think after you serve this. It is one of my favorite main dishes. Also, there are a few side dishes on my site that I really love and I think would go well with your meal. Roasted Green Beans, Roasted Brussel Sprouts, Candied Carrots, Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus Bundles. Happy New Years to you and yours!
I’ve never had a stuffed pork loin. Sounds delicious! Can’t go wrong with spinach and feta, in my book.
Thanks so much, Jeff. You are so right about spinach and feta!
About to make this, big fan of pork loin, and bigger fan of Mediterranean spices! We actually went to a cooking school on the island of Naxos to learn more. Only problem is I just realized my butcher didn’t butterfly, but cut all the way through. Not expecting too much of an issue. Can’t wait for this one.
Mike, thank you so much for stopping by and leaving a comment. So interesting your butcher cut all the way through. But actually, it won’t be a problem because you tie it all together anyway. Would love to know how it turned out for you. Also, so jealous that you went to a cooking school on the Island of Naxos.
Wow! What a GREAT combination of flavors with roasted red peppers, spinach and feta stuffed in pork.
★★★★★
Made this tonight with half of a pork tenderloin. It was more than enough for the two of us and it was delicious. Grilled it instead of oven. Definitely a keeper and sending to my sister because I know she will love it too!
★★★★★
Hi Sheila. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment. I am so happy you enjoyed the recipe. It is one of my favorites.