This post has been sponsored by Lucky Foods. All opinions expressed are my own. #eatluckyfoods #luckyfoodsrecipechallenge

We're giving the tacos you love an extra kick of heat with some East Asian flare. This is fusion food at its finest.

There are two types of people in the world- those who live to eat and those who eat to live. I don't need to tell you which category I fall under.

One of the greatest chefs of our time, Anthony Bourdain (may God rest his soul), once said, "Cooking is a craft, I like to think, and a good cook is a craftsman- not an artist. There's nothing wrong with that: The great cathedrals of Europe were built by craftsmen- though not designed by them. Practicing your craft in expert fashion is noble, honorable, and satisfying."

Satisfying indeed. I had a moment where the truth of this statement revealed itself to me- while making today's recipe in fact.

Blogging is a fun and creative outlet, but it can be a hard and dirty business as well. There's a lot of stiff competition out there and with social media being a dominant factor in one's 'success', it's easy to lose yourself in the game. You get caught up scrolling through pretty pictures and entertaining videos, then somewhere along the line you lose focus- not just as the creative but as the consumer. You forget what you're even looking at any more or rather why you're looking.

Sample scenario as the consumer: You're looking for an easy weeknight pasta dish, but you get lost in the labyrinth- inundated with visuals that soon no longer relate to your search, but hey you've saved some really inspiring images you probably will never look at again...Well, that was a fun forty-five minutes spent on my phone. Time to make dinner now. *Grabs a box of mac n' cheese and calls it a night of simple home cooking.

Sample scenario as the creative: This dish would go over really well on the site. I think I'm going to remake it this week and post it. *Later that week: I need more props. Maybe I should go for a dark and moody shot- really capture that whole quiet, small kitchen mid-week dinner aesthetic. *Proceeds to post on social media and check every half hour for the rest of the evening to see how many hits said post received.

Somewhere along the lines, the craft got lost in the art. We measure the quality of a dish based on algorithms. I remember the days when I knew if a meal was a success based on the look on someone's face. The joy of seeing your loved ones' eyes light up upon first bite, followed by a big grin and an approving nod can't compare to numbers on a screen. Call me old-fashioned, but I'm in good company because Bourdain felt the same way.

So, when I made today's recipe, it had been a while since I had felt so free in the kitchen. To be perfectly frank, tacos weren't even planned. It just happened. I lost myself in the creative spirit excited to try some of the delicious flavors provided by Lucky Foods. I also hadn't really experimented with Gochujang, Kimchi Mayo, and Kalbi Sauce before.

I love that these flavors, though different and unique on their own, meld together so well. I knew after tasting each, I wanted to create a medley of something that would play into the sweet and spicy profile while utilizing all three products.

A Peek Inside the Bottle

Gochujang - Arguably becoming the 'new' hot sauce in the Western food scene, Gochujang is a staple in Korean cooking. This red chili pepper paste offers a healthy amount of lingering heat, while adding subtle sweetness and umami flavor from fermented soybeans. This fermented condiment is delicious stirred into broths (love it with ramen), on its own for dipping, or in marinades which we put on full display in today's recipe.

Kalbi Sauce - Kalbi is a traditional Korean marinade which you will find more commonly in Bulgogi. Again this sauce offers a sweet and savory flavor with a zing of ginger.

Kimchi Mayo - Probably my favorite of the three as a stand-alone condiment, its creamy sweet & spicy flavor makes it a perfect spread for sandwiches, a great dip for platters, and even a delicious dressing for salads.

Each of these sauces are also naturally vegan and gluten-free making them versatile and wholesome options for some of your favorite dishes.

Today's board compliments each of the flavors highlighted above. Lucky Foods prides itself on their fusion sauces which has been brought front-and-center with our sweet and spicy marinated pork strips served over a refreshing bed of lettuce, wrapped up into soft homemade flatbreads. To complete it, we topped each taco with sweet cherry tomatoes and freshly picked jalapenos. Serve them alongside your favorite Lucky Foods sauce and let us know which is your favorite!

Remember friends, enjoy the food but more importantly, enjoy the journey and the process. Cheers!

Korean Pork Tacos

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 13 reviews

Author: Living the Gourmet
Total Time: 30 minutes
Yield: 4-6 1x

Save Recipe

Print Recipe

Ingredients

Units Scale

2 1/2 - 3 lbs. of boneless pork rib end - sliced very thin

Korean marinade for the pork:

1 pear - skinned and quartered
Juice of 1 lemon
7 - 8 cloves of garlic
1 small red onion
2 tbs. Lucky Foods Gochujang
2 tbs. sesame oil
1 1/2 tbs. soy sauce
3-inch piece of fresh ginger - peeled and sliced tbs.
2 tbs. sugar
1 tbs. red pepper flakes

For the Taco & Garnishes:

Fresh flatbreads or your favorite soft shells
Thin sliced lettuce
Thin sliced red onion
Halved cherry tomatoes
Thin sliced jalapeno
Fresh Italian parsley or cilantro - chopped
Toasted sesame seeds - for garnish

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Combine all of the ingredients for the marinade in a food processor and give a few good chops.
Place the thin sliced pork in a bowl and add the processed marinade. Toss to incorporate the marinade on each piece.
Place in the refrigerator for at least one hour or up to overnight.
Heat a griddle or large cast iron frying pan.
Place a tablespoon of olive oil in the pan.
Place the strips of pork in the pan and cook 2 – 3 minutes then turn over and finish cooking on the other side. The cooking time will depend on how thin the pork is sliced.

Building your taco:

Start by filling each soft shell or flatbread with a handful of lettuce and sliced onion. Spoon grilled pork on top and garnish with the tomatoes, jalapenos, and a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds. Serve alongside your favorite Lucky Foods sauce. Serve & enjoy!

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes