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Caramelized pork tacos with pineapple salsa and chili sauce on a plate

Caramelized Pork Tacos with Pineapple Salsa and Chili

Caramelized Pork Tacos combine tender pork with a glossy sweet-savory finish, fresh contrast, and a creamy chili topping. They are a quick, flavorful choice for an easy meal with plenty of texture and bold appeal.
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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. Raise the heat to high and add the pork and fish sauce. Stir-fry for a few minutes until the pork is no longer pink.
Cooking
  1. Add the sugar and water while the heat remains high, stir once, then leave the pork undisturbed for about 1 minute to begin caramelizing.
  2. Repeat the caramelizing process until the pork develops a golden brown color.
Assembly
  1. Combine the pineapple, cucumber, cilantro, chopped red onion or shallot, lime juice, and salt in a medium bowl and toss together.
  2. Warm the tortillas quickly in a skillet with a little oil.
  3. Arrange the pork between 6 tortillas and top with the salsa and chili sauce.

Notes

For the chili sauce, mix two parts mayo with one part hot sauce, adjusting the amount based on the heat level of the hot sauce. Whisk together or shake in a jar, adding water if needed to thin the consistency for serving. Store the pork, salsa, and sauce separately for leftovers.