Easy Black Bean and Pork Tacos

Dig into these easy tacos loaded with ground pork, black beans and finished with homemade pickled red onions.

Sponsored Post: We’ve teamed up with Farm Promise to bring you versatile recipes featuring their wholesome, delicious pork raised to not only sustain us, but the land too.
Dig into these easy tacos loaded with ground pork, black beans and finished with homemade pickled red onions.

“Ask me about my taco problem.” That’s what it says on the t-shirt at the very top of the laundry pile of t-shirts I wish I had. I’d have worn that shirt like five days a week these past two weeks if I had it. It’d be soft like a corn tortilla and would make me feel a little bit spicy and a little bit vulnerable, like I’m speaking my truth without trying too hard.

I’d tell you how many of these ground pork tacos with black beans we’ve eaten this week, purely because they’re so easy and good and easy to feel good about. But that could get awkward quickly. So instead I’ll tell you a little bit about the tacos themselves, and maybe you’ll try them. And who knows what might happen after that? Maybe YOU’LL be digging your taco t-shirt out of the laundry pile for the next two weeks. A girl can dream.

Get the Honest Cooking app — 50% off annual subscription

So here’s the deal. This is one of those recipes that’s been kicking around in my head in some nascent form for far too long. Over the course of about a year it went from, “Hmmm, interesting,” to “I should really do that,” to “OMG WHY do these tacos not exist in the world?” Sometimes that’s what it takes to carve out the time and space. Even for tacos. I know you know feel me on this one.

Anyway. When I learned that Farm Promise was looking for help spreading the word about their humanely raised pork from local family farms, I knew it was finally time.

As you probably know by now, I’m careful about sourcing the meat we eat. The upside is that I feel really good about our choices. The downside is that sometimes I can spend approximately 13 million dollars on a home-cooked dinner for four.

Farm Promise pork is raised with no antibiotics ever, without gestation crates, growth promotants, or hormones. Their pigs are raised on an all vegetarian diet on local family farms. A wide variety of products, from rib racks to ham steaks, is available at ShopRite. Not a single one of those items costs 13 million dollars. Which is nice. Their mission is to make better-for-you pork accessible and affordable. I am so on board with that.

All of that is why I’ve been psyched — like slap it on a t-shirt psyched — to let my family stuff their faces with tacos recently. (We made ham and pea risotto and a great pork loin, too.) Well, that and the fact that these tacos taste like they’ve slow-simmered all day, even though they’re ready in 20 minutes.

Be sure to top them with homemade pickled red onions.

That’s all for today. I’ll leave you to your tacos. Talk to you soon.

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

Easy Black Bean and Pork Tacos


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

  • Author: Carolyn Cope
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: Serves 6
  • Diet: Omnivore

Description

Flavorful pork and black bean tacos are easy to make and perfect for a weeknight dinner. Topped with cotija cheese and pickled onions for extra zing!


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 shallot (minced)
  • 4 garlic cloves (minced)
  • 1 lbs (454 g) Farm Promise ground pork
  • 1 15.5-ounce can (439 g can) black beans (rinsed and drained)
  • 1 10-ounce can (284 g can) diced tomatoes
  • 1 tsp fine sea salt
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 0.5 tsp sweet smoked paprika
  • 0.25 tsp dried oregano
  • 0.125 tsp ground cayenne
  • 12 taco-sized soft corn tortillas
  • 4 oz (113 g) Cotija cheese (crumbled)
  • Pickled Red Onions
  • 1 cup (237 ml) picked fresh cilantro leaves
  • Lime wedges

Instructions

  1. Warm the olive oil over medium-high heat in a 12-inch nonstick skillet.
  2. Add shallot and garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until beginning to soften, about a minute.
  3. Stir pork into the skillet, breaking it up with a spatula into small pieces, and continue cooking for a few minutes until lightly browned.
  4. Add beans, tomatoes (along with all their juices), salt, chili powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, and cayenne to the skillet and stir to combine.
  5. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for five minutes.
  6. Warm taco shells according to package directions.
  7. Fill each shell with some of the pork mixture.
  8. Top with Cotija, pickled onions, and cilantro.
  9. Serve with lime wedges.

Notes

  • For a richer flavor, use bone-in pork shoulder, cut into 1-inch cubes, and increase cooking time to 20-25 minutes or until fork-tender.
  • If you don’t have cotija cheese, a salty feta or queso fresco can be substituted.
  • To make these ahead, prepare the pork mixture up to 2 days in advance. Reheat gently before serving and warm the tortillas separately.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Stir-Frying
  • Cuisine: Mexican

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 2 tacos
  • Calories: 350
  • Sugar: 5
  • Sodium: 600
  • Fat: 20
  • Saturated Fat: 8
  • Unsaturated Fat: 10
  • Carbohydrates: 30
  • Fiber: 10
  • Protein: 25
  • Cholesterol: 70

 



Frequently Asked Questions

What type of pork should I use for these tacos?

You should use ground pork, preferably from a reputable source like Farm Promise for quality and flavor.

How do I make the homemade pickled red onions for the tacos?

To make the pickled red onions, slice red onions thinly and soak them in a mixture of vinegar, water, sugar, and salt for at least 30 minutes.

Can I substitute the black beans with another type of bean?

Yes, you can substitute black beans with pinto beans or kidney beans if you prefer, but black beans complement the pork nicely.

If You Liked This Recipe, You’ll Love These

Add a comment Add a comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

Previous Post

Sweet Potato Fries and Cilantro Yogurt Sauce

Next Post

The Thrill of TILL: A Smooth-Flavored Vodka and Signature Cocktails are Ideal for Spring