Chipotle Braised Pork Tacos Recipes

BRAISED PORK TACOS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Season the pork generously with salt and pepper, to taste, and let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• Pat the pork dry with a paper towel. Heat a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over high heat with 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil, 2 turns of the pan. Put the pork in the pot and evenly brown the meat all over, it will take about 10 to 12 minutes; remove the pork to a plate and reserve.
• Turn heat down to medium-high, and add the extra-virgin olive oil to the pot, a couple of turns of the pan. Add the onions and garlic, salt and pepper, to taste, the oregano, 1 sliced chili pepper and 2 bay leaves and cook for 7 to 8 minutes. Deglaze the pot with the beer, scraping up the bits stuck to the bottom of the pot. Stir in the chicken stock and orange juice. Add the reserved pork back to the pot (the liquid should come about 2/3 the way up the meat) and bring to a simmer. Cover and put the pork in the oven, turning the meat halfway through cooking, until the meat is very tender, about 2 1/2-3 hours. Remove the pork from the pot, to a cutting board and tent with foil to keep warm. When cool enough to handle, pull the meat apart with 2 forks.
• Simmer the braising liquid over medium heat until reduced by half. Add the chipotle and adobo sauce and the lime juice. Add about 2/3 of the shredded meat and stir. Cool the remaining shredded pork and chill for another use.
• While the pork is cooking, prepare the pickled red onions: in a small saucepot, bring the white wine vinegar, sugar, teaspoon of salt, remaining chili pepper and bay leaves to a simmer over low heat. Put the sliced red onions in a small sealable container. Carefully pour the hot liquid over the onions, cover and give it a shake. You may need to lift the lid to release some of the pressure. Every now and then, give it a good shake. Refrigerate to cool.
• To serve, put the chipotle pulled pork on a platter and garnish with pickled onions and pickled jalapeno slices. Serve with shredded cabbage, crumbled cheese and tortillas for wrapping.

SLOW-COOKER CHIPOTLE-ORANGE PORK TACOS

Steps:

• Rub pork all over with 2 Tbsp. salt. Let sit at room temperature 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, mix oregano, brown sugar, chili powder, cinnamon, orange zest, and remaining 2 tsp. salt in a small bowl. Rub all over pork, then transfer pork to slow cooker insert. Add orange juice, lime juice, and garlic, then toss to coat. Cook on high 8 hours or on low 10 hours until pork is super-tender and falls apart easily when raked with a fork.
• Using tongs, transfer pork to a rimmed baking sheet and let cool slightly. Strain juices left in slow cooker through a fine-mesh sieve into a large heatproof measuring cup or bowl. Let sit 10 minutes, then spoon off and discard fat. Transfer 1/2 cup juices to a resealable container and chill to use in Chile-Orange Pork Stir-Fry.
• Using 2 forks or tongs, shred meat into bite-size pieces, discarding any larger pieces of fat. Transfer 2 cups meat to a resealable container and chill for Chile-Orange Pork Stir-Fry, or reserve for another use. Return remaining meat (you should have about 6 cups) to slow cooker along with 1 cup strained juices. Keep warm until ready to use.
• Serve shredded pork with tortillas, sour cream, cilantro, onions, and hot sauce for assembling tacos.
• Do Ahead
• Pork can be marinated 1 day ahead. Cover slow cooker insert with plastic and chill. Pork can be cooked 3 days ahead. Shred, then chill in an airtight container along with juices; rewarm gently before serving.

CHIPOTLE-BRAISED PORK TACOS

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a medium Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the onion, season with some salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cilantro stems and cook, stirring once or twice, until softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste, chipotle and adobo sauce.
• Season the pork with some salt, add it to the Dutch oven and cook, stirring once or twice, until golden brown on all sides, about 5 minutes. Stir in the beer, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Stir in the chicken stock and lime zest and juice and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the pork is fork-tender, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, using your hands, shape the masa into 6 even balls. Cut some wax paper into a few squares slightly larger than the tortilla press. Spray 2 pieces with some nonstick spray. Sandwich a ball of masa between the pieces of wax paper, sprayed sides against the dough, and press to flatten. Remove the tortilla and set aside. Repeat with the remaining dough, using new pieces of wax paper if necessary.
• Heat a cast-iron griddle or pan over medium-high heat and cook the tortillas until golden brown, about 30 seconds per side. Keep warm while you finish the pork.
• Taste the pork and adjust the seasoning as needed. Fold some pork in each tortilla and top with the queso fresco, some cilantro and a squeeze of lime.

CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL BRAISED PORK SHOULDER RECIPE

Steps:

• Generously salt and pepper the pork shoulder; let meat come to room temperature, about 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• Add olive oil to a large ovenproof pan. Sear the pork over medium-high heat until very brown on all sides. Remove pork from the pan; let rest on a platter for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Leaving an even coating, drain excess oil from the pan. Add onions; sweat over low heat until translucent. Return pork to the pan; add remaining ingredients. Cover pan, place in the oven and cook for 2 to 3 hours or until the internal temperature reaches 140 to 150 degrees F. Let pork rest 10 to 15 minutes before slicing.
• Use as burrito/taco meat or you can serve with vegetables and potatoes.