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Caramelized pork tacos with pineapple salsa, cilantro, lime, and creamy chili sauce on a plate

Caramelized Pork Tacos with Pineapple Salsa Recipe

Caramelized pork tacos feature tender strips of pork with a sweet savory browned coating, fresh pineapple salsa, and creamy chili sauce. These easy tacos are a flavorful choice for quick weeknight meals or casual gatherings.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Mexican
Calories: 204
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Caramelized Pork
  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • 1 shallot, minced
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 jalapeño, diced with ribs and seeds removed
  • 2 teaspoons fish sauce
  • 18 oz / 510 g boneless pork loin, sliced into thin strips
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 tablespoons water
Pineapple Salsa
  • 1 cup chopped pineapple
  • 1 cup chopped cucumber
  • 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
  • 1/2 red onion or shallot, chopped
  • a squeeze of lime juice
  • a pinch of salt
Assembly
  • 8 tortillas
  • 1/4 cup cilantro
  • 1 lime, sliced into sections
  • chili sauce (1/4 cup mayo and 2 teaspoons hot sauce like sriracha)

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Heat the oil in a heavy pan over medium heat. Add the minced shallot, garlic, and jalapeño, then sauté for about 2 minutes until fragrant.
  2. Increase the heat to high and add the pork and fish sauce. Stir-fry for a few minutes until the pork is no longer pink.
  3. Add the sugar and water while the pan is very hot. Stir once, then leave the pork undisturbed for about 1 minute to develop a caramelized coating. Repeat this process until the pork is browned and caramelized.
Assembly
  1. Combine the pineapple, cucumber, cilantro, red onion or shallot, lime juice, and salt in a medium bowl and toss gently.
  2. Warm the tortillas briefly in a skillet with a little oil.
  3. Divide the pork between 6 tortillas and top with the pineapple salsa and chili sauce.

Notes

For the chili sauce, mix two parts mayonnaise with one part hot sauce, adjusting the amount to match the desired heat level. Whisk the mixture together or shake it in a jar, adding water if needed to create a thinner consistency. Store the pork, salsa, and sauce separately for leftovers.