Pork tacos
Mexican · Taco · 30 min · Serves 4
Tender, seasoned pork that falls apart in soft tortillas—this is the kind of taco that keeps everyone coming back for seconds. It's simple enough for a weeknight but impressive enough to serve to guests, and the slow-cooked meat tastes even better the next day.
Ingredients
- 2 lbspork shoulder
- 2 tbspolive oil
- 1onion
- 6garlic cloves
- 2 tspcumin
- 1 tsporegano
- 1 tbspchili powder
- 2 tbsplime juice
- 1 tspsalt
- 0.5 tspblack pepper
- 12corn or flour tortillas
- 0.25 cupfresh cilantro
Method
- 1
Cut the pork shoulder into 2-inch chunks, trimming off excess fat. Mince the garlic and onion.
- 2
Heat oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Working in batches, brown the pork on all sides until golden, about 3–4 minutes per batch. Set aside.
10 min
- 3
In the same pot, sauté the onion until soft, about 3 minutes. Add garlic, cumin, oregano, and chili powder, stirring constantly for 1 minute until fragrant.
4 min
- 4
Return the pork to the pot and add just enough water to cover it halfway (about 1 cup). Stir in lime juice and salt. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 2 to 2.5 hours until the pork shreds easily with a fork.
2 hr
- 5
Using two forks, shred the pork right in the pot. Simmer uncovered for another 10 minutes to reduce the liquid slightly and let the meat absorb the flavors.
10 min
- 6
Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. Warm the tortillas in a dry skillet or directly over a flame for a few seconds each.
2 min
- 7
Serve the pork in warm tortillas, topped with fresh cilantro and your favorite sides—lime wedges, diced onion, salsa, or avocado all work beautifully.