A Pork Tinga Recipe for the Whole Family

Looking for your next great recipe to feed and fuel the whole family? You can’t go wrong with pork tinga. This authentic Mexican dish is not only one of the easiest and tastiest recipes out there, but it’s also a perfect comfort food as the cold days of winter come back around.

Read on to learn how to cook pork tinga that your loved ones won’t be able to get enough of, along with a few tips and tricks to consider for the best results.

All about pork tinga

Tinga Poblana or Mexican pork tinga is a traditional dish that has remained incredibly popular over the years. This dish, originating in Puebla, Mexico, uses a mixture of European and Mexican foods with a European cooking method — becoming and remaining one of the most popular dishes in Mexico. This lively, tangy and slowly simmered stew is made from pork, chorizo, tomatoes, onions and chipotle chiles. Because this recipe is relatively simple, Tinga Poblana is a great option to feed a crowd.

If you’ve been considering this favorite pork dish for your next occasion or family dinner, here’s everything you need to know to cook your tinga to perfection.

What you’ll need to cook your pork tinga

When preparing your dish, here are the ingredients you’ll need to gather beforehand:

• 1 ¼ pound of trimmed boneless pork shoulder: Pork is traditionally the meat found in tinga Poblana. While some use beef or chicken as their meat for this popular stew, we recommend pork shoulder or any pork meat cut into 1 ½ inch cubes.
• ¼ tsp dried marjoram or oregano and thyme: Marjoram, which can be substituted with oregano if preferred, and thyme are spices in this recipe to add extra flavor to your dish.
• 3 bay leaves: Bay leaves are used in this recipe, and many cuisines, to flavor the pork meat while cooking.
• 2 tbsp olive oil: Oil can be used to prepare both an Instant Pot or a saucepan before adding your other ingredients.
• ¾ pound red potatoes: A red skin potato or waxy potato are great options for this dish, as they are typically lower and starch and hold their shape better. These can be cut into ½-inch dice.
• 1 large fresh chorizo: Chorizo is a highly seasoned chopped or ground pork sausage used in Spanish and Mexican cuisine — which can be easily found in most grocery stores. When cooking the chorizo, you’ll need to remove the casing, crumble the meat and cook it over low heat until the fat renders out.
• 1 medium onion: For this dish, a white onion is generally a more popular option, with a sweeter and milder taste, than a yellow onion. Your onion should be finely chopped in the preparation process.
• 1 garlic clove: Minced garlic is always a great addition to stew for its flavor.
• One 28-ounce can of fire-roasted tomatoes: These roasted tomatoes can simplify the cooking process by eliminating the need to peel and dice your fire-roasted potatoes yourself. Be sure to drain your roasted tomatoes before use.
• 2 chipotle chiles in adobo sauce: Chipotle or a chipotle chile is a jalapeño pepper that’s been dried and smoked. These peppers are found in cans, in a creamy adobo sauce. A chipotle pepper should be seeded and minced before use with 4 teaspoons of adobo sauce on standby.
• Salt and sugar: Our pork tinga recipe calls for salt and sugar for seasoning.

Keep in mind that these ingredients are meant to feed 4 people, but the recipe can easily be doubled or increased to feed as many people as needed! While these ingredients are necessary to cook your tinga, you’ll want to include something to serve with your dish, here are some of our favorites.

• Flour tortillas.
• Sliced avocado.
• Crumbled queso fresco.
• Wedges of lime.

Serving your pork tinga on a warm tortilla can make all the difference in this dish. Or, if you prefer, bake or fry a corn tortilla to enjoy this meal tostada-style. These simple changes can help you make this savory and comforting dish unique to the needs and preferences of your family, friends and guests. Now that you’re ready to get started, find out where to buy the main ingredient, Hatfield® pork!

The ultimate pork tinga recipe your entire household will love

With your ingredients ready to go, let’s dive into our favorite recipe for pork tinga. Whether you’re cooking with an Instant Pot or you’ve decided to make it the traditional way on the stove, we’ve got you covered.

Making your tinga Poblana in an Instant Pot

• Step 1: First, generously season your cut-up pork shoulder with salt.
• Step 2: Next, sauté your vegetables. To do this, select the Sauté function on your Instant Pot, press start and set a timer for 10 minutes. Then, add oil and let heat for 1 to 2 minutes, and once hot, you can add onions and garlic, season with salt and sauté — stirring occasionally for 3 to 4 minutes. Lastly, add your roasted tomatoes, chipotle peppers, and a teaspoon of salt. Once completed, Cancel Sauté function.
• Step 3: Now it’s time to pressure cook your pork. All you have to do is add the pork, select Pressure Cook and set on Hi for 15 minutes.
• Step 4: After the timer is done, add fresh cheese and avocado as needed to a warm tortilla or tostada and your pork tinga is ready to serve!

This lively, tangy and slowly simmered stew is made from pork, chorizo, tomatoes, onions and chipotle chiles.

Using the stove
An Instant Pot will likely offer a faster cook time for your pork dish, however, tinga is traditionally made on the stove, cooking the sauce and pork separately.

• Step 1: After preparing the pork, add your meat, half an onion, garlic, marjoram, bay leaves and 4 cups of salted water to a large saucepan. Partially cover the pan and simmer on low to medium heat for about 60 to 70 minutes or until the meat is very tender. After this, use a slotted spoon to transfer the pork to a bowl. Let cool slightly, then shred it into smaller pieces with two forks.
• Step 2: Now, heat oil in a medium skillet over low to medium heat. Once hot, add the chorizo and stir — making sure to break up the sausage into smaller pieces — for about 10 minutes. Then, use your slotted spoon to transfer your cooked chorizo to a plate.
• Step 3: Next, add the shredded pork and the rest of your onion to the skillet and cook over medium heat until the pork is well-browned, or approximately 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute, stirring. Then, stir in the tomatoes and chorizo for a cook time of 10 minutes. Season with salt as needed and add a pinch of sugar. Lastly, add your chipotle chiles and adobo sauce, letting this simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Step 4: Scoop your pork tinga onto a flour tortilla and top it with crumbled queso fresco, sliced avocado and a squirt of fresh lime juice — and it’s ready to serve!

Considering sides and storing pork tinga

This delicious Mexican dish certainly stands out on its own, but when you’re celebrating an occasion or expecting dinner guests, it’s always a great idea to add sides that can elevate the meal even further. Take your pork tinga to the next level with sides like:

• Cilantro lime rice.
• Chopped salad.
• Refried beans.
• Elotes (Mexican street corn).
• Potato hash.
• Mac and cheese.

Not only do great sides enhance an already appetizing meal, but they also increase your chances of leftovers. To store your tinga, place your leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate them for up to five days. When you’re ready for them, all you have to do is reheat them gently on the stove or microwave and serve them how you like!

Can you freeze this dish for later?
The short answer is, yes. Simply place your tinga in a freezer container and you can freeze this meal for up to three months. When the perfect opportunity presents itself, thaw the pork tinga in the fridge overnight, then reheat it on the stove or in the microwave.

Choosing pork products from Hatfield

This fall and winter, pork tinga is an excellent option for any occasion with family and friends — or no occasion at all! This comforting dish can bring a little extra flavor to any evening and satisfy your whole family. And, with so many options for substitutions and sides, you can make sure it meets the needs and preferences of your loved ones with ease.

When it comes to preparing a meal for your friends and family, you always want high-quality ingredients and that includes your pork products. Choosing pork products from Hatfield ensures that anything you choose will be high-grade and great-tasting, giving you the best chances for mealtime success!

Ready to elevate your pork tinga with top-tier pork products? Use our store locator to find your favorite Hatfield® products in a supermarket or grocery store near you.