In case you haven’t heard or looked at the calendar, this weekend is the celebrated holiday on this “North” side of the border, Cinco do Mayo. (Did you know it is celebrated more in the U.S. than down in Mexico?)
Before you start celebrating Cinco de Mayo this weekend, be sure to add this pulled pork recipe to your menu! This recipe uses fresh tomatillos, aka “Mexican tomatoes”. (The ll’s are silent, by the way.)
Tomatillo Pulled Pork Tacos are made with a very simple tomatillo sauce poured over some pulled pork and a bed of rice…inside of a crunchy tortilla shell. Now, how scrumptious does that sound?
First, I’m going to share with you how to make this tomatillo sauce…it can go on just about anything. It is even dip-able!
Start by dicing an onion, small green pepper and a jalapeno– with or without the seeds. (This is very mild without the seeds.) Cut the root off a whole bulb of garlic. Separate the garlic cloves and do not peel the garlic quite yet. Saute the diced onions, green pepper, jalapeno and the garlic in a skillet on medium-high heat with 3 tablespoons of butter.
Saute for about 5 to 7 minutes. You will notice the garlic peels are starting to slip off the cloves. This is how you are roasting the garlic without burning it. When all the peels are ready to slip off easily, set the pan aside. (And throw away the garlic peels.)
Take all the husk off the tomatillos. Put them into a pot with water and bring to a boil for 5 minutes. Take out of the hot water and put into a blender or food processor. (I used my Magic Bullet.)
Add a handful of (uncut) cilantro and your garlic/onion mixture to the tomatillos. Blend until everything is evenly incorporated.
Aqui está! (“Here you go”) Your Tomatillo Sauce is all finished! (Don’t worry, that’s the only Spanish word I’m using…I have no idea how to even speak the language!)
Next, it’s time to start assembling the tacos…
Line up your crispy corn tortilla shells in a baking dish. 1} Place cooked rice on the first layer in the shells. 2} Add shredded pork on top of the rice. 3} Pour the tomatillo sauce on the pulled pork. 4} Sprinkle on some of your favorite cheese. I love to use pepper jack cheese.
Put into a preheated 375 degrees oven for about 7 to 10 minutes. Or until all the cheese has melted and is heated all the way through. Before serving, garnish with the rest of cilantro and a slice of lime on each taco.
Enjoy my friends!
What are your plans for Cinco de Mayo? Also, if you enjoy Mexican cuisine (like I do!)…what is your favorite dish?
The Tomatillo Pulled Pork Tacos are linked up to party with: {I Gotta Create} & {Adorn From Above} & {Somewhat Simple} & {The Girl Creative} & {Designed Decor} & {Happy Hour Projects} & {Whipperberry} & {A Little Clairification} & {Tatertots and Jello}
- Tomatillo Sauce:
- 7-9 tomatillos, husked
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 small green pepper, diced
- 1 garlic bulb, cloves separated
- 1 bushel cilantro, whole (save a little for garnish)
- 1 medium sized jalapeno, seeded and diced
- salt and pepper to taste
- For the Tacos:
- 8 crispy corn tortillas
- 1 cup cooked rice
- 2 and ½ cups pulled pork, shredded
- 1 cup of your favorite cheese. (I used Pepper Jack)
- Garnish:
- 1 small lime, thinly sliced
- chopped cilantro from above
- Tomatillo Sauce:
- Heat a skillet pan on medium-high heat.
- Cut the root off a whole bulb of garlic.
- Separate the garlic cloves and do not peel the garlic quite yet.
- Saute the diced onions, green pepper, jalapeno and the garlic in a skillet on medium-high heat with 3 tablespoons of butter.
- Saute for about 5 to 7 minutes.
- You will notice the garlic peels are starting to slip off the cloves.
- When all the peels are ready to slip off easily, set the pan aside. (And throw away the garlic peels.)
- Put the already husked tomatillos into a pot of water.
- Boil for 5 minutes and then drain.
- Put tomatillos, a handful of (uncut) cilantro and garlic/onion mixture into a blender or food processor.
- Blend until everything is evenly incorporated.
- Tacos:
- Line the shells into a baking dish.
- Divide the cooked rice onto the bottoms of each shell.
- Add the shredded pork on top of the rice.
- Pour the tomatillo sauce on top of the pork.
- Sprinkle cheese.
- Put into oven a 375 degrees preheated oven for 7-10 minutes. Or until all the cheese has melted and warm all the way through.
- Garnish with the lime slices and the rest of the cilantro.
- Enjoy!
Gloria, yummy!!! Your photos are amazing and love the lime! Pinning and Happy May Day to you! 🙂
Cindy Eikenberg recently posted…No More Wardrobe Malfunctions!
You are too sweet, Cindy! I don’t really like the taste of limes as much as I do with lemons…but they sure do make Mexican food taste great with a bit of that twist…lime “twist”, that is! (=
mmmmmmmmmm These look so GOOD! I can’t wait to try them. I love tomitillo sauce but I’ve never made my own. I have to now Gloria!
Aubrey @ Real Housemoms recently posted…Easy Blender Salsa
It’s super easy…if you want the sauce a little thinner, just add a couple tablespoons at a time to the blender. Perfect for chili verde enchiladas!
I don’t use tomatillos nearly enough. Looks delicious Gloria!
Aimee @ ShugarySweets recently posted…Guacamole
Thanks Aimee! I’m actually surprised our little grocery market carries tomatillos. (=
I am cracking up right now. We celebrate cinco de mayo more than they do in Mexico? I guess I’m not surprised! We all love our mexican food. These look amazing, Gloria!
sally @ sallys baking addiction recently posted…Super Crumb Coffee Cake.
Yes we do love our mexican food, don’t we! Thanks Sally!! (=
Oh wow, these tacos look amazing! Perfect for Cinco de Mayo! Love your photos too. Great post!
Anne ~ Uni Homemaker recently posted…Banana Chocolate Chunk Mini Loaves
Thank you Anne! Hope you have a fun weekend!
Totally, totally amazing! Perfect for Cinco de Mayo or anytime really! Pinned!
Trish – Mom On Timeout recently posted…50+ Amazing Reese’s Recipes
Thanks Trish for the pin action! I could eat mexi food everyday and not get tired of it. Have a great weekend!
I love pulled pork (It’s one of my fav foods)! This recipe sounds soooo good!
Holly @ EatGreatBEGreat recently posted…Fresh is Best
I think that that’s why I’m always using pulled pork in everything…cz it’s my favorite, too! Although, this can easily be substituted with chicken, too. Thanks Holly for popping over!
Ok.. yum!!! These seriously look amazing! I love pulled pork, but have never had them in a taco before believe it or not. I am definitely going to give these a try and I love tomatillos {silent “ll’s”}. 🙂 Have a great weekend chica!
Short story: I was lolly-gaggin’ in a kitchen store one night and over heard a cooking class instructor saying the tomatillo word over and over pronouncing the ll’s! Me, the very out spoken person that I am…raised my hand (I wasn’t even in the class!) and helped him out. Hey, someone had to tell him! It reminds me of the word Gyro…hehe!
Are you going to be on the grill this weekend?
Gloria recently posted…Firehouse Habanero Skillet
haha… you crack me up. I’m pretty sure if we lived in the same state we would be friends. I thought for sure I would be on the grill this weekend but.. but alas.. I had a lazy moment… all weekend!!! So back to the grind on Monday. 🙂
Glad you had a relaxing weekend! The pic with your little man by the water is just too dang cute!
Thanks Gloria.. yeah he had a blast playing in the water! 🙂
Krista @ joyfulhealthyeats recently posted…Thai Chicken Pizza
Looks great…what time is dinner???
Jocelyn @BruCrew LIfe recently posted…Coconut Nutella Latte
Love having you come over to say such sweets words, Jocelyn! Happy Sunday to you!
Gloria recently posted…Firehouse Habanero Skillet
These tacos look AMAZING! ~Pinned~ and plan to make this week! Thanks for sharing!
xoxo
Thank you for the Pin action, Sharon! LMK what you think when you make these! I made the sauce yesterday for my in-laws…they loved it! But I used poached chicken breasts swimming in the tomatillo sauce inside flour tortillas. I love this sauce…can use it on a lot of things! (=
Gloria recently posted…Firehouse Habanero Skillet