Pork Carnitas Tacos with Pickled Onion and Monterey Jack Cheese

(from castro15’s recipe box)

Categories: Mexican

Ingredients

  • 1 Red Onion
  • 1 Poblano Pepper
  • 1/2 ounce Cilantro
  • 2 Roma Tomato
  • 1 Lime
  • 5 teaspoon White Wine Vinegar
  • 20 ounce Ground Pork
  • 1 tablespoon Fajita Spice Blend
  • 2 tablespoon Tomato Paste
  • 1 Chicken Stock Concentrate
  • 4 tablespoon Sour Cream
  • 1 teaspoon Chipotle Powder
  • 12 Flour Tortillas
  • 1/2 cup Monterey Jack Cheese
  • 4 teaspoon Sugar
  • 4 teaspoon Olive Oil
  • Salt
  • Pepper

Directions

  1. Wash and dry all produce. Halve and peel onion. Finely chop one half; very thinly slice other half from pole to pole. Core, seed, and dice poblano into ½-inch squares. Roughly chop cilantro. Core and dice tomato. Halve lime. Cut one half into wedges.

  2. Place sliced onion, vinegar, 2 tsp sugar, ½ tsp salt, and 1 TBSP water in a medium bowl. Toss until sugar and salt are mostly dissolved. Set aside, tossing from time to time.

  3. Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add pork, breaking up meat into pieces. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, tossing, until browned, 4-5 minutes. Transfer to a plate and set aside.

  4. Heat another drizzle of olive oil in same pan over medium-high heat. Add chopped onion and poblano. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, tossing, until softened, 3-4 minutes. Add pork to pan along with 2 TBSP water, fajita spice, 1 TBSP tomato paste (we sent more), and stock concentrate. Scrape up any browned bits on bottom. Cook, stirring, until thick and saucy, 2-3 minutes.

  5. Combine sour cream, a squeeze of lime juice, and a pinch of chipotle powder (use more or less to taste) in a small bowl. Stir in enough water to give mixture a drizzly consistency, 1-2 tsp. Season with salt and pepper. Wrap tortillas in a damp paper towel and microwave on high until warm, about 30 seconds.

  6. Divide filling, tomato, cheese, cilantro, pickled onion, and crema between tortillas. (TIP: You can put everything in individual serving bowls and let everyone assemble their own tacos.) Serve with lime wedges on the side for squeezing over.

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