When I was a kid I would get kiwis in my lunch to take to school. My mom would cut them in half for me, pack me a spoon and then when it was lunch time I would scoop out all of the kiwi goodness. I’ve always been familiar with the cut and scoop method of eating a kiwi, but when I was offered the opportunity to partner with Zespri Kiwifruit using the SunGold Kiwi, I was excited to incorporate this awesome little fruit into a couple different recipes! 

Unlike the green kiwi I am sure you are used to buying, the SunGold kiwi is more on the yellow side and tastes like a cross between a mango and strawberry. It also has a smoother, fuzz-free skin and is a great source of vitamin C, E, potassium and fibre. These little gems can be found in your supermarket between May and October, and I highly recommend trying them out! 

Grilled Pork Tenderloin with SunGold Kiwi Honey Sauce

Opportunities are endless when wanting to work with the kiwifruit. Of course there are your classic kiwi and strawberry combinations, which I am using below to make a Kiwi Strawberry Gin Fizz. But I also wanted to experiment with the savoury side of things, which brings me to a grilled pork tenderloin with a kiwi honey sauce. I have to mention that my husband said this is now his favourite sauce to have with pork! Move over apples!! Hello SunGold kiwi honey sauce!! 

To ensure the kiwi honey sauce is the star of this dish, I am only seasoning my pork loin with salt and pepper. 

Place the seasoned pork loin on a preheated grill and let grill on medium heat, flipping occasionally, until juices run clear, about 30 minutes. 

Meanwhile get the kiwi honey sauce going. In a saucepan add in onion with 1 tsp oil and soften. Add in kiwi, vinegar, honey, salt and pepper and let simmer on low heat until everything is soft and the sauce thickens, about 10 to 15 minutes.  

Slice the grilled pork tenderloin and drizzle kiwi honey sauce over. Enjoy with your favourite salad or side dish. 

Kiwi Shrub, Strawberry Simple Syrup, Vodka Cocktail

The best way I know to accompany a good meal like the grilled pork tenderloin is to wash it down with a refreshing cocktail.

There are a few parts to this cocktail, making it a bit of work, but I promise you that if you put in the effort, it’s worth the reward.  

Starting the night before, start the kiwi shrub. A shrub is a concentrated syrup made from fruit, sugar and vinegar. Apparently the vinegar that comes in the shrub is incredibly good at quenching thirst, which makes it a perfect addition to a cocktail. A word of caution though, as like simple syrups, making shrubs can be incredibly addicting. Now that I have made a shrub, and have tried it in a cocktail, I want to make shrubs out of anything I can! I already have a couple simple syrups posted on Chews and Brews, the sage simple syrup and cinnamon simple syrup; and I already have a couple other shrubs ready to share with all of you in the next few months. 

Okay, back to making the shrub. Cut the Zespri SunGold kiwi into quarters, leaving skin on and place them in a bowl with the sugar. Mix well, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight letting the kiwi macerate for a day.

The next day, put the kiwi and sugar mixture into a strainer over a second bowl and let strain. Add vinegar over top the mixture continue to strain. Mix the vinegar and kiwi sugar well, ensuring all of the sugar is dissolved.

Pour kiwi shrub into a mason jar and refrigerate until use.

Anytime you are ready, you can make the strawberry simple syrup as it only takes about 20 minutes and keeps in the fridge.

In a small sauce pan bring water and sugar to a boil until sugar is dissolved. Add in the chopped strawberries and bring back to a boil. Let the mixture boil for about 10 minutes and then set aside to cool. Once cooled, strain into a container and keep in the fridge until ready to use.  

Now that you have your shrub and simple syrup, it’s time to make the cocktail! In a tumbler glass, mix together 1.5 ounces kiwi shrub, 1 ounce strawberry simple syrup and 1.5 ounces of vodka. Add in ice cubes and stir well. Top with club soda, stir, garnish with a sliced strawberry and kiwi slices and enjoy! 

What’s your favourite way to eat a kiwi?! 

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Zespri Kiwifruit who compensated me for my time and provided me with the Sungold Kiwifruit. Watch for Zespri SunGold Kiwifruit at your local supermarket from May to October.