Banh Mi Tacos

If you're like me, you love combining different food styles. I think fancy people call that "fusion." This is a great example of a Mexican and Vietnamese fusion - carnitas in flour tortillas are topped with pickled vegetables and a spicy sauce, replicating the famous Banh Mi sandwiches. These were so delicious that I'm making them again tonight. I love getting plenty of vegetables in a taco...and I love the combination of crunchy pickled vegetables with the spicy meat and sauce.

These flavors work best when they've had time to mingle, so try to make the sauce and veggies the morning of, or the night before.

I also added avocado as I thought, what's a taco without avocado? You can certainly omit to be more authentic. Or add other things to be even "more fusion."

Whatever you do, get these great Banh Mi tacos on your dinner rotation STAT!

Banh Mi Tacos

Tacos:
8 Flour tortillas
2-3 cups Carnitas
1 avocado, sliced

Sauce:
1 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
2 Tbsp. lime juice
1 Tbsp. chili garlic sauce
2 Tbsp. sweet Thai chili sauce

Pickled Vegetables:
2 large carrots, peeled and cut into thin matchsticks
1 English/seedless cucumber, cut into thin matchsticks
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
2 Tbsp. sugar
2 Tbsp. rice vinegar
1 tsp. sesame oil
1/2 tsp. coarse salt

For the sauce, whisk together the sour cream, lime juice, chili garlic sauce and sweet Thai chili sauce. Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 days prior to serving.

For the pickled vegetables, place the carrots and cucumber in a bowl. Place the onion in a second bowl. Whisk together the sugar, vinegar, sesame oil and salt. Pour over the vegetables in each bowl and toss to coat well. Cover and refrigerate for several hours, ideally.

Warm the tortillas in the microwave or in a hot skillet on the stove top. Fill with carnitas, avocado slices and pickled vegetables, then top with the sauce. Serves 4.