A good taco doesn't need more than three or four ingredients to knock your socks off. Start with tender, flavorful meat, add a few well-chosen toppings and maybe a cold beer and you're done. Cielo.
Earlier this week we talked about the pork on sale at Costco. {We also gave away $50 in Costco Cash...congrats Jessie C!} I may have mentioned that I bought a gorgeous pork roast for not much more than the cost of a burger in a diner. And so...I made pork tacos.
The first step was braising the meat. There aren't many steps to braising but you do need a good 3-4 hours to let the meat get fall-apart tender. Put a large dutch oven over a high heat, add some oil and, once it starts smoking, put in the meat, then leave it alone. You want it to get nice and browned - this is what adds flavor to the roast and will make your tacos very, very tasty.
Toss in some onions, garlic & a couple of seasonings, add some beer, chicken stock & chipotle peppers and put the whole thing in the oven. Let it do it's thing for 3 hours or so...and when you pull it out of the oven you'll have the most tender pork you've ever had. And it'll taste like you just landed in Mexico. And your house will smell like it, too!
I love cooking with PORK. It's the other white meat, after all {wasn't that the most clever marketing campaign ever?}. But seriously, it's good for you and so versatile. I love cooking a crown roast for the holidays - so gorgeous!
But it's not the holidays yet - thank goodness. {Man, they'll be here before we know it!} So for now, I leave you with these yummy pork tacos. Crown roast post coming in approximately 10 weeks 🙂
Check out our huge list of ideas for taco toppings - you can never have too many!
Shredded Pork Tacos with Avocado, Quick Pickled Onions and Queso Fresco
To pickle red onions: Mix together ½ cup cider vinegar, 1 T sugar and 1 t kosher salt. Pour over a thinly sliced red onion and soak at room temperature for at least one hour. Recipe adapted from Michael Symon.
Ingredients
- 4 lb. pork roast
- 3 T olive oil
- kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper
- 1 onion sliced
- 3 garlic cloves, whole
- 1 t ground cumin
- ½ t ground coriander
- 2 whole chipotle peppers in adobo
- 1 bottle light mexican beer
- 4-6 cups chicken stock
- corn tortillas
- pickled red onions
- cilantro
- queso fresco, crumbled
- avocado slices
- lime wedges
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300F.
- Season the pork generously on all sides with salt and pepper.
- In a large dutch oven over high heat, heat oil until smoking and sear the pork on all sides. Remove from pan, reduce heat to medium and add the onions, garlic, coriander, cumin and a pinch of salt and cook until the onions have softened, about 3 minutes.
- Deglaze the pan by pouring in the beer, add the chipotle peppers, place the butt back into the dutch oven, and then bring it to boil.
- Add the chicken stock to pan to come ½ - ¾ the way up the pork.
- Bring the stock to a boil, then cover with lid and place into hot oven.
- Braise the pork for about 3 ½ hours, or until fork tender.
- Using two forks, shred the meat.
- Warm the tortillas and arrange accompaniments in bowls. Build tacos as desired. Serve with lime wedges.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 731Total Fat: 47gSaturated Fat: 16gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 27gCholesterol: 158mgSodium: 914mgCarbohydrates: 23gFiber: 2gSugar: 9gProtein: 50g
This data was provided and calculated by Nutritionix.
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@addalittlefood says
Tacos ❤ “@thewickednoodle: Shredded Pork Tacos w Guacamole & Quick Pickled Onions
http://t.co/NteTh4TNnG #recipe http://t.co/ep0RPquQjG”
@passthepocky says
Nice! RT @thewickednoodle Shredded Pork Tacos w/Guac & Pickled Onions
http://t.co/Og9WPK2uWe #recipe #mexican #food http://t.co/csBdg7u1ak
@thewickednoodle says
Shredded Pork Tacos with Guacamole & Quick Pickled Onions
http://t.co/Y1pKhslbqJ #recipe #mexican #food http://t.co/fICnOMrlQZ
Jen Laceda | Tartine and Apron Strings says
I love how this dish comes together. Hurray for easy braising techniques as well! I like that..."put in the meat and leave it alone!" Works for me!
the wicked noodle says
Thanks Jen!
Daniela says
Looks like a wonderful hearty and tasty Tacco to me.
If I look at your pictures I can nearly smell the pork roasting in the oven with all this aromatic spices.
the wicked noodle says
Wow, thanks Daniela!
Olivia Stanfield says
I am so glad you reposted this recipe, I made it months ago for a girls night and everyone loved it. Fresh, tasty and no hassle, my favorite kind of food!!
the wicked noodle says
That's great, Olivia! Thanks for letting me know!
Valerie says
Thank you for making something from someplace that's warm, and exotic! (So many autumn-themed recipes floating around. Everywhere.) When I'm married (someday), I will have a lover and we will meet in Mexico, and he will make me these tacos.
the wicked noodle says
I hear you! I hadn't even thought of that but, you're right, there's pumpkin everywhere! Which makes sense, of course (and the link to your pumpkin cinnamon rolls has me drooling), but it does get tiring if you follow a ton of food blogs. And pinterest. And everywhere else 🙂
Anuradha @ Baker Street says
These would be such a hit with my family. Pork + taco - you have yourself a winner here.
the wicked noodle says
Thanks, Anuradha!
Chris @ Family Meal Ideas says
Oh I simply must try thewickednoodle secret. That recipe looks very delicious and perfectly amazing! 🙂
the wicked noodle says
Thanks so much, Chris!
kitchenriffs says
Nice, simple recipe! I love it. Proof that less really is more. Pork is so versatile - you can do all sorts of things with it that don't work as well with beef. This recipe showcases pork so well. Thanks for this.
the wicked noodle says
Thanks, KR 🙂
Molly @ Toffee Bits and Chocolate Chips says
I could eat tacos every meal of the day. yumm! Always looking for a new good taco recipe!
the wicked noodle says
You & me both, Molly!
Smitten Foodie says
You had me at pickled onions....Yum! These sound amazing and perfect for a lazy Sunday =)
Take care
Connie
the wicked noodle says
Thanks Connie!
Jen @ Savory Simple says
Oh my goodness this looks incredible. Totally making this for dinner asap!
the wicked noodle says
Thanks Jen! Let me know how it turns out!
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says
These look SO good. You're right about braising -- it takes a long time but really worth the time so the meat just pulls apart with two forks.
the wicked noodle says
Thanks Maureen!
Amy says
Yep. I made the pork loin, then I made pulled pork, and last night I made my baby back ribs on the grill. Love, love, love PORK...amen.
the wicked noodle says
mmmmm...baby back ribs on the grill sound so good right now! We need to be neighbors so we can share.
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
These tacos look fab! Just what I want for dinner tonight :).
the wicked noodle says
Thanks Laura 🙂
Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
Any left because I'm coming for dinner 🙂 I love cooking with pork too and tacos are a favorite here. Xoxo
the wicked noodle says
YAY!! I'd love to have you over for dinner!