Best 8 Carnitas Braised And Fried Pork Recipes

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Carnitas, a traditional Mexican dish, is a delectable pork-based dish that has earned its place as a beloved culinary treasure. Its name, derived from the Spanish word "carne," meaning "meat," aptly captures the essence of this dish. The process of making carnitas involves braising and then frying pork until it reaches a state of tender perfection. The result is a succulent and flavorful meat that can be enjoyed in tacos, burritos, tortas, and various other Mexican dishes.

This article presents a comprehensive guide to making carnitas, featuring two distinct recipes: the classic Carnitas Michoacan and a modern take on the dish, Carnitas en Salsa Verde. Both recipes are carefully explained with detailed instructions, ensuring that even novice cooks can achieve carnitas mastery.

In Carnitas Michoacan, pork shoulder is marinated in a flavorful blend of spices and citrus, then braised in lard until fall-off-the-bone tender. The meat is then shredded and crisped up by frying, resulting in a combination of tender and crispy textures.

For those who prefer a saucy twist, Carnitas en Salsa Verde offers a vibrant green sauce made from tomatillos, green chiles, and cilantro. The pork is braised in this flavorful sauce, infusing it with a tangy and herbaceous flavor profile.

Whether you're a seasoned home cook or just starting your culinary journey, this article provides all the necessary guidance to create mouthwatering carnitas that will tantalize your taste buds and transport you to the heart of Mexican cuisine.

Here are our top 8 tried and tested recipes!

CARNITAS ~ MEXICAN BRAISED PORK



Carnitas ~ Mexican Braised Pork image

This old-school carnitas--pork shoulder simmered with onion, garlic, bay leaf, and orange until falling-apart tender and crispy--is excellent in burritos, tacos, or on its own. And it can be made in an Instant Pot or slow cooker.

Provided by Roberto Santibañez

Categories     Mains

Time 2h

Number Of Ingredients 10

4 pounds fatty pork shoulder, cut into 2-inch pieces
3 cups cold water
1 medium white onion, thinly sliced
1/2 orange, preferably seedless, cut into 2 wedges ((or 1 to 2 oranges if using the Instant Pot Variation))
1/4 cup lard, (or, for the lard averse, vegetable oil)
8 garlic cloves, peeled
3 bay leaves
1 tablespoon sweetened condensed milk
2 teaspoons dried oregano, preferably Mexican, crumbled
1 1/2 to 2 teaspoons fine salt, or 3 to 4 teaspoons kosher salt

Steps:

  • Place all of the ingredients in a wide 6- to 7-quart heavy pot. (Don't worry if everything isn't completely submerged.) Bring to a boil, skimming any scum that collects on the surface as necessary.
  • Reduce the heat to medium-lowish and simmer vigorously, stirring occasionally, until the pork is fork-tender and the liquid has completely evaporated, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Discard the orange pieces and bay leaves.☞TESTER TIP: If the liquid hasn't completely evaporated, transfer the pork to a bowl and continue to simmer the liquid, stirring often, until it is reduced and only a glossy layer of oil remains.
  • Preheat the oven to 450°F (232°C)
  • If your pot isn't ovenproof, transfer the pork and fat to a dish of some sort that's ovenproof. Slide the pork into the oven, uncovered, and let it fry in its own fat until it's browned, 20 to 30 minutes. There's no need to stir. Serve it straight from the pot. (Leftovers-as if!-keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.)

Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 portion, Calories 291 kcal, Carbohydrate 6 g, Protein 28 g, Fat 17 g, SaturatedFat 5 g, TransFat 1 g, Cholesterol 94 mg, Sodium 550 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 3 g, UnsaturatedFat 11 g

PORK CARNITAS



Pork Carnitas image

Many find carnitas a little dry or flavorless. These have a great, distinctive flavor and are requested by friends and family over and over. Serve with warm, fresh tortillas and salsa.

Provided by Nette

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     Latin American     Mexican

Time 3h45m

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 10

¼ cup vegetable oil
4 pounds pork shoulder, cut into several large pieces
3 tablespoons kosher salt
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed
3 tablespoons lime juice
1 tablespoon chili powder
½ teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon ground cumin
4 (14.5 ounce) cans chicken broth

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.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 249.8 calories, Carbohydrate 2.3 g, Cholesterol 62.5 mg, Fat 19.1 g, Fiber 0.4 g, Protein 16.2 g, SaturatedFat 5.9 g, Sodium 2072.3 mg, Sugar 1.1 g

CARNITAS



Carnitas image

Carnitas (or "little meats") are a traditional Mexican dish of cubed pork shoulder braised with spices and citrus until tender. Fresh orange, crushed garlic, earthy oregano and aromatic cinnamon and bay leaf create a rich and fragrant braising liquid that imparts its savory flavors into the pork as it cooks. There's very little hands-on work involved, and the carnitas can be made a day ahead. Store the pork in the liquid overnight, then gently reheat before serving. A final finish under the broiler creates a golden, crispy exterior on the meat.

Provided by Kay Chun

Categories     dinner, meat, tacos, main course

Time 3h

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

3 pounds pork shoulder, cut into 2-inch chunks
1 tablespoon kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal), plus more for seasoning
1 teaspoon black pepper, plus more for seasoning
1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 navel orange, quartered
1 white onion, quartered
7 garlic cloves, crushed
1 cinnamon stick, broken into 2 pieces
1 bay leaf (dried or fresh)
1/4 cup neutral oil, such as safflower or canola
Warmed tortillas, chopped white onion, chopped cilantro, sliced avocado and lime wedges, for serving

Steps:

  • Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a large Dutch oven, combine pork, 1 tablespoon salt, 1 teaspoon pepper and the oregano, and toss to evenly coat the meat in the spices. Squeeze orange juice all over the pork and add the juiced orange quarters to the pot. Add onion, garlic, cinnamon stick and bay leaf, and toss until well incorporated, nestling everything in an even layer. Drizzle oil evenly over the meat. Cover and braise in oven until pork is tender, about 2 1/2 hours, stirring once halfway through the cooking.
  • Heat broiler to high, setting a rack 6 inches from the heat source. Transfer pork to a rimmed baking sheet and shred the meat. Strain juices from the pot through a fine-mesh sieve into a small bowl, pressing on the solids; discard solids. Skim fat from top and reserve the juices.
  • Broil pork until golden and crisp in spots, about 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer carnitas to serving plates and drizzle with some of the reserved juices. Serve warm with tortillas and toppings of choice.

COKE-BRAISED PORK CARNITAS



Coke-Braised Pork Carnitas image

Provided by Edward Mendoza

Categories     Citrus     Pork     Braise     Bon Appétit

Yield Makes 6 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 4

4 pounds pork butt or pork shoulder (preferably Berkshire pork), trimmed, cut into 3x3-inch chunks
10 1/4 cups peanut oil, divided
4 cups orange juice
2 1/2 cups cola-flavored soda, divided

Steps:

  • Sprinkle pork with salt and pepper. Heat 1/4 cup peanut oil in heavy 8-quart pot over high heat. Working in batches, add pork to pot and sauté until browned on all sides, about 7 minutes per batch. Using slotted spoon, transfer pork to large bowl.
  • Pour remaining 10 cups peanut oil into same pot. Attach deep-fry thermometer to side of pot; heat over medium heat until thermometer registers 280°F. Add pork to oil in pot (temperature of oil will drop to between 180°F and 200°F). Cook pork over medium heat until brown and tender, adjusting heat as necessary to maintain temperature of oil between 200°F and 220°F, about 1 1/2 hours. Using slotted spoon, transfer pork to another large pot. Add orange juice and 2 cups cola to pork and bring to boil; reduce heat and simmer until pork is very tender, about 35 minutes. Add remaining 1/2 cup cola and stir over medium heat until meat falls apart and liquid is absorbed, about 5 minutes longer. Season generously with salt and pepper. Transfer to bowl and serve.

ORANGE AND MILK-BRAISED PORK CARNITAS



Orange and Milk-Braised Pork Carnitas image

It must have been the subliminal beer and liquor advertising that got me, because I wasn't even thinking about Cinco de Mayo when I decided to make this milk-braised pork carnitas recipe. The milk braising beforehand seems to give the meat a little extra succulence. The subtle sweetness from the orange is also very nice.

Provided by Chef John

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     Latin American     Mexican

Time 2h40m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 10

3 ½ pounds boneless pork shoulder, cut into large pieces
1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon kosher salt, or more to taste
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 bay leaves
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 orange, juiced and zested
2 cups whole milk

Steps:

  • Season pork with pepper and salt.
  • Heat oil in large pot over high heat. Working in batches, cook pork in the hot oil until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes. Return all cooked pork and accumulated juice to pot.
  • Season pork with bay leaves, cumin, dried oregano, and cayenne pepper. Stir in fresh orange juice, orange zest, and milk. Bring mixture to a boil over high heat; reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, until meat is fork tender but not falling apart, about 2 hours.
  • Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
  • Remove pork from liquid. Skim some fat from the pot to grease a baking dish. Transfer the pieces of pork to the baking dish. Drizzle about 2 more tablespoons of the floating fat over the meat. Season with more salt, if needed.
  • Bake in preheated oven until pork is browned, about 15 minutes. Stir pork.
  • Turn on oven's broiler. Cook pork under broiler until crisp, 2 to 3 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 324.9 calories, Carbohydrate 3.7 g, Cholesterol 84.2 mg, Fat 24.1 g, Fiber 0.4 g, Protein 22.4 g, SaturatedFat 8.5 g, Sodium 804.7 mg, Sugar 2.8 g

CARNITAS: BRAISED AND FRIED PORK RECIPE



Carnitas: Braised and Fried Pork Recipe image

Provided by mirelsonp

Number Of Ingredients 10

4 pounds fatty pork shoulder, cut into 2-inch pieces
3 cups water
1 medium white onion, thinly sliced
1/2 orange, cut into 2 pieces
1/4 cup pork lard or vegetable oil
8 garlic cloves, peeled
3 bay leaves
1 tablespoon sweetened condensed milk
2 teaspoons dried oregano, preferably Mexican, crumbled
2 teaspoons fine salt, or 4 teaspoons kosher salt

Steps:

  • Put all the ingredients in a wide 6-to 7-quart heavy pot (don't worry if the pork is not completely covered) and bring the water to a boil, skimming the surface as necessary. Lower the heat and simmer vigorously, stirring occasionally, until the pork is fork-tender and the liquid has completely evaporated, 1½ to 2 hours. Discard the orange pieces and bay leaves. If the liquid hasn't evaporated after 2 hours, transfer the pork pieces to a bowl and let the liquid continue to bubble away, stirring often, until it has. Preheat the oven to 450°F. Transfer the pork and fat to an ovenproof dish, if necessary, and brown the pork, uncovered, in the oven for 20 to 30 minutes. There's no need to stir. Carnitas keeps in the refrigerator for up to three days. Note: If you want to make half a batch, cut the amount of pork, salt, and oregano in half, but use the same amount of the remaining ingredients and water. You will need to use a slightly smaller pot.

BRAISED PORK CARNITAS



Braised Pork Carnitas image

Deliciously tender and juicy braised pulled pork carnitas can be used in fried or street tacos. Perfect for burritos and chimichangas or taco bowls.

Provided by Christopher Martinez

Categories     Main Dish Recipes     Taco Recipes

Time 5h40m

Yield 24

Number Of Ingredients 13

5 pounds pork shoulder roast
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 tablespoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
½ small yellow onion, chopped
6 cups pork stock
1 pinch salt and ground black pepper to taste
12 each green onions, chopped
24 each fresh yellow corn tortillas
4 cups thinly shaved green cabbage
10 ounces crumbled queso fresco
2 cups fresh salsa
2 each limes, cut into wedges

Steps:

  • Heat a large, cast iron Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Season pork shoulder with garlic, 2 tablespoons kosher salt, and 1 teaspoon black pepper. Place pork shoulder fat-side down into the hot pot and sear until deep golden brown on all sides, 4 to 5 minutes. Add yellow onion to cook with rendered drippings for 1 minute. Slowly pour in pork stock to cover pork shoulder.
  • Bring to a light boil; cover and braise until fork-tender, 4 1/2 to 5 hours.
  • Transfer to a bowl and shred into carnitas, adding 1 1/2 cups of pork stock for moisture and more salt and pepper to taste.
  • Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add green onions and cook until slightly browned, 7 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a bowl.
  • Heat corn tortillas in the hot skillet on both sides, 2 to 3 minutes total for each tortilla. Place braised pork into tortillas and garnish with cabbage, queso fresco, salsa, green onions, and a squeeze of lime.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 210.8 calories, Carbohydrate 16 g, Cholesterol 41.4 mg, Fat 10.7 g, Fiber 2.8 g, Protein 13.4 g, SaturatedFat 4 g, Sodium 820 mg, Sugar 1.7 g

CRISPY PORK CARNITAS



Crispy Pork Carnitas image

There's nothing like carnitas. Cubes of fragrantly spiced pork are slowly cooked in lard until they're crispy on the outside while at the same time remaining soft and succulent inside. Bust some up on a warm tortilla, drizzle with braising liquid, top with a little salsa, onion, and cilantro, and you're probably enjoying the world's best taco.

Provided by Chef John

Categories     Main Dish Recipes     Pork     100+ Pulled Pork Recipes

Time 3h55m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 10

3 pounds boneless pork butt (shoulder)
8 cloves garlic, peeled
¼ cup olive oil
1 orange, juiced, orange parts of peel removed and sliced into thin strips
1 tablespoon kosher salt
2 bay leaves, torn in half
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon ground cumin
¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon Chinese 5-spice powder

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 275 degrees F (135 degrees C).
  • Remove fat from pork; cut pork meat into 2-inch cubes and roughly chop fat.
  • Mix pork, garlic, olive oil, orange peel, orange juice, salt, bay leaves, black pepper, cumin, cinnamon, and 5-spice powder together in a bowl until pork is coated completely. Transfer mixture to a 9x13-inch baking dish. Place baking dish on a baking sheet and cover baking dish tightly with heavy-duty aluminum foil.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until pork is fork-tender, about 3 1/2 hours.
  • Set oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler.
  • Transfer meat to a colander set over a bowl. Remove garlic, bay leaves, and orange peels from baking dish and pour accumulated juices from the baking dish over meat in colander into the bowl. Return meat to the baking dish and drizzle accumulated juices over each piece of meat.
  • Cook meat under the preheated broiler for 3 minutes. Drizzle more accumulated juices over meat and continue broiling until crispy, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer pork to a serving plate and drizzle more accumulated juices over the top.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 317.4 calories, Carbohydrate 2.1 g, Cholesterol 89.2 mg, Fat 22.6 g, Fiber 0.4 g, Protein 25.5 g, SaturatedFat 6 g, Sodium 1036 mg, Sugar 0.1 g

Tips:

  • Choose the right cut of pork: Pork shoulder (also known as pork butt) is the best cut for carnitas because it is well-marbled and has a lot of connective tissue, which breaks down during cooking and makes the meat tender and flavorful.
  • Braise the pork first: Braising the pork in a flavorful liquid before frying it helps to tenderize the meat and infuse it with flavor.
  • Use a Dutch oven or heavy pot: A Dutch oven or heavy pot with a tight-fitting lid is ideal for braising the pork because it distributes heat evenly and prevents the meat from drying out.
  • Don't overcrowd the pot: When frying the pork, don't overcrowd the pot or the meat will not crisp up properly.
  • Use a slotted spoon to remove the pork from the oil: This will help to drain off excess oil.
  • Serve the carnitas immediately: Carnitas are best served immediately, while they are still hot and crispy.

Conclusion:

Carnitas are a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. Whether you serve them on tacos, burritos, or nachos, or simply eat them on their own, carnitas are sure to be a hit. So next time you're looking for a tasty and satisfying meal, give carnitas a try!

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