Carnitas is a traditional Mexican dish that has become increasingly popular in the United States. This flavorful pork dish is typically made with pork shoulder, which is slowly braised in a combination of spices, herbs, and liquids. Chevys, a popular Tex-Mex restaurant chain, has created its own recipe for carnitas, which is known for its tender and juicy texture and bold flavors. In this article, we will guide you through the steps to make delicious Chevys-style carnitas at home, providing you with the ingredients, instructions, and tips you need to create a mouthwatering meal that will impress both your family and guests.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
CARNITAS
Provided by Ree Drummond : Food Network
Categories main-dish
Time 6h15m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F.
- Put the poblano and onion slices in the bottom of a heavy pot. Mix the cayenne, cumin and a pinch of salt and pepper together in a bowl, then use the mixture to season the pork shoulder. Put the pork on top of the vegetables. Add the chicken broth, jalapeno slices, lime zest and juice and orange zest and juice. Cover and cook until tender, 4 to 5 hours.
- Turn the heat up to 450 degrees F, remove the lid and cook until the surface crisps slightly, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the pork to a board and let it rest until cool enough to handle, then remove the fat and shred the meat with 2 forks.
- Strain the vegetables from the sauce and set aside. Put the meat in serving dish, add the vegetables and pour over some of the sauce.
- Serve the shredded pork with warm corn tortillas, radishes, pickled jalapenos, pico de gallo, hot sauce, lime wedges and cilantro leaves.
CHEVY'S SWEET CORN TAMALITOS
I started seeing this delightful little scoop of heaven on the edge of my plate at a few of the Mexican restaurants around town, so I decided make it at home. This recipe is actually the recipe they use at Chevy's, which I found published in the local paper.
Provided by Miss Erin C.
Categories Corn
Time 1h10m
Yield 6-8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- In a small bowl, mix the margarine, masa and sugar with mixer until light and fluffy, about 1 minute.
- Blend 1/2 the corn kernels with the water in a blender until smooth.
- Combine with margarine mixture, stirring well.
- Add the remaining corn, cornmeal, baking powder, salt and milk.
- Bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil.
- Pour the mixture into an 8-inch baking dish.
- Tightly cover with plastic wrap and set atop the saucepan of boiling water.
- Keep pan tightly wrapped and steam for 50 minutes to 1 hour.
- Check water level often, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- I have also made this in the oven, setting the pan in a water bath.
- I do not know the temp I had the oven on, or how long I kept it inches If anyone tries it, please add that info.
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
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.
CHEVY'S CARNITAS
Yield 6-8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 23
Steps:
- 1. Fuego spice mix Combine all ingredients, mixing well. 2. Store in an airtight container for up to 6 months. 3. Agua Negra Marinade (recipe# 66927): combine all ingredients with a whisk. 4. Stores in the refrigerator for 2 days. 5. Carnitas: Trim away excess fat from pork and cut into 3 inch cubes. 6. Dust meat with Fuego spice mix and press to adhere well. 7. Squeeze juice from oranges into an airtight nonreactive container, add peels, garlic,pepper, pepsi and Aqua Negra marinade- mix to combine well. 8. Add seasoned meat and refrigerate overnight. 9. Remove meat from the marinade (reserve marinade) the next day when you are ready to cook. 10. Heat oil/shortening in a large heavy skillet over high heat until fat is smoking; add pork and brown completely on all sides- about 15 minutes. 11. Add reserved marinade and simmer for about 2 hours or until pork is tender and dark brown- add additional Pepsi as needed while cooking to keep meat covered. 12. Remove meat and chop into 3/4 inch pieces.
ZESTY CARNITAS TACOS
Lime juice in the crema give these tacos a good zing!
Provided by Doug
Categories World Cuisine Recipes Latin American Mexican
Time 4h30m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Carnitas: Trim fat from pork. Cut pork into 2- to 3-inch pieces; transfer to a 4-quart slow cooker. Stir in onion, orange juice, cumin, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, oregano, and cayenne.
- Cover and cook on Low 8 to 10 hours, or on High 4 to 5 hours. Transfer pork to a large bowl; shred using 2 forks. Add enough cooking liquid from slow cooker to moisten.
- Lime Crema: Add 2 tablespoons lime juice to a small bowl. Stir in yogurt and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Dust with chili powder.
- Tacos: Serve pork in tortillas with cabbage, red onion, and pico de gallo (if using). Garnish with crema and lime zest.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 338.4 calories, Carbohydrate 32.5 g, Cholesterol 52.6 mg, Fat 16 g, Fiber 5.1 g, Protein 17.9 g, SaturatedFat 6 g, Sodium 761.4 mg, Sugar 5.5 g
CARNITAS (AUTHENTIC)
Carnitas is a very famous Mexican dish. It does involve a lot of cooking time, so I make it when I have time. Serve with fresh homemade corn tortillas, guacamole, cheese and pico de gallo with cilantro.....yum.
Provided by babygirl65
Categories Stew
Time 5h15m
Yield 6-8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Cut pork meat into chunks and discard the big pieces of fat. (I leave some fat as it adds flavor).
- Add pork chunks, broth, garlic*, comino*, onion* and cilantro* to a dutch oven. If necessary, add water so that the meat is covered.
- Bring to boil, reduce heat to low and simmer for about 3 -4 hours or until meat is very soft and pulls apart easily. (Be careful not to shred meat, needs to stay in chunks).
- Remove the meat carefully from pot and place in a roasting pan. Discard onion and broth. Break the meat apart into smaller chunks (don't shred, it needs to stay in chunks).
- Bake in the oven at 450°F for about 20 minutes or until the meat is brown and crispy.
- Heat (or make homemade) corn tortillas, serve with desired toppings.
- (You may have to adjust garlic, comino, onion and cilantro to your liking, everyone's taste is different. You can add salt and pepper if you like too, I use Nature's seasonings, personal preference).
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.
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 is the traditional cut used for carnitas, as it has a good amount of fat that helps keep the meat moist and flavorful during the long cooking process.
- Use a Dutch Oven or Slow Cooker:A Dutch oven or slow cooker is ideal for cooking carnitas, as it allows the meat to braise slowly in its own juices, resulting in tender and juicy carnitas.
- Add Aromatics and Spices:To enhance the flavor of the carnitas, add aromatics like onion, garlic, and chili peppers, as well as spices like cumin, oregano, and paprika.
- Be Patient with the Cooking Process:Carnitas takes time to cook properly, so be patient and let it braise for at least 2-3 hours, or until the meat is fall-apart tender.
- Shred the Meat Properly:Once the carnitas is cooked, shred it using two forks or a meat shredder. This will help create tender and flavorful carnitas that are perfect for tacos, burritos, and other dishes.
Conclusion:
Carnitas is a delicious and versatile Mexican dish that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. Whether you prefer traditional carnitas tacos or something more creative like carnitas nachos or carnitas burritos, these recipes provide step-by-step instructions and helpful tips to ensure you create tender, juicy, and flavorful carnitas every time. So, grab your ingredients, fire up the stove or slow cooker, and get ready to indulge in the irresistible flavors of this classic Mexican dish.
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