Carnitas, a traditional Mexican dish, is known for its tender, juicy, and incredibly flavorful pulled pork. This delectable dish originates from the state of Michoacan in Mexico and has become a beloved favorite among Mexican cuisine enthusiasts worldwide. Carnitas is typically made with pork shoulder or butt, which is slow-cooked in a mixture of spices, herbs, and citrus juices until it falls apart effortlessly. Served with warm tortillas, tangy salsas, and a variety of toppings, carnitas offers a sensory symphony that tantalizes the taste buds. Whether you're a seasoned home cook or just starting your culinary journey, this exploration of carnitas recipes will guide you towards the most amazing carnitas you'll ever taste.
Here are our top 4 tried and tested recipes!
CARNITAS RECIPE
An easy and authentic Carnitas Recipe for making the best Mexican Tacos de Carnitas! Featuring slow-cooked, tender bites of pork broiled to crispy perfection!
Provided by Kelly Anthony
Categories Main Course
Time 2h25m
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 325°F. Pat the pork butt dry with a paper towel. Use a large, sharp knife to trim away excess fat. Cut the pork butt into 1" thick slices. Then, cut each slice into 1" cubes.
- Transfer the pork to a 4-5 quart enameled cast iron Dutch oven. Add all of the dry spices, and massage them onto the pork with your hands.
- Add the orange juice, lime juice, and a 1/2 cup water to the Dutch oven and stir to combine. Add the bay leaves, cover, and transfer to the oven.
- Cook for 2 hours. Remove from the oven, and turn on the broiler on high. Have ready a rimmed sheet pan lined with nonstick aluminum foil.
- Use a slotted spoon to transfer the pork to the prepared sheet pan. Using the tines of a fork, gently press down on the pork to ever-so-slightly break it apart.
- Place the pork under the broiler, and watch closely so that it does not burn. As soon as the pork begins to tinge with dark brown hues and crisps up on the edges, remove it from the oven. Depending on your broiler, this could take anywhere from 1- 4 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside.
- Place the Dutch oven on the stovetop over medium-high heat and allow to come to a simmer. In a small bowl, combine cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of water. Add the cornstarch slurry to the cooking liquid and allow to simmer until thickened, about 2-3 minutes. Remove from the heat.
- Either add the pork back to the Dutch oven and stir or brush the sauce lightly over the carnitas. Serve with tortillas and your favorite taco toppings and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 425 kcal, Carbohydrate 35 g, Protein 37 g, Fat 14 g, SaturatedFat 4 g, Cholesterol 102 mg, Sodium 1413 mg, Fiber 2 g, Sugar 4 g, ServingSize 1 serving
SIMPLE CARNITAS
This the easiest recipe for tasty carnitas. Once cooked, the meat can also be shredded and mixed with BBQ sauce for incredible pulled pork sandwiches, or pan fried in a little oil until crisp on the outside.
Provided by Ken from CA
Categories World Cuisine Recipes Latin American Mexican
Time 3h
Yield 10
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Place the pork shoulder, oranges, onion, garlic, kosher salt, cumin, black peppercorns, and bay leaves into a large Dutch oven. Add water to cover. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to medium-low, and simmer for 10 minutes. Skim off any foam that rises to the top. Cover loosely, and simmer until the meat is tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Allow the pork to cool, covered, in the broth for 1 hour. Shred the meat with two forks.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 187.9 calories, Carbohydrate 6.6 g, Cholesterol 62.5 mg, Fat 9.6 g, Fiber 1.3 g, Protein 18.4 g, SaturatedFat 3.4 g, Sodium 2331.5 mg, Sugar 3.8 g
CARNITAS, SIMPLE BUT AMAZING!
This is a simple yet amazingly delicious recipe. Yes it's a lot like others posted on the site, yet this is the simplest and if cooked according to the directions you'll have everyone raving about it! Everyone will want to take some leftovers.
Provided by tasmith1
Categories < 4 Hours
Time 2h10m
Yield 6-8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Cut the Pork crosswise into at least thirds. Combine and mix Pork, water, Orange Juice, Garlic, Salt and Orange Zest in a Deep very large skillet or a Dutch Oven. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and Simmer for at least 1 hr and 45 minutes or until the pork is so tender that it is falling apart. Stir and add more water as necessary to keep the pork partially submerged, although I've never had to do this.
- Transfer to a skillet if you used a Dutch Oven. You may need to drain off some of the liquid at this point. You will want to break up the Pork into small pieces and boil off the remaining liquid until the pork starts to brown and get crispy edges.
- Serve with Tomatillo Salsa (Recipe #97531 is fantastic!), Corn Tortillas and whatever other fixings you like.
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
Tips:
- Choose the right cut of pork: Pork shoulder (also known as pork butt) is the best cut for carnitas because it has a good amount of fat that will render out during cooking, resulting in tender and flavorful meat.
- Use a Dutch oven or slow cooker: These cooking methods allow the pork to braise in its own juices, resulting in fall-apart tender meat.
- Add plenty of flavorings: Carnitas is typically seasoned with a combination of spices, herbs, and citrus. Common flavorings include cumin, chili powder, oregano, garlic, and orange juice.
- Cook the pork until it is fall-apart tender: This can take several hours, but it is worth the wait. The longer the pork cooks, the more tender and flavorful it will become.
- Serve carnitas with your favorite toppings: Carnitas can be served on its own, but it is also delicious with a variety of toppings, such as salsa, guacamole, sour cream, and cheese.
Conclusion:
Carnitas is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed in many different ways. It is a great option for a party or potluck, and it can also be used as a filling for tacos, burritos, and enchiladas. With a little planning and preparation, you can easily make carnitas at home. So next time you are looking for a flavorful and satisfying meal, give carnitas a try. You won't be disappointed!
Are you curently on diet or you just want to control your food's nutritions, ingredients? We will help you find recipes by cooking method, nutrition, ingredients...
Check it out »
You'll also love