Coconut-Pineapple Pork & Black Bean Tacos

Turn ground pork and canned beans into quick and flavorful tacos

Tacos are a mainstay around our house and run a wide range of styles from healthy grilled veggie to crispy cheesy beef. I thought I'd tried nearly every kind of taco out there until I came across this recipe for coconut-pineapple pork and black bean tacos from Food52. Ground pork and beans cook with a blend of spices and then simmer in a mixture of coconut milk, pineapple, and lime juice. The tacos are a  blend of spicy, sweet, and tangy flavors and get an added kick from fresh herb and raw vegetable garnishes. The main ingredients of the dish, ground pork and canned beans, are very inexpensive and high in protein, making this a surprisingly inexpensive and healthy meal. I actually made a double recipe and used the leftovers in a burrito bowl with brown rice, which served as a bed for all the coconut-milky sauce (highly recommended).

Note: Because the pork is rather saucy, I recommend double stacking your tortillas to prevent them from getting soggy or falling apart.

More Taco Recipes:
- Grilled Cod Tacos with Citrus Slaw & Avocado Crema
- Flank Steak & Rajas Tacos
- Grilled Summer Vegetable Tacos
- Crispy Ground Beef Tacos


Coconut-Pineapple Pork & Black Bean Tacos:
 Ingredients
- 8-10 corn tortillas
- 1 lb. ground pork
- 1 can (15 oz.) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 onion, minced
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 avocado, thinly sliced
- 2/3 c. coconut milk
- 1/4 c. pineapple juice*
- 1 tbsp. lime juice
- 1 tbsp. coconut or canola oil
- 2 tsp. ground cumin
- 2 tsp. smoked paprika
- 1 tsp. dried oregano
- 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
- kosher salt
- black pepper
- fresh cilantro, crumbled cheese, thinly sliced radish (suggested garnishes)

Recipe

• Heat the oil over medium high heat in a large skillet and add the onion.
• Cook for 5 minutes, or until the onion is translucent, then add in the garlic and cook for another minute.
• Stir in the cumin, paprika, oregano, and cayenne and cook for another minute.
• Add in the pork and use a wooden spoon to break up the meat. Season with a big pinch of salt and pepper.
• Cook for another 5 minutes, or until the meat is brown. Don't stir too much or the meat won't brown and get good crispy bits.
• If there is a lot of rendered fat in the pan, drain some of it off (my pork was pretty lean so I didn't do this). Add in the coconut milk and lower the heat to a simmer for about 5 minutes, or until thickened.
• Add in the beans, pineapple juice, lime juice, and another pinch of salt. Cook for another few minutes then check for seasoning.
• Use a slotted spoon to divide the mixture into tortillas. Garnish with some avocado, cilantro, cheese, and radish.

Serves four-five

*This is a great use for those little cans of pineapple juice you might have in the back of your pantry.