Tacos de Carnitas Recipe (Deep Fried)
User Reviews
4.9
66 reviews
Excellent
-
Prep Time
20 mins
-
Cook Time
2 hrs 20 mins
-
Total Time
2 hrs 30 mins
-
Servings
10
-
Calories
489 kcal
-
Course
Main Course, Dinner
-
Cuisine
Mexican
Tacos de Carnitas Recipe (Deep Fried)
Report
Make authentic tacos de carnitas the traditional way — pork fried in lard so it’s incredibly juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside.
Share:
Ingredients
Carnitas
- 6 lbs boneless pork shoulder (pork butt), cut into 3-inch chunks
- 1 tbsp salt
Seasoning Bundle
- 6 garlic cloves
- 1/2 orange
- 1/2 white onion
- 3 bay leaves
- 2 tbsp Mexican oregano (See Note 1)
- 1 cinnamon stick
Frying
- 4 lbs pork lard (See Note 2)
- 2 oz piloncillo or brown sugar (See Note 3)
- 1/3 cup milk
Serving
- flour or corn tortillas
- refried beans
- 2 white onions sliced
- 1 bunch of cilantro chopped
- 3 limes sliced
- salsa verde
- Roasted Tomato Salsa
- guacamole
- Pickled Carrots
Add to Shopping List
Instructions
- Rub the kosher salt over pork. Place in a sealed container and refrigerate over night.
- Remove pork from refrigerator and allow to come to room temperature.
- In a large piece of cheesecloth, wrap the garlic cloves, orange, onion, bay leaves, Mexican oregano and cinnamon stick and secure with kitchen twine.
Frying
- Melt the lard in a large, heavy stock pot over high heat. Carefully add the Seasoning Bundle, piloncillo (or brown sugar) and pork chunks.
- Bring lard to a boil over high heat (350°F), lower to medium (adjust heat to medium low if pork turns brown too quickly) and cook, stirring often, for 90 minutes. Pork will turn a golden brown. Do not exceed to 370°F which is the smoking point of lard.
- Turn heat to low and carefully add the milk. Stir and it will boil slightly for 30 seconds. Simmer for 20-30 minutes until meat is fall apart tender when gently squeezed with tongs or fork.
- Carefully transfer pork from oil using a slotted spoon or spider to a serving platter lined with paper towels. Allow meat to cool slightly and shred by hand or using forks.
- Serve with hot tortillas, refried beans, sliced onions, tomato slices, cilantro, limes and salsas of choice.
Notes
- Mexican oregano is a relative of Lemon Verbena and is native to Mexico. Similar in that it’s pungent like Mediterranean oregano, Mexican oregano has notes of mild licorice and citrus. Mediterranean oregano is a member of the mint family and most often is used in Greek and Italian recipes. Mediterranean oregano is the one most found in spice racks and supermarkets.
- I buy ARMOUR Manteca/Lard in a 4 pound tub found near the butcher/meat section at my local market. Remember to boil and keep at 350°F. Do not exceed 365-370°F, which is the smoking point of lard.
- Piloncillo is cane sugar, similar in taste to molasses and can be found at most Mexican/Latin markets. It comes in a 8 ounce cone shape, wrapped in plastic. For this recipe you just need 2 ounces, I chop off a quarter chunk, or if I do not have any on hand, will substitute a 1/4 cup of brown sugar.
- **NUTRITIONAL info is for carnitas meat only. Fat and calorie counts stated here are high and do not take into account the discarded fat it is fried in.
- Slightly adapted from Gonzalo Guzman's, Nopalito.
Nutrition Information
Show Details
Calories
489kcal
(24%)
Carbohydrates
10g
(3%)
Protein
62g
(124%)
Fat
21g
(32%)
Saturated Fat
6g
(30%)
Cholesterol
164mg
(55%)
Sodium
152mg
(6%)
Potassium
1100mg
(31%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
7g
(14%)
Vitamin A
55IU
(1%)
Vitamin C
10mg
(11%)
Calcium
63mg
(6%)
Iron
3mg
(17%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 10Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 489 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 489kcal | 24% |
| Carbohydrates | 10g | 3% |
| Protein | 62g | 124% |
| Fat | 21g | 32% |
| Saturated Fat | 6g | 30% |
| Cholesterol | 164mg | 55% |
| Sodium | 152mg | 6% |
| Potassium | 1100mg | 23% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 7g | 14% |
| Vitamin A | 55IU | 1% |
| Vitamin C | 10mg | 11% |
| Calcium | 63mg | 6% |
| Iron | 3mg | 17% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Genuine Reviews
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.9
66 reviews
Excellent
Other Recipes
You'll Also Love
