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Carnitas

Carnitas

Delicious, tender, and crispy pork carnitas, perfect for tacos and other dishes.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 hours
Total Time 10 hours 15 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 12 servings
Calories 578 kcal

Equipment

  • Slow Cooker
  • large non-stick pan

Ingredients
  

  • 2 kg pork shoulder (skinless, boneless) For better juiciness, retain some fat
  • 2.5 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1 jalapeno, deseeded, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • ¾ cup juice from orange From 2 oranges
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano For the rub
  • 2 teaspoon ground cumin For the rub
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil For the rub

Instructions
 

  • Rinse and dry the pork shoulder, rub all over with salt and pepper.
  • Combine the rub ingredients then rub all over the pork.
  • Place the pork in a slow cooker (fat cap up), top with the onion, jalapeño, minced garlic, and squeeze over the juice of the oranges.
  • Slow cook on low for 10 hours or on high for 7 hours.
  • Remove the pork from the slow cooker and let cool slightly. Then shred using two forks.
  • Optional: Skim off the fat from the juices remaining in the slow cooker and discard.
  • If you have a lot more than 2 cups of juice, then reduce it down to about 2 cups.
  • Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large non-stick pan or well-seasoned skillet over high heat. Spread pork in the pan and drizzle over some juices.
  • Wait until the juices evaporate and the bottom side is golden brown and crusty. Turn and briefly sear the other side.
  • Remove pork from skillet. Repeat in batches.
  • Just before serving, drizzle over more juices and serve hot, stuffed in tacos.

Notes

Use pork with the skin removed but with some fat for juiciness. Can be served in tacos with various modifications. Leftovers can be stored and reheated while retaining crispiness.

Nutrition

Serving: 205gCalories: 578kcalCarbohydrates: 1.7gProtein: 45gFat: 42gSaturated Fat: 15gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 19gCholesterol: 173mgSodium: 616mgPotassium: 664mgSugar: 0.5gVitamin A: 40IUVitamin C: 4.3mgCalcium: 60mgIron: 2.9mg
Keyword carnitas, easy, Mexican recipes, pork, Slow Cooker, tacos
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