Jul 13 2026
RestaurantsMama Lu's - A Modern Day Taco Shop12 Hour Pork Belly Taco Recipe

12 Hour Pork Belly Taco Recipe

Time12h
Serves6

12 hour pork belly, ancho gastrique, cilantro

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Ingredients

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Pork Belly

Ancho Gastrique

Toppings

Method

Preparing the Pork Belly

  1. 1

    Season the Pork Belly

    Rub the pork belly with salt, black pepper, and olive oil. Make sure to cover all sides evenly.

  2. 2

    Add Aromatics

    Place the pork belly in a roasting pan and add crushed garlic cloves and fresh thyme around it.

  3. 3

    Slow Roast

    Cover the pan with foil and place it in a preheated oven at 225°F (107°C) for 12 hours, or until the pork is tender.

  4. 4

    Rest and Slice

    Once cooked, remove the pork belly from the oven and let it rest for 30 minutes before slicing into bite-sized pieces.

Making the Ancho Gastrique

  1. 5

    Prepare Ancho Chilies

    Remove stems and seeds from the dried ancho chilies and soak them in hot water for 20 minutes.

  2. 6

    Blend the Gastrique

    In a blender, combine the soaked chilies, sugar, apple cider vinegar, water, and salt. Blend until smooth.

  3. 7

    Cook the Gastrique

    Transfer the mixture to a saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook for about 15 minutes until slightly thickened.

  4. 8

    Cool and Store

    Allow the gastrique to cool before serving or storing in the refrigerator.

Assembling the Tacos

  1. 9

    Warm the Tortillas

    Heat the corn tortillas on a skillet for about 30 seconds on each side until warm and pliable.

  2. 10

    Build the Tacos

    Place a portion of the sliced pork belly on each warm tortilla, drizzle with ancho gastrique, and add chopped fresh cilantro.

  3. 11

    Serve

    Serve the tacos with lime wedges on the side for added flavor.

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