Carnitas caseras, or home-cooked carnitas, is a traditional Mexican dish that is a favorite among many people. The process of preparing carnitas typically involves slow-cooking pork shoulder or pork butt in a mixture of spices, herbs, and liquids until the meat is tender and juicy. The resulting pulled pork is then often served with warm tortillas, fresh salsas, guacamole, and other accompaniments. With its rich flavor and tender texture, carnitas caseras is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed for various occasions, whether it's a casual family dinner or a special celebration. In this article, we will explore the different ways to make carnitas caseras at home, including traditional methods and variations that use different cooking techniques and ingredients. We will also provide tips and tricks for achieving the perfect carnitas every time, ensuring that your home-cooked carnitas are flavorful, tender, and sure to impress your family and friends.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
QUICK COOK CARNITAS
Provided by Valerie Bertinelli
Time 2h55m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 25
Steps:
- Combine the cumin, salt, ancho chile powder, paprika and cayenne in a small bowl. Sprinkle over the pork, then drizzle on the oil and toss to coat. Set a 6-quart Instant Pot® to high saute and cook the pork in batches until all sides are golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer the pork to a plate and set aside. Add the onions and cook until they begin to soften, about 2 minutes. Add the garlic and jalapeno and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the beer, orange juice and lime juice and stir to combine, making sure the pork is mostly submerged in the liquid. Select the cancel button on the pot.
- Follow the manufacturer's guide for locking the lid and preparing to cook. Set to pressure cook on high for 30 minutes. After the pressure-cook cycle is complete, follow the manufacturer's guide for natural release. After 15 minutes, being careful of any remaining steam, unlock and remove the lid. The pork should be tender and cooked all the way through. Transfer the pork to a large bowl and shred with two forks.
- Set the Instant Pot® to high saute and bring the liquid to a boil. Mix together the cornstarch and 1/4 cup water in a small bowl until smooth. While whisking, pour the cornstarch mixture into the boiling liquid. Let boil until slightly thickened, 2 more minutes. Press the cancel button.
- Ladle the cooking liquid over the pork and season with salt, to taste. Serve with lime wedges, tortillas and desired toppings.
- Combine the white vinegar, sugar and 1 teaspoon salt in a small saucepan with 1/2 cup water. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Add the onions and shallots to a pint jar and pour the liquid over the top. Let cool completely. Refrigerate up to 1 week.
CARNITAS CASERAS (HOME-COOKED CARNITAS)
What do I serve my mom and dad after a hard day of working in my yard? Burritos made with these Carnitas. It's the best way I can think of to say "thank you." From Diana Kennedy's "The Art of Mexican Cooking" although not exactly traditional, this recipe was first published in Gastronomia Mexiquense, a collection of recipes from the state of Mexico.
Provided by cookiedog
Categories Lunch/Snacks
Time 55m
Yield 6-8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Heat the lard in a heavy pan, add the meat, and fry, stirring and turning it over from time to time, until lightly golden-about 8 minutes.
- Add the onion and stir well. Cook for 8 minutes longer or until the meat is well browned (remove onion only if it has burned).
- Add the remaining ingredients, cover the pan, and cook over low heat until the meat is just tender, not falling apart- about 20 minutes, depending on the quality of the meat. There should be plenty of pan juices. Remove the lid, increase the heat, and fry, stirring and scraping the bottom of the pan, until the juices have been absorbed- about 10 minutes. Drain off the extra fat and serve with salsa fresca, guacamole, and tortillas.
- These carnitas may be prepared ahead up to thee point of the final frying, but they should be kept covered so that the meat does not dry out.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 597.7, Fat 31.9, SaturatedFat 12, Cholesterol 208.7, Sodium 153.9, Carbohydrate 5.4, Fiber 0.7, Sugar 2.4, Protein 68
PORK CARNITAS
Many find carnitas a little dry or flavorless. These have a great, distinctive flavor and are requested by friends and family over and over. Serve with warm, fresh tortillas and salsa.
Provided by Nette
Categories World Cuisine Recipes Latin American Mexican
Time 3h45m
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Heat the vegetable oil in a large Dutch oven over high heat. Season the pork shoulder with salt, then arrange the pork in the Dutch oven. Cook until browned on all sides, about 10 minutes. Add the onion, garlic, lime juice, chili powder, oregano, and cumin. Pour in the chicken broth, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and continue to simmer until pork is very tender, about 2 1/2 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
- Transfer the pork shoulder to a large baking sheet, reserving the cooking liquid. Drizzle with a small amount of the reserved cooking liquid and lightly season with salt.
- Bake the pork in the preheated oven until browned, about 30 minutes. Drizzle more of the cooking liquid on the meat every 10 minutes, and use two forks to shred the meat as it browns.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 249.8 calories, Carbohydrate 2.3 g, Cholesterol 62.5 mg, Fat 19.1 g, Fiber 0.4 g, Protein 16.2 g, SaturatedFat 5.9 g, Sodium 2072.3 mg, Sugar 1.1 g
SLOW-COOKED CARNITAS
Simmer up succulent pork the slow-cooker way. Sometimes, instead of using tortillas, I put the seasoned meat on top of shredded lettuce for a tasty salad. -Lisa Glogow, Aliso Viejo, California
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 6h20m
Yield 12 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Cut roast in half; place in a 5-qt. slow cooker. Sprinkle with the garlic, oil, salt and pepper. Add the onions, cilantro, salsa, broth, tequila and chiles. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or until meat is tender. , Remove meat; cool slightly. Shred with 2 forks and return to the slow cooker; heat through. Spoon about 2/3 cup meat mixture onto each tortilla; serve with toppings of your choice.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 363 calories, Fat 15g fat (5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 67mg cholesterol, Sodium 615mg sodium, Carbohydrate 28g carbohydrate (1g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 24g protein.
MEXICAN CARNITAS
Ever hear of carnitas? They're easy-to-make pork crisps that are very popular in Mexico. The secret to this recipe is the quick frying. Be sure the meat is well drained before it's placed in oil, though, or it will splatter and pop. -Patricia Collins, Imbler, Oregon
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 2h40m
Yield 12 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Place meat in a medium-size roasting pan. Sprinkle with garlic and cilantro. Season with salt and pepper. Squeeze the juice from one orange and the lemon over the meat. Slice the remaining oranges and place over the meat. , Cover and bake at 350° for about 2 hours or until meat is tender. With a slotted spoon, remove meat and drain well on paper towels. Heat a small amount of oil in a skillet and fry meat in batches until browned and crispy. , Serve warm in tortillas with toppings of your choice. Freeze option: Freeze cooled pork mixture in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Fry meat in batches as directed until crispy and brown. Serve as directed.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 468 calories, Fat 26g fat (6g saturated fat), Cholesterol 67mg cholesterol, Sodium 501mg sodium, Carbohydrate 34g carbohydrate (4g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 24g protein.
Tips:
- Choose high-quality pork shoulder. Look for meat that is well-marbled with fat, as this will help the carnitas stay moist and flavorful during cooking.
- Use a Dutch oven or large pot with a heavy bottom. This will help distribute the heat evenly and prevent the carnitas from burning.
- Brown the pork shoulder in hot oil before braising it. This will help develop flavor and color.
- Use a flavorful braising liquid. The traditional braising liquid for carnitas is a mixture of chicken broth, orange juice, and spices. However, you can also use other liquids, such as beer, apple cider, or pineapple juice.
- Cook the pork shoulder until it is fall-apart tender. This will usually take about 3-4 hours.
- Shred the pork shoulder with two forks. This is the traditional way to serve carnitas.
- Serve carnitas with your favorite toppings. Some popular options include tortillas, rice, beans, salsa, guacamole, and sour cream.
Conclusion:
Carnitas is a delicious and versatile Mexican dish that can be enjoyed in many different ways. Whether you serve it on tacos, burritos, or nachos, carnitas is sure to be a hit with your family and friends. So next time you're looking for a flavorful and easy-to-make meal, give carnitas a try.
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