Quick Cook Carnitas Recipes

CARNITAS RECIPE

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!

PORK CARNITAS

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.

SIMPLE CARNITAS

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.

QUICK CARNITAS TACOS

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, mix the cumin, salt, chili powder, brown sugar, oregano, garlic powder and cayenne pepper.
• Cut the pork into 1-inch pieces and toss with the seasoning mix to coat.
• In a 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the pork, a few pieces at a time, until all are in a single layer in the skillet. Cook for 5 to 8 minutes or until the meat is golden brown and thoroughly cooked, turning to brown on all sides.
• Move the pork to one side of the skillet and add the onion. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes or until the meat starts to soften, stirring once or twice.
• Meanwhile, heat the taco shells as directed on the package. Cook the corn as directed on the package.
• To serve, divide the lettuce evenly among taco shells. Spoon the pork and taco mixture into each taco. Top each taco with the corn, diced tomato and a dollop of sour cream.

PORK CARNITAS RECIPE

Steps:

• Cut the pork into strips approximately 2 inches by 3/4 inches in size (do not trim any of the fat off).
• Place the pork strips in a high-sided skillet, and add just enough cold water to barely cover the pork.
• Add the salt, then bring the liquid to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to bring the water back down to a simmer (medium low heat), and simmer until the water has evaporated, approximately 90 minutes.
• Reduce the heat more, somewhere between low and medium low, and keep cooking the pork for about another 30 minutes, turning the meat every 10 minutes or so, until the fat has rendered out, and the pork is browned all over.
• Serve and enjoy!

CARNITAS (SLOW COOKER RECIPE)

Steps:

• Place pork butt/shoulder in slow cooker.
• In a small bowl, stir together the dried oregano, cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper. Rub the spice mixture on all sides of the pork. Arrange the pork so that it is fat side up in the slow cooker.
• Pour the orange juice and lime juice around the sides of the pork in the slow cooker, so as not to rinse off the spice rub on top of the pork. Add the onion and garlic to the slow cooker.
• Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 5-6 hours, until pork shreds easily.
• Remove the pork from the liquid in the slow cooker. Use two forks to shred the pork, discarding excess fat.
• You can serve the pork now, or (the best way!) crisp it under the broiler. To crisp the pork, spread it out in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet (if desired, you can line the baking sheet with foil for easy clean up). Add a little of the juices from the slow cooker to the pork, but not too much. Put pork under the broiler in the oven for 5 to 10 minutes, until the edges start to crisp.
• Serve in tortillas with toppings as desired, or in a burrito bowl, on a salad, etc.

CARNITAS (OVEN OR SLOW COOKER)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300 F degrees.
• Cut the pork shoulder into 3- to 4-inch chunks, trimming and discarding as much of the excess fat as possible. This cut is extremely well marbled so don't attempt to remove all of the fat, just trim the excess around the edges of each chunk the best you can. Transfer the pieces of pork to a large Dutch oven. (You'll end up tossing some pieces that are mostly fat. This is why you want to start with a 4+ pound roast).
• Combine the Carnitas Seasoning Mix ingredients in a small bowl and sprinkle over the pork. Toss lightly to distribute the seasoning. Add the quartered onion, garlic, the juice from the oranges and limes, the spent orange halves only (discard the spent lime halves), and the bay leaves.
• Cover the pot, transfer to the oven, and cook for 2 ½ to 3 hours or until the meat is very tender and easy to shred. Remove the pot from the oven.
• Coat a large rimmed baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the chunks of pork to the baking sheet and using two forks, shred the meat into small pieces. Measure out ½ cup of the juices from the Dutch oven and pour it over the shredded pork, tossing to combine. Spread the pork out in an even layer.
• Set your oven to BROIL. Transfer the baking sheet to the oven and broil for about 3 minutes, until browned and crisped. Remove from oven and use a spatula or tongs to toss the carnitas, then spread back out in an even layer. Return the baking sheet to the oven for an additional 2 to 3 minutes, or until crisped to your liking. Watch closely so it doesn't burn.
• Follow as directed above, adding the ingredients to a 6-quart slow cooker.
• Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 7 hours or on HIGH for 4 to 5 hours.
• Follow directions above to finish and brown the cooked pork in the oven.
• Toast tortillas in a dry skillet over MEDIUM heat for about 30 seconds per side, or until well toasted.
• Serve on toasted tortillas with toppings of choice.

QUICK COOK CARNITAS

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.