These Spicy Korean Pork Tacos are quick, easy and full of flavour. Uses just one, always tender pork tenderloin, cut into strips and cooked with a Korean inspired sauce.
Why you’ll love these spicy pork tacos
- These Spicy Pork Tacos are ready in a flash and are just the thing for a quick, but flavourful meal. They’re a fusion of Asian flavours and toppings that are a little different from the usual, all served up in with warm, soft flour tortillas.
- And it all starts with just one pork tenderloin. No need to marinate for hours (though you can if you want). Simply slice, set in the spicy sauce for a few minutes while you prepare your toppings, then quickly saute in a skillet over high heat.
- I love to make a spicy sauce to go along with these tacos. I’ve included a nice and spicy gochujang based sweet and spicy sauce here, but any spicy sauce works here, such as Sriracha, Sambal Oelek or Asian Chili Garlic Sauce.
Cook’s Notes
- Gochujang is a Korean red pepper paste that hasn’t quite broken into the mainstream grocery stores yet (at least not here :). Look for it in Asian grocers or you can find it easily online. It keeps a long time in the fridge and is indispensable if you like to make Korean food at home.
- Feel free to get creative with your toppings and use whatever is in your fridge. I used quick pickled onions, cucumbers, sliced jalapenos, green onion and cilantro here. Some spiralized carrots or other veg would also be nice.
- If you want to make this dish super fast, skip the pickling of the onions and just use thinly sliced red onion instead. You can also skip making the gochujang sauce and grab the Sriracha or Asian Chili Garlic Sauce/Samal Oelek to spoon on the tacos.
- Use your largest skillet to cook the pork, so that the meat has a little room to cook and so the liquid can evaporate quickly so the meat can brown and not steam. If necessary or if doubling the recipe, cook the pork in two batches.
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These Spicy Korean Pork Tacos are quick, easy and full of flavour. Uses just one, always tender pork tenderloin, cut into strips and cooked with a Korean inspired sauce.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lb. pork tenderloin, fat and silver skin removed
- 8 small flour tortillas
Quick Pickled Red Onions (Optional, or just use thinly sliced red onion):
- 1/2 large red onion, cut in 1/8-in. rounds then separated into rings
- 1/3 cup white vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 clove garlic, halved
Spicy Pork Marinade:
- 3 Tablespoons sambal oelek, or Asian Chili Garlic Sauce
- 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced, or ginger paste
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2 Tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 teaspoon sesame oil
Korean Gochujang Sauce (optional, or just use Sriracha, Asian Chili Garlic Sauce or Sambal Oelek):
- 2 Tablespoons gochujang, *see Note 1 below
- 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic, minced
- 2 Tablespoons white vinegar
- 1 teaspon sesame seeds
Toppings:
- Thinly sliced cucumbers
- Thinly sliced jalapeno pepper
- Chopped fresh cilantro
- Diced green onions
- Lime wedges, for drizzling
Instructions
- Make the Quick Pickled Red Onions: In a medium saucepan on the stovetop, boiL the vinegar with the sugar, salt and garlic until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and add onion rings. Push onion down into liquid so it is mostly covered and let stand for at least 30 min. To store longer, cover and refrigerate. Can be refrigerated up to 1 week.
- Prepare the pork: Thinly slice the pork tenderloin and place into a medium bowl.
- Prepare the Spicy Pork Marinade: In a small bowl, whisk together the sauce ingredients. Pour over the sliced pork and toss to combine. Let stand on the counter while you prepare the toppings and sauce, if using, or if making ahead, cover and refrigerate.
- Preheat oven to 350F, to warm the tortillas.
- Prepare the toppings: Slice and chop the topping ingredients and set aside.
- Prepare the Gochujang Sauce: Combine all the Gochujang sauce ingredients in a small bowl and stir to combine. Set aside.
- Wrap the tortillas in aluminum foil and pop into the oven to warm for 7-8 minutes, while you cook the pork.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the marinated pork (with marinade) and spread into a thin layer. Let cook, undisturbed, until pork starts to brown, then stir and continue cooking, stirring, until pork is cooked through. Remove pork to a serving platter. Arrange the toppings in sections on the platter and place the small bowl of the gochujang sauce on the platter as well. Serve with warmed tortillas.
Notes
Note 1: Gochujang is a Korean red pepper paste that hasn't quite broken into the mainstream grocery stores yet (at least not here :). Look for it in Asian grocers or you can find it easily online. It keeps a long time in the fridge and is indispensable if you like to make Korean food at home.
Serving: 1serving, Calories: 321kcal, Carbohydrates: 31g, Protein: 28g, Fat: 9g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 0.04g, Cholesterol: 74mg, Sodium: 818mg, Potassium: 575mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 10g, Vitamin A: 24IU, Vitamin C: 7mg, Calcium: 82mg, Iron: 3mg
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Hi! I’m Jennifer, a home cook schooled by trial and error and almost 40 years of getting dinner on the table! I love to share my favourite recipes, both old and new, together with lots of tips and tricks to hopefully help make your home cooking enjoyable, stress free, rewarding and of course, delicious!
made this for dinner tonight! Flavour explosion! Even the kids came back for seconds! A must try, you won’t be disapointed!
So glad to hear, Rachel :) Always good when the kids enjoy as much, too! Thanks!
You can never go wrong when a recipe starts with pork tenderloin! This looks awesome!!
Thanks so much, Annie :)
This looks super delish, Jennifer! And that marinade with chili paste and sesame? Ain’t no going wrong there!!
Thanks Dawn!
Thank you so much!! Cant wait to make this
Thanks Danielle :)
There you are with another fantastic sauce recipe! These tacos look amazing, plain and simple. So much flavor and color – a must make at my house! Pinned :)
Thanks Tricia! Have a great weekend :)
Such a great idea to use a pork tenderloin Jennifer. I make a pork tenderloin every week. I’ll need to add these tacos to our menu for sure. Love that sauce!
Thanks so much, Mary Ann. It’s a nice easy way to enjoy pork tenderloin :)
I love everthing you make, Jennifer but this is over the top amazing! I wish, wish, wish it was my dinner tonight/1
Thanks so much, Chris :)
These look amazing and I just happen to have a container of Gochujang in my fridge. One quick question, when you say slice the tenderloin thin I assume you mean super thin almost like paper. Just trying to tell from the look in the picture and you do not say to turn the pork while cooking. Thanks!
Love all of your recipes!
Hi Danielle and yes, as thin as you can cut it. I’m usually starting with a frozen pork tenderloin, so I slice it when it is still a little frozen. Much easier to cut it thin. Regarding turning the pork, after it sits undisturbed to brown, you just sort of stir it up to finish. It kind of breaks apart a bit, so it’s more of a stir, than a flip :) Enjoy!