Best 2 Carnitas Simple But Amazing Recipes

Carnitas is a traditional Mexican dish that consists of braised or roasted pork shoulder or butt, which is then shredded and served with a variety of toppings, such as salsa, guacamole, sour cream, and tortillas. It is a popular dish for parties and gatherings, and there are many different recipes for carnitas, each with its own unique flavor profile. This article provides three mouthwatering carnitas recipes that are sure to tantalize your taste buds. The first recipe is for Classic Carnitas, which is made with pork shoulder, orange juice, garlic, cumin, oregano, and chili powder. The second recipe is for Slow Cooker Carnitas, which is a great option for busy weeknights. This recipe uses pork shoulder, salsa, orange juice, garlic, cumin, oregano, and chili powder. The third recipe is for Crispy Carnitas, which is made with pork shoulder, orange juice, garlic, cumin, oregano, chili powder, and baking powder. This recipe results in crispy, flavorful carnitas that are perfect for tacos or burritos.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

SIMPLE CARNITAS

Simple Carnitas image

This the easiest recipe for tasty carnitas. Once cooked, the meat can also be shredded and mixed with BBQ sauce for incredible pulled pork sandwiches, or pan fried in a little oil until crisp on the outside.

Provided by Ken from CA

Categories World Cuisine Recipes Latin American Mexican

Time 3h

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 8

Ingredients

1 (3 1/2) pound boneless pork shoulder, trimmed and cut into 2 inch chunks
2 oranges, quartered
1 large white onion, quartered
6 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
¼ cup kosher salt
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon whole black peppercorns
2 bay leaves

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.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 187.9 calories, Carbohydrate 6.6 g, Cholesterol 62.5 mg, Fat 9.6 g, Fiber 1.3 g, Protein 18.4 g, SaturatedFat 3.4 g, Sodium 2331.5 mg, Sugar 3.8 g

CARNITAS, SIMPLE BUT AMAZING!

Carnitas, Simple but Amazing! image

This is a simple yet amazingly delicious recipe. Yes it's a lot like others posted on the site, yet this is the simplest and if cooked according to the directions you'll have everyone raving about it! Everyone will want to take some leftovers.

Provided by tasmith1

Categories < 4 Hours

Time 2h10m

Yield 6-8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 7

Ingredients

4 lbs boneless country-style ribs
2 cups water
1 1/2 cups orange juice
6 garlic cloves, chopped
2 teaspoons sea salt, more to taste
1 teaspoon orange zest
1 (16 ounce) jar tomatillo salsa

Steps:

Cut the Pork crosswise into at least thirds. Combine and mix Pork, water, Orange Juice, Garlic, Salt and Orange Zest in a Deep very large skillet or a Dutch Oven. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and Simmer for at least 1 hr and 45 minutes or until the pork is so tender that it is falling apart. Stir and add more water as necessary to keep the pork partially submerged, although I've never had to do this.
Transfer to a skillet if you used a Dutch Oven. You may need to drain off some of the liquid at this point. You will want to break up the Pork into small pieces and boil off the remaining liquid until the pork starts to brown and get crispy edges.
Serve with Tomatillo Salsa (Recipe #97531 is fantastic!), Corn Tortillas and whatever other fixings you like.

Tips:

Choose the right cut of pork: Pork shoulder (also known as pork butt) is the best cut for carnitas. It's a fatty, flavorful cut that will become tender and juicy when cooked slowly.
Use a Dutch oven or slow cooker: These cooking methods allow the pork to cook slowly and evenly, resulting in tender, fall-apart carnitas.
Don't overcrowd the pot: If you're using a Dutch oven, make sure to brown the pork in batches so that it doesn't steam.
Add plenty of spices: Carnitas is a flavorful dish, so don't be afraid to add a variety of spices. Some common spices used in carnitas include chili powder, cumin, oregano, garlic powder, and onion powder.
Cook the pork until it's fall-apart tender: This will usually take at least 2 hours on low heat. You can also cook the pork on high heat for a shorter amount of time, but the meat may not be as tender.
Shred the pork before serving: Once the pork is cooked, use two forks to shred it into small pieces.
Serve the carnitas with your favorite toppings: Some popular toppings for carnitas include salsa, guacamole, sour cream, and cheese.

Conclusion:

Carnitas is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. Whether you're serving it on tacos, burritos, or nachos, carnitas is sure to be a hit. So next time you're looking for a flavorful and easy-to-make meal, give carnitas a try.