Tacos with Pork in Orange-Garlic Marinade Recipe
These tacos with juicy pork in a citrus marinade are cousins of the famous carnitas, but made faster and in a pan. In Mexico this kind of meat is often served at family gatherings when there’s no time for hours of braising. The sweet-tart aroma of orange and garlic pairs perfectly with simple toppings: onion, coriander and lime.
These tacos are a quicker, pan-made version of carnitas, where the pork soaks up sweet-tart orange, lime and garlic juices and then lightly caramelizes, forming a sticky, umami-rich glaze. Minimalist toppings – just onion, coriander and lime – highlight the flavor of the meat instead of covering it up, so every taco tastes like it came from a small taquería on a street corner in Mexico.
Chef's tips
Sear the meat in batches so the pieces have space in the pan – if you overcrowd it, the pork will start to stew and won’t brown nicely. While simmering, make sure the sauce reduces gradually: towards the end increase the heat and stir often until most of the liquid evaporates and lightly browned, sticky bits of sauce start to appear on the bottom. Warm the tortillas briefly, just until they’re soft and pliable – if you dry them out, they’ll crack when folded.
How to serve
Serve the tacos straight from the pan while the meat is still hot and the sauce clings to the tortillas; put bowls of chopped onion, coriander and lime wedges on the table so everyone can assemble their own taco. To drink, light beer, homemade orange sangria or sparkling water with citrus slices are great matches. It’s an ideal dish for a “taco Tuesday” evening with friends or a relaxed family get-together when, instead of a classic sit-down meal, you go for shared assembling and eating around the kitchen island.
Ingredients
- pork shoulder cut into thin strips or small cubes - 500 g
- orange juice preferably freshly squeezed - 150 ml
- lime juice freshly squeezed - 2 tablespoons
- garlic pressed or finely chopped - 4 cloves
- bay leaf dried - 2 pieces
- ground cumin for the marinade - 1 teaspoon
- dried oregano preferably Mexican, but regular is fine - 1 teaspoon
- chili powder or less, if you prefer it milder - 1 teaspoon
- vegetable oil for frying the meat - 2 tablespoons
- corn tortilla small, about 12 cm in diameter - 12 pieces
- white onion finely chopped for serving - 1 piece
- fresh coriander chopped leaves for sprinkling - 3 tablespoons
- lime cut into wedges for serving - 2 pieces
- salt to taste
Preparation
- Pour the orange juice and lime juice into a bowl, add the garlic, cumin, oregano, chili powder and 1 teaspoon of salt. Mix until the spices are combined.
- Add the chopped pork and mix thoroughly so every piece is coated in the marinade. Cover and set aside for at least 20 minutes at room temperature or up to 4 hours in the fridge.
- Heat the oil in a large, deep pan over medium-high heat. Remove the meat from the marinade (do not discard the marinade) and sear it in batches so the pieces brown rather than stew. Fry each batch for 4–5 minutes, until the meat is well browned. Transfer to a plate.
- When all the meat is seared, return it to the pan, pour in the remaining marinade and add the bay leaves. Reduce the heat to medium, cover and simmer for 20–25 minutes, until the sauce is well reduced and the meat is tender.
- Towards the end of cooking, uncover the pan and increase the heat. Stir frequently until most of the liquid evaporates and the meat starts to caramelize slightly in the thick, sticky sauce.
- Finely chop the onion and coriander. Cut the limes into wedges.
- Warm the tortillas in a dry pan for 20–30 seconds on each side, until they are soft and pliable.
- Place a portion of meat on each tortilla and sprinkle with onion and coriander. Serve immediately with lime wedges for squeezing over the top.
Storage
Store leftover meat in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 2–3 months. Reheat gently in a pan with a splash of water or orange juice until hot and slightly caramelized again. Warm fresh tortillas when serving leftovers so the tacos taste almost like freshly made.
