Authentic Street-Style Tacos with Spicy Pork and Cilantro-Lime Slaw
Tender slow-braised pork shoulder meets a zesty cilantro-lime slaw, wrapped in warm corn tortillas for a flavor-packed street food experience. This mexican-inspired mexican (vegetarian-friendly) ready in about 90 minutes pairs pork shoulder, corn tortillas, chopped cilantro for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 500g pork shoulder
- 8 corn tortillas
- 1 cup chopped cilantro
- 2 juiced limes
- 1/2 finely diced red onion
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp lime zest
- to taste salt
Instructions
- Step 1: Season pork shoulder with 1 tsp cumin, 1 tbsp chili powder, and salt. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat, add pork, and sear on all sides until golden (about 5 minutes). Add 1/2 cup water, cover, and simmer for 1 hour until tender.
- Step 2: Meanwhile, whisk lime juice, lime zest, 1 tbsp olive oil, and salt in a bowl. Add chopped cilantro, red onion, and 1/4 cup water; refrigerate for 30 minutes to chill.
- Step 3: Warm tortillas in a dry skillet over medium heat. Fill each with 1/2 cup pork, top with 2 tbsp slaw, and serve immediately with extra lime wedges.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Authentic Street-Style Tacos with Spicy Pork and Cilantro-Lime Slaw take to make?
Total time is about 90 minutes (20 min prep + 70 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Authentic Street-Style Tacos with Spicy Pork and Cilantro-Lime Slaw?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep pork shoulder from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Authentic Street-Style Tacos with Spicy Pork and Cilantro-Lime Slaw?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Authentic Street-Style Tacos with Spicy Pork and Cilantro-Lime Slaw for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
Is Authentic Street-Style Tacos with Spicy Pork and Cilantro-Lime Slaw vegetarian-friendly?
Yes — this recipe is tagged vegetarian-friendly based on its ingredient list. Always cross-check labels for packaged ingredients (sauces, broths, condiments) since formulations vary by brand.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
The aroma while cooking this was absolutely heavenly.
- ★★★★★
Used half the salt and it was still plenty flavorful.
- ★★★★★
I've tried many mexican recipes and this is hands down the best.
