Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Cilantro Pork Tacos

This is a recipe from (who else?) my friend, Sara.  It's a great one to have for company because it makes a lot, and with the meat in the crockpot and the dressing waiting in the fridge, you can come back from an expedition of some kind and have dinner on the table in less than 15 minutes.

Cilantro Pork Tacos
corn tortillas
Sweet Pork (recipe below)
Cilantro Slaw (recipe below)
2 lg. cans black beans, warmed (optional, but I'm just learning to like beans, and this is a great way to have them)
8 oz. cheddar or pepperjack cheese, grated (optional--I like it better without cheese, but my kids like it with the cheese)

Warm the tortillas on a large griddle.  Have each person compose their own taco from the ingredients.

Sweet Pork
4-5 lb. pork roast (I used boneless loin, because I like how lean it is, but you can use anything)
1 19-oz. can enchilada sauce (mild, medium, or green, whatever you fancy)
1 20-oz. bottle Dr. Pepper (I've tasted it with Dr. P, and it's good, but I have used a 12-oz. can of Sprite or 1 cup of orange juice, both to good effect.  You just need something with acid and sugar to tenderize the meat.)
2 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. garlic powder
1-1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 onion, chopped
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
Combine everything in the crockpot and cook.  I split it between two little crockpots and it's done on high in 2-3 hours or low for about 6 hours.  Remove the pork, shred it, and add it back into the sauce.

Cilantro Slaw
1 package coleslaw shreds (or shred your own head of cabbage)
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup fresh cilantro
3 cloves fresh garlic
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tbsp. lime juice (I used the juice of 2 limes)
1/2 tsp. cumin

Put all ingredients except the cabbage in the blender and blend until smooth.  Store in the refrigerator until just before dinnertime.  Put cabbage in a big bowl and add enough dressing to make everything moist and delicious.