Tacos de Chicharrón en Salsa Roja (Pork Crackling in Red Sauce Tacos)
Pork crackling simmered in red chilli sauce until soft and chewy, piled into corn tortillas with avocado.
Made with Red enchilada sauce and Corn tortillas from masa harina. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time30 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £1.86 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Heat the oil in a wide pan over a medium heat. Cook the onion and garlic for 4 minutes until soft. Add the tomatoes and cook for 3 minutes.
7 min - 2
Add your ready made red enchilada sauce (see the base recipe) and the water. Bring to a simmer.
- 3
Break the crackling into bite sized pieces and add to the pan. Simmer gently for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring now and then, until the crackling is soft and chewy and the sauce is thick. If it is too dry, add a splash of water.
12 min - 4
Warm your ready made corn tortillas (see the base recipe) in a dry pan for 30 seconds a side and keep them wrapped in a tea towel.
- 5
Spoon the chicharrón in salsa roja into the tortillas.
- 6
Top with sliced avocado and coriander and serve with lime wedges.
Tips
- Use plain unsalted crackling or scratchings. Salted ones make the dish too salty.
- Simmer long enough that the crackling softens through, but not so long that it dissolves.
- Taste before adding salt, as the sauce and crackling both carry some.
Storing and freezing
Best eaten straight away, as the crackling keeps softening. Leftovers keep in the fridge for 2 days and reheat until steaming hot all the way through.
Questions
What is chicharrón en salsa roja?
It is a Mexican home dish of fried pork skin simmered in red chilli sauce until soft, then served in tacos or gorditas. It is cheap, rich and full of flavour.
Where do I find pork crackling?
Many UK supermarkets sell plain pork scratchings or crackling bags. Choose unsalted if you can. Mexican shops sell chicharrón prensado.
More made with red enchilada sauce
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.