Best 3 Carnitas Braised In Orange Juice Recipes

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Carnitas braised in orange juice is a delicious and flavorful dish that is perfect for any occasion. This traditional Mexican dish is made with pork shoulder that is braised in a mixture of orange juice, spices, and herbs. The result is a tender, juicy, and flavorful pork that can be served with a variety of sides. Whether you're looking for a quick and easy weeknight meal or a special dish to impress your guests, carnitas braised in orange juice is sure to please.

Here are our top 3 tried and tested recipes!

CARNITAS BRAISED IN ORANGE JUICE



CARNITAS BRAISED IN ORANGE JUICE image

Categories     Pork     Dinner

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 bone-in pork blade shoulder(5 pounds)
3 medium yellow onions, coarsly chopped
1 head garlic, cloves separated and crushed
2 cups orange juice with pulp
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1 tablespoon golden brown sugar
⅛ teaspoon salt
2 bay leaves
2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Steps:

  • Adjust oven rack to low position; heat oven to 250 degrees. Pat roast dry with paper towels, then sprinkle evenly with salt and pepper. Heat oil in dutch oven until smoking. Add pork and cook until well browned on all sides, 4 to 6 minutes per side. Transfer roast to plate. Add onions, brown sugar and salt to pan and sauté on high until soft and golden. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant and browned in spots, about 4 minutes more. Add orange juice, chicken broth and bay leaves and bring mixture to a simmer. Return roast to pan, checking that liquid reaches half way up the sides of the meat. Roast uncovered for 3 or more hours, turning the roast with tongs every 60 to 90 minutes. Pour off 2 cups of liquid into fat separator and let rest. Drain off fat and reserve. Return pan to oven and increase heat to 300 degrees for two hours, turning roast after the first hour, until fall-apart tender and well carmelized. Transfer roast to plate, remove bone and tent with foil. Pour off and separate oil from remaining liquid. Return liquid and reserve to pot and simmer until slightly thickened, about 4 minutes. Shred meat with a fork and combine with sauce.

BRAISED PORK CARNITAS



Braised Pork Carnitas image

Deliciously tender and juicy braised pulled pork carnitas can be used in fried or street tacos. Perfect for burritos and chimichangas or taco bowls.

Provided by Christopher Martinez

Categories     Main Dish Recipes     Taco Recipes

Time 5h40m

Yield 24

Number Of Ingredients 13

5 pounds pork shoulder roast
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 tablespoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
½ small yellow onion, chopped
6 cups pork stock
1 pinch salt and ground black pepper to taste
12 each green onions, chopped
24 each fresh yellow corn tortillas
4 cups thinly shaved green cabbage
10 ounces crumbled queso fresco
2 cups fresh salsa
2 each limes, cut into wedges

Steps:

  • Heat a large, cast iron Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Season pork shoulder with garlic, 2 tablespoons kosher salt, and 1 teaspoon black pepper. Place pork shoulder fat-side down into the hot pot and sear until deep golden brown on all sides, 4 to 5 minutes. Add yellow onion to cook with rendered drippings for 1 minute. Slowly pour in pork stock to cover pork shoulder.
  • Bring to a light boil; cover and braise until fork-tender, 4 1/2 to 5 hours.
  • Transfer to a bowl and shred into carnitas, adding 1 1/2 cups of pork stock for moisture and more salt and pepper to taste.
  • Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add green onions and cook until slightly browned, 7 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a bowl.
  • Heat corn tortillas in the hot skillet on both sides, 2 to 3 minutes total for each tortilla. Place braised pork into tortillas and garnish with cabbage, queso fresco, salsa, green onions, and a squeeze of lime.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 210.8 calories, Carbohydrate 16 g, Cholesterol 41.4 mg, Fat 10.7 g, Fiber 2.8 g, Protein 13.4 g, SaturatedFat 4 g, Sodium 820 mg, Sugar 1.7 g

ORANGE AND MILK-BRAISED PORK CARNITAS



Orange and Milk-Braised Pork Carnitas image

It must have been the subliminal beer and liquor advertising that got me, because I wasn't even thinking about Cinco de Mayo when I decided to make this milk-braised pork carnitas recipe. The milk braising beforehand seems to give the meat a little extra succulence. The subtle sweetness from the orange is also very nice.

Provided by Chef John

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     Latin American     Mexican

Time 2h40m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 10

3 ½ pounds boneless pork shoulder, cut into large pieces
1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon kosher salt, or more to taste
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 bay leaves
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 orange, juiced and zested
2 cups whole milk

Steps:

  • Season pork with pepper and salt.
  • Heat oil in large pot over high heat. Working in batches, cook pork in the hot oil until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes. Return all cooked pork and accumulated juice to pot.
  • Season pork with bay leaves, cumin, dried oregano, and cayenne pepper. Stir in fresh orange juice, orange zest, and milk. Bring mixture to a boil over high heat; reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, until meat is fork tender but not falling apart, about 2 hours.
  • Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
  • Remove pork from liquid. Skim some fat from the pot to grease a baking dish. Transfer the pieces of pork to the baking dish. Drizzle about 2 more tablespoons of the floating fat over the meat. Season with more salt, if needed.
  • Bake in preheated oven until pork is browned, about 15 minutes. Stir pork.
  • Turn on oven's broiler. Cook pork under broiler until crisp, 2 to 3 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 324.9 calories, Carbohydrate 3.7 g, Cholesterol 84.2 mg, Fat 24.1 g, Fiber 0.4 g, Protein 22.4 g, SaturatedFat 8.5 g, Sodium 804.7 mg, Sugar 2.8 g

Tips:

  • For the most flavorful carnitas, use a combination of pork shoulder and pork butt.
  • Braise the pork in a mixture of orange juice, orange zest, garlic, cumin, oregano, and chili powder.
  • Cook the pork until it is fall-apart tender, about 3 hours.
  • Serve the carnitas with your favorite toppings, such as salsa, guacamole, sour cream, and cheese.
  • Carnitas can be made ahead of time and reheated when you're ready to serve.

Conclusion:

Carnitas braised in orange juice is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for any occasion. The pork is tender and flavorful, and the orange juice gives it a bright and citrusy flavor. Whether you serve it on tacos, burritos, or nachos, this dish is sure to be a hit. So next time you're looking for a new and exciting way to cook pork, give this recipe a try. You won't be disappointed!

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