These easy make ahead sweet and sour Pork and Apricot Kebobs are the perfect busy weeknight staple with a quick toss on the grill and dinner is on the table in no time.
I like to think we are pretty open and honest around these parts here, right? So with that in mind, it’s never been too much of a secret that I was a *bit* of a picky eater as a child. Not too horrible mind you, I mean I would gobble up a plate of chopped liver like it was a piece of cake. More so, picky in the sense that what might be considered normal to other people, I just didn’t like.
Prime example, cooked fruit. I didn’t like it, not one bit.
So yes, that means, until my mid to late 20’s I never ate pie. I don’t know what it was about warm fruit but it weirded me out. I liked my fruit cold, firm and without any blemishes (I told you I was picky). Warm or cooked fruit to me broke all these rules.
Eventually, like many of my other weird quirks, (hating mushrooms, no cream cheese on my bagel, not touching guacamole – I said weird. . ) I grew out of it.
I’m obviously extremely grateful that I’m an open minded eater in my thirties because it allows me to explore and play with my food in creative and perhaps less creative but still delicious ways.
In this case, it’s these pork and apricot kebobs right here. I love using apricot jam as a glaze on pork chops or tenderloin and with apricots flooding the farmer’s markets right now, it’s a perfect excuse to use them fresh alongside some marinated pork. I originally made these over July 4th for a friends barbecue and in less than 5 minutes they were gobbled up by every person there. If it wasn’t for Braden grabbing me the last skewer I wouldn’t have even had a chance to taste my own recipe! Now if that doesn’t say mighty tasty, I don’t know what does.
While the kebobs are great for a party, they are even better for a busy weeknight dinner. I used pork tenderloin, which cooks up quickly on the grill, stovetop or the oven and it gets tossed into an easy marinade of balsamic vinegar, garlic, honey and oil first thing in the morning. After sitting in this flavor bath all day long, the skewers are threaded with some sweet vidalia onions and fresh apricots. After about 10 minutes on the grill, dinner is served!
Now no one is really busier right now than my good friend Courtney at Neighborfood, who just gave birth to her first baby boy! I’m sharing this recipe with her today over on her blog, while she takes a little time off to spend with her guy. This dinner is perfect when Courtney is ready to get cooking again or to push her husband Will to fire up the grill! It’s all about minimal effort in the kitchen to get a delicious dinner on the table to maximize the time with family.
Ingredients
- 1 pork tenderloin (about 1 to 1 1/2 pounds), cut into 1 inch cubes
- 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 4-5 apricots, quartered
- 1 Vidalia onion, cut into wedges
Instructions
- Place the pork in a ziptop bag with the balsamic vinegar, olive oil, honey, minced garlic, salt and pepper and seal. Squeeze the bag with your hands to combine together and place in the refrigerator in a bowl or tray to marinate for a minimum of 4 hours or overnight.
- Thread the pork cubes on bamboo or metal skewers, alternating with the apricots and onions.
- Heat a grill to medium heat or an oiled grill pan over medium heat.
- Cook the skewers on the grill for about 4-5 minutes per side (less if the pork is cooking quickly) and about 5-6 minutes per side on a grill pan.
- Serve immediately.
[box] I love it when you make one of my recipes! Snap a photo and share it on my Facebook page or upload it to Twitter or Instagram and tag #littleredkitchen.[/box]
OK,,,YOU need to sway my husband. He detests any cooked fruit except apple pie. And I am all about cooked fruit any way I can get it. Your kebabs are perfect!
What fantastic flavors! My whole family would go crazy for these kebobs!
Those are some good looking kebabs! Love you used apricot with pork.
I’ll have to try this for my family. They’ve only recently gotten on board w/ cooked fruit in savory dishes. I have to say, you’re cuts on the kebabs are great – everything the same size. I’m guilty of not taking the time to cut everything to look all pretty and nice.
I love grilled fruit and you can’t go wrong with a pork and apricot dish!
My husband still can’t deal with most cooked fruit with meat. Pineapple and citrus is okay but nothing else. I’m going to try this though, I think he’ll like it, I know I will, yummy!
I’ve always been the opposite preferring my fruit hot and cooked. Isn’t it funny how people’s tastes are so different? This combination of apricot with pork sounds just perfect to me. Easy and delicious!
As the mother of a picky eater I always like to hear stories about kids who grow up to be foodies! (Gives me hope!) These kebobs are pretty and delicious!
Oh yum! I never had pork kabobs but now I am craving them! The apricot is a delicious add-on! Yum!
Glad you grew out of your weirdness for cooked fruit. Otherwise you would have never come up with with delicious recipe. Pork and fruit go hand and hand. I especially like it with apricots and peaches. Nice recipe, Susan. Can’t wait to try this!
I don’t do enough kebabs. These look wonderful. On my “to do” list. 🙂
These would definitely be a hit here! My fiancé loves kebobs so much, I’m sure these would disappear very quickly!
From my little blue kitchen to your little red kitchen, these look amazing…..I love fruit and pork together!
Pork and apricots are a perfect pairing and what a great idea to combine them in a shish kabob!
Pork pairs so well with fruit! This looks delicious!
I have the same beautiful pan and my husband is going to be very happy about this recipe.
Simple and delicious, perfect for a meal this week!
I’ve never thought to pair pork with apricots, but this sure does sound tasty!
We love kabobs and never thought to put fruit with the protein on the skewers. Great idea! The pork and apricots sound great together!
I was enjoying reading your post, and savoring the gorgeous photos, and I was so delighted when I made it to the bottom of the post, to actually see the recipe card and notice that this recipe REALLY IS easy! You weren’t kidding! So great for busy weeknights, but you’re exactly right that it’s also lovely enough for entertaining! So versatile! And psssst … glad you kept an open mind about pie!!! 😀