• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Sidewalk Shoes
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Food Recipes Index
    • Cocktails Recipes Index
    • All Recipes
  • Lifestyle
    • Gardening
    • Travels
      • North Carolina
      • Oregon
      • Tennessee
  • Cats
  • Subscribe
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Food
  • Cocktails
  • Collections
  • Travels
  • Cats
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Main Dishes » Pork Recipes

    Shredded Pork Tacos with Pepita (Pumpkin Seed) Slaw

    LAST UPDATED: April 17, 2020 PUBLISHED: February 25, 2018 By Pam Greer 22 Comments As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    These shredded pork, pinto beans and an incredible Pepita (Pumpkin Seed) Slaw make these tacos our new favorite!  Tender shredded pork, seasoned beans, and the best pumpkin seed and cabbage slaw! 

    Shredded Pork Tacos with Pepita Slaw - pork, pinto beans, pumpkin seeds, and cabbage make an amazing taco!

    Shredded Pork Tacos with Pepita Slaw

    There is so much to love about these Shredded Pork and Pinto Tacos with Pepita Slaw from Cooking Light, I don't even know where to begin!    First of all a small amount of lean pork tenderloin is cooked in a seasoned broth along with some shallots.  

    When you remove the pork to cool, you reduce sauce a bit to concentrate the flavors, and shred the pork.  Next comes the genius part, you add the pork back to the broth with some pinto beans!  

    The pinto beans extend the pork and when you mash a few of them it makes for a thicker filling.

    Click here to pin these Shredded Pork Tacos with Pepita Slaw now! 

    Shredded Pork and Pinto Tacos with Pepita Slaw on a white plate

    Yogurt and avocado replace sour cream!

    While the pork cooks, you make a very simple slaw with cabbage and cilantro.  Toasted pumpkin seeds are added and really up the flavor!  

    My favorite part of the recipe is the combining of the yogurt with the avocado for a flavorful and healthy replacement for sour cream!  

    I love using plain yogurt and I always have it in my fridge because it can go savory or sweet depending on what you mix in it.

    Two Shredded Pork tacos with pepita slaw on a white plate.

    Use your gas burner to warm and char the tortillas!

    To serve, I simply held the tortillas over the flame on my gas burner.  Watch carefully because as it starts to wilt, it can get into the flames and catch on fire!  I had to blow out a few flames until I got the hang of it.  

    It makes for a nicely charred tortilla though!  I served these with a small bowl of brown rice with some lime juice and cilantro stirred in.  An easy weeknight meal!

    Looking for more tacos:

    • Shrimp Tacos with Mango and Black Bean Salsa
    • Chicken and Chorizo Tacos
    • Spicy Fish Tacos with Fennel Slaw
    • Fish Tacos with Wilted Cabbage 

    Recipe

    **As an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Print Pin Save Saved!
    5 from 3 votes

    Shredded Pork Tacos with Pepita Slaw

    The Pepita Slaw on top of these Shredded Pork Tacos adds such an incredible flavor and it's healthy too! 
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Mexican
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 35 minutes
    Total Time 45 minutes
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 426kcal

    Ingredients

    • ⅔ cup shallots sliced
    • ½ cup unsalted chicken stock
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt divided
    • ¾ teaspoon ground cumin divided
    • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
    • 8 ounces pork tenderloin trimmed and cut in half crosswise
    • 5 garlic cloves thinly sliced
    • 15 ounce canned pinto beans rinsed and drained
    • 1 ½ cups red cabbage thinly sliced
    • ¼ cup cilantro leaves coarsely chopped
    • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice divided
    • 1 teaspoon canola oil
    • 2 tablespoons pepitas toasted pumpkinseeds
    • ⅓ cup plain fat-free Greek yogurt
    • 1 ripe avocado peeled
    • 8 corn tortillas

    Instructions

    • In a small saucepan combine the shallots, stock, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon cumin, paprika, pork and garlic. Bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer for about 25 minutes. Check the pork, it might need a few more minutes of cooking if it's still too pink inside. Remove the pork to cool. Turn the heat back up to medium and let the sauce cook for about 8 minutes, or until it's reduced to 2 to 3 tablespoons. Shred the pork and return it and the beans back to the sauce. Smash a few of the beans to help thicken and bind the ingredients.
    • While the pork is cooking, make the slaw. Combine the cabbage, cilantro, 1 ½ tablespoons lime juice, oil, and a ¼ teaspoon of salt. Toss until combined and top with the pepitas.
    • Combine the yogurt, avocado, 1 ½ teaspoons lime juice, ¼ teaspoon cumin and ¼ teaspoon salt in a small bowl. Mash the avocado and mix until you get the desired consistency.
    • Heat the tortillas over a gas flame or in a hot dry cast iron skillet for about 20 seconds on each side. Divide the pork mixture between the tortillas, top with the yogurt mixture and slaw.

    Notes

    Using a mandoline will give you nice thin slices of cabbage. 

    Equipment

    Mandoline

    Nutrition

    Calories: 426kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 37mg | Sodium: 950mg | Potassium: 1018mg | Fiber: 12g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 635IU | Vitamin C: 28.5mg | Calcium: 149mg | Iron: 4.2mg

    More Delicious Pork Recipes

    • Easy 6 Ingredient Pork Rub
    • Pork Tenderloin with Mango Salsa
    • Instant Pot Asian Pork Noodle Soup
    • Thai Ground Pork and Green Beans

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Rebekah {mossandink} says

      March 05, 2018 at 1:52 pm

      The recipe sounds delicious and they look so beautiful with that pop of purple!

      Reply
    2. Miz Helen says

      March 04, 2018 at 4:15 pm

      5 stars
      I love these delicious Tacos! Thanks so much for sharing your awesome post with us at Full Plate Thursday. Have a great week and come back soon!
      Miz Helen

      Reply
    3. Carrie @ Curly Crafty Mom says

      March 03, 2018 at 12:17 pm

      These look so delicious and the slaw I bet adds such delicious flavor (and color!).

      Carrie
      curlycraftymom.com

      Reply
    4. Parrish Ritchie says

      March 01, 2018 at 6:52 pm

      5 stars
      These look amazing!! I have to try these!

      Reply
    5. Nellie says

      March 01, 2018 at 5:39 pm

      5 stars
      Mexican food is my favorite and this is a recipe that we will definitely be making again and again I'm sure! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    6. Miz Helen says

      February 20, 2017 at 12:28 pm

      Congratulations!
      Your recipe is featured on Full Plate Thursday! Hope you enjoy your new Red Plate and a great week. Thanks so much for sharing with us and come back real soon!
      Miz Helen

      Reply
    7. April J Harris says

      February 14, 2017 at 9:52 am

      Shared everywhere, Pam, including the Hearth and Soul Facebook page. Love this healthier version of Shredded Pork Tacos and the Pepita Slaw looks delicious. Thank you for sharing with us at Hearth and Soul.

      Reply
    8. Chris says

      February 08, 2017 at 7:49 pm

      Pinned and stumbled, because this is perfect for all of that pulled pork we have in the freezer. Great photography!

      Reply
    9. Ann says

      February 03, 2017 at 4:06 am

      Yep, this will do nicely for an easy weekend dinner with temps to hit 40 plus degC here.

      Reply
    10. Miz Helen says

      February 08, 2016 at 12:14 pm

      These look beautiful we will love them. Thank you so much for sharing with us for our 5th Anniversary of Full Plate Thursday! Hope you have a fantastic week and hope to see you again real soon!
      Miz Helen

      Reply
    11. swathi says

      February 07, 2016 at 8:19 pm

      That is delicious gorgeous dish Pam, thanks for sharing with Hearth and soul blog hop, pinning.

      Reply
    12. Joy @ Joy Love Food says

      February 05, 2016 at 7:20 pm

      Yum, I love pork tacos, these sound delicious and are so pretty with that purple cabbage on top! Thanks for sharing at What'd You Do This Weekend?!

      Reply
    13. Lou Lou Girls says

      February 03, 2016 at 2:24 pm

      Yum! I'm drooling right now! Pinned and tweeted! Thank you so much for sharing this with us at our linky party. We hope to see you next Monday @ 7 because we can't wait to see your new creations! Happy Wednesday! Lou Lou Girls

      Reply
    14. Shelley @ Two Healthy Kitchens says

      February 03, 2016 at 8:36 am

      I'm a big Cooking Light fan, too, but somehow I missed this recipe! So glad to find it here - it's just gorgeous, and filled with so many wonderful flavors! Simple, healthy and delicious ... my kind of meal! (And lovely photos, too! 😀 )

      Reply
    15. Annie @ Annie's Noms says

      February 03, 2016 at 3:23 am

      These look so pretty as well as delicious! Loving that slaw too, so colourful!

      Reply
    16. April says

      February 02, 2016 at 8:40 pm

      What a beautiful colorful plate. I would love to have that right now only with chicken because I don't eat pork.

      Reply
    17. Kylee @ Kylee Cooks says

      February 02, 2016 at 11:51 am

      What GORGEOUS color on those tacos!
      Might be one to try for Taco Tuesdays over at my place!

      Reply
    18. Amanda @ The Kolb Corner says

      February 01, 2016 at 8:31 pm

      Looks delicious! Pinned. Thank you for sharing at Merry Monday

      Reply
    19. Liz says

      February 01, 2016 at 11:39 am

      Yum - thank you.

      Reply
    20. ann says

      February 01, 2016 at 3:35 am

      Drats! I just finished up the red cabbage on the weekend. Not sure about the beans but would love to give this a try.

      Reply
    21. Erin - Suburban Simplicity says

      January 31, 2016 at 9:47 pm

      Looks like a tasty dinner! I love pork and the addition of yogurt and toasted pumpkin seeds sound like a winner. MMMmmm.

      Reply
    22. Kristina & Millie says

      January 31, 2016 at 7:53 pm

      these pork tacos look so delish and simple to make. These will give a new twist to taco night and go down well too! Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Pam Greer from Sidewalk Shoes

    Hi, I'm Pam. I'm the person who plans whole vacations around where to eat and drink. Beautiful scenery is optional.

    More about me →

    Featured in:

    Collage of website titles

    Click here to subscribe to my newsletter.

    Slow Cooker Recipes!

    • Slow Cooker Beef and Sweet Potato Chili
    • Slow Cooker Pinto Beans with Beef and Bacon
    • Slow Cooker Vegetarian Lasagna
    • Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Casserole

    See more More Slow Cooker Recipes →

    Instant Pot Recipes

    • Instant Pot Pineapple Rice
    • Instant Pot Green Beans with Bacon and Mushrooms
    • Instant Pot Pumpkin Pie Steel Cut Oats
    • Instant Pot Sausage, Potatoes and Cabbage

    See more Instant Pot Recipes →

    Sidewalk Shoes is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • About Me
    • Contact me!

    Copyright © 2022 Sidewalk Shoes