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Last Updated on April 30, 2025
Growing up we called this dish sweet meat and I had no idea that it was called Pork Tocino until a reader asked if I would share my family recipe.
I also learned that this dish is normally served for breakfast with garlic rice. This was always made for dinner when I was a kid and I’m pretty sure my mom would whip this up with plain rice and canned green beans. Sometime she would serve dairy free clam chowder on the side.
We did have garlic rice for breakfast with eggs and spicy sausage – oh yum – but not with Pork Tocino.
I’ve told Mr. Bejelly about sweet meat for years and he finally got to taste it last weekend when I recreated it for this recipe. I did make one change to my ma’s recipe. I added one beet to try to recreate the crazy neon color this stuff usually is.
I didn’t want to use red food coloring. Interestingly enough, the beet gave it some color I was looking for but it also pairs really well with it.
Beets are packed full of nutrition and here are 6 amazing things that happen to your body when you eat beets.
Ingredients
- 1 small onion peeled and diced
- 1 lb pork cutlets chopped into 2″ pieces
- 1 Tablespoon coconut oil
- 1 pieces small beet I used 1/2 a yellow and red beet, peeled and diced into small
- 3 Tablespoons of apple cider vinegar
- 3 Tablespoons of honey
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- In a pan over medium high heat, melt the coconut oil and add the chopped onion and pork. Let it cook for 4 minutes and then add the Celtic Sea salt, black pepper, apple cider vinegar and honey. Mix thoroughly and cover the pan. Cook it on medium low covered for 15 minutes and then add the chopped beet. Cover again and cook for 10 minutes.
- Enjoy
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I love pork and this is a dish that I’ve never maid. I’m not on the paleo diet, but it looks great for anyone.
Another appetizing meal.
yummy!!!! Thanks for a great recipe.
I am the person who requested the recipe for tocino and I want to thank you so much for sharing it with me and the rest of your fans. I had been using a mix from Mama Sita, but I much prefer using fresh ingredients. The use of a beet is pure genius! Thanks again for your kindness and thoughtfulness.
Thank you Laurel. I hope that you enjoy it!
Looks great, been reading a bit on this diet too, my hubby just started up his diet and exercise again 100% call me a trainer now LOL.
This looks really good. I would, however, leave out the beet.
The beet is completely optional. I was just trying to get the color closer to a traditional Tocino recipe.
I do a pork in a sweet vinegar sauce sometimes with pickled peppers. I think I would like this, as it is sort of in the same vein.
Oh, I’d love to try your recipe. Do you have a link?
Looks delicious!
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a beet that wasn’t pickled and bright red. I guess I need to try some new vegetables! Great looking dish!
That looks incredibly appetizing!
Looks really good and easy to make.
I’ve never heard of this dish before. I do love pork, so I’ll definitely be giving it a try!
This looks so good and really simple. I love pork so got to give this one a try.
Hi there😊 can I use stevia sweetener instead of honey? For Neto recipe
Thank you and more power
Yes, I would season to taste if you do this.
This looks really tasty. I wish I could get my hubby to eat pork.
Tasty!
I’ve never heard of this, it sounds delicious.
You really have some GREAT sounding recipes. This just adds to them.
yum! I have been looking for a new pork recipe
looks delicious i would love to try that
This looks delicious. I usually don’t cook a lot of pork, but I would like to try adding more to our diet.
Now that looks delicious!
YUM! Looks great, I dont’ think I’d eat it for breakfast, but it looks good!
Not a big pork eater but this looks like a great recipe.
YUM! i am always looking for ways to cook pork. Thanks for sharing.
Looks yummy, I will be making it tonite, How is it orangey looking in the picture though? I has beet in it and should be dark red or even purple not orange….One of those exotic orange beets perhaps? I know they come in all colors these days.
If you use a red beet it will be pretty pink. I had both orange and red beets which made for a strange color, lol.