Tacos de Carnitas
User Reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Excellent
-
Prep Time
5 mins
-
Cook Time
1 hr 5 mins
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Total Time
1 hr 15 mins
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Servings
10
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Calories
253 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
Mexican
Tacos de Carnitas
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One of my Mexican restaurant favorites has always been carnitas, which literally means “little meats”. This recipe is delicately flavored with a hint of orange, onion, warm herbs, and spices. I also added a couple of tablespoons of sweetened condensed milk, which helps the pork caramelize as well as balances the smoky and spicy chipotle peppers.This recipe is very simple and only takes one hour of cooking time on the stovetop. By the time you make a sidedish and some salsas your carnitas will be fork tender and ready to serve.
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Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons vegetable shortening
- 3 ½ pounds boneless pork shoulder cut into 5-inch chunks (do not remove fat)
- ½ onion rough chopped
- 8 cloves garlic peeled
- 1 ½ cups water
- 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano preferably Mexican
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon coarse salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 5 whole cloves
- 2 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk
- 1 orange juiced
Topping Options:
- Salsa of choice
- Crema Mexicana or sour cream
- Lime wedges
Instructions
- In a large skillet or stock pot heat vegetable shortening on high heat and place pieces of pork and brown meat.
- Place in a blender onion, garlic, water, chile peppers, thyme, oregano, cumin, cinnamon, salt, pepper, and cloves. Blend until well blended.
- Turn the meat over and brown second side. Once meat is browned on both sides, pour in braising mixture over the pork.
- Add condensed milk over the pork and fresh orange juice. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and cook for 1 hour.
- Once cooked, shred pork or chop into bite-sized pieces.
- Heat corn tortillas on a griddle. Fill with the carnitas and serve with salsa, crema Mexican, and a squeeze of lime juice.
Notes
- Optional: If you like carnitas dark and crispy on the outside, you can place the cooked pork pieces in an oven-safe dish and bake in the oven, turning occasionally, until the liquid has evaporated and the pork is crispy and caramelized. It will depend on how much liquid the pork gave off, and how crackly you want them.
Nutrition Information
Show Details
Calories
253kcal
(13%)
Carbohydrates
6g
(2%)
Protein
36g
(72%)
Fat
8g
(12%)
Saturated Fat
3g
(15%)
Cholesterol
97mg
(32%)
Sodium
829mg
(35%)
Potassium
656mg
(19%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
4g
(8%)
Vitamin A
200IU
(4%)
Vitamin C
9mg
(10%)
Calcium
38mg
(4%)
Iron
2mg
(11%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 10Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 253 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 253kcal | 13% |
| Carbohydrates | 6g | 2% |
| Protein | 36g | 72% |
| Fat | 8g | 12% |
| Saturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Cholesterol | 97mg | 32% |
| Sodium | 829mg | 35% |
| Potassium | 656mg | 14% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 4g | 8% |
| Vitamin A | 200IU | 4% |
| Vitamin C | 9mg | 10% |
| Calcium | 38mg | 4% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Genuine Reviews
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5.0
3 reviews
Excellent
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