Best 2 No Waste Tacos De Carnitas With Salsa Verde Food Lab Recipes

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Tacos de Carnitas, a traditional Mexican dish, tantalize taste buds with its delectable flavors and textures. This recipe takes a sustainable approach, using every part of the pork shoulder to create a mouthwatering feast. Accompanied by a refreshing salsa verde, these tacos embody the essence of Mexican cuisine, offering a harmonious blend of savory, tangy, and herbaceous notes. Along with the carnitas and salsa, the article also features recipes for homemade tortillas, guacamole, and pickled onions, providing a complete culinary experience that celebrates the versatility of pork and the diverse flavors of Mexico.

Let's cook with our recipes!

NO-WASTE TACOS DE CARNITAS WITH SALSA VERDE - KENJI



No-Waste Tacos De Carnitas With Salsa Verde - Kenji image

from the amazing Kenji of SeriousEats. Carnitas without the lard ! Carnitas can be prepared through step 3 up to three days in advance. Pork can be crisped up straight from the refrigerator. You can lower the heat in your salsa verde by removing the seeds from the jalapenos, or omitting them entirely before simmering.

Provided by ctbolton

Categories     Pork

Time 5h15m

Yield 6 , 4-6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 14

2 medium onions
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
3 lbs boneless pork butt, rind removed, cut into 2-inch cubes (shoulder)
kosher salt
1 medium orange
6 cloves garlic, split in half
2 bay leaves
1 cinnamon stick, broken into three pieces
1/4 cup vegetable oil
6 medium tomatillos, peeled and split in half (about 1 1/2 pounds)
2 jalapeno peppers, split in half lengthwise, stem removed
3 limes, cut into wedges
1 cup crumbled queso fresco or 1 cup feta
24 corn tortillas

Steps:

  • Adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat oven to 275 degrees. Cut one onion into fine dice and combine with cilantro. Refrigerate until needed. Split remaining onion into quarters. Set aside. Season pork chunks with 1 tablespoon salt and place in a 9 by 13 glass casserole dish. The pork should fill the dish with no spaces. Split orange into quarters and squeeze juice over pork. Nestle squeezed orange pieces into casserole. Add 2 onion quarters, 4 cloves garlic, bay leaves, and cinnamon stick to casserole. Nestle everything into an even layer. Pour vegetable oil over surface. Cover dish tightly with aluminum foil and place in oven. Cook until pork is fork tender, about 3 1/2 hours.
  • Set large fine-meshed strainer 1 quart liquid measure or bowl. Using tongs, remove orange peel, onion, garlic, cinnamon stick, and bay leaves from pork. Transfer pork and liquid to strainer. Let drain for 10 minutes. Transfer pork back to casserole. You should end up with about 1/2 cup liquid and 1/2 cup fat. Using a flat spoon or de-fatter, skim fat from surface and add back to pork. Shred pork into large chunks with fingers or two forks. Season to taste with salt. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Transfer remaining liquid to medium saucepot.
  • Add tomatillos, remaining 2 onion quarters, remaining 2 garlic cloves, and jalapenos to saucepot with strained pork liquid. Add water until it is about 1-inch below the top of the vegetables. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce to a simmer, and cook until all vegetables are completely tender, about 10 minutes. Blend salsa with hand blender or in a stand-up blender until smooth. Season to taste with salt. Allow to cool and refrigerate until ready to use.
  • To serve: Place casserole dish with pork 4-inches under a high broiler and broil until brown and crisp on surface, about 6 minutes. Remove pork, stir with a spoon to expose new bits to heat, and broil again for 6 more minutes until crisp. Tent with foil to keep warm.
  • Meanwhile, heat tortillas. Preheat an 8-inch non-stick skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Working one tortilla at a time, dip tortilla in bowl filled with water. Transfer to hot skillet and cook until water evaporates from first side and tortilla is browned in spots, about 30 seconds. Flip and cook until dry, about 15 seconds longer. Transfer tortilla to a tortilla warmer, or wrap in a clean dish towel. Repeat with remaining tortillas.
  • To eat, stack two tortillas on top of each other. Add two to three tablespoons carnitas mixture to center. Top with salsa verde, chopped onions and cilantro, and queso fresco. Serve with lime wedges.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 1396.2, Fat 72.3, SaturatedFat 21.1, Cholesterol 224.5, Sodium 291.8, Carbohydrate 112.2, Fiber 15.2, Sugar 10.7, Protein 79.5

NO-WASTE TACOS DE CARNITAS WITH SALSA VERDE (FOOD LAB)



NO-WASTE TACOS DE CARNITAS WITH SALSA VERDE (FOOD LAB) image

Categories     Pork

Yield 6-8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

2 medium onions
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
3 pounds boneless pork butt (shoulder), rind removed, cut into 2-inch cubes
Kosher salt
1 medium orange
6 cloves garlic, split in half
2 bay leaves
1 cinnamon stick, broken into three or four pieces
1/4 cup vegetable oil
6 medium tomatillos (about 1 1/2 pounds), peeled and split in half
2 jalapeƱo peppers, split in half lengthwise, stem removed
3 limes, cut into wedges
1 cup crumbled queso fresco or feta
24 corn tortillas

Steps:

  • 2 Set fine-meshed strainer 1 quart liquid measure or bowl. Remove orange peel, onion, garlic, cinnamon stick, and bay leaves from pork. Transfer pork and liquid to strainer. Drain for 10 minutes. Transfer pork back to casserole. You should end up with about 1/2 cup liquid and 1/2 cup fat. Using a flat spoon, skim fat from surface and add back to pork. Shred pork into large chunks with fingers or two forks. Season to taste with salt. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Transfer remaining liquid to medium saucepot. 3 Add tomatillos, remaining 2 onion quarters, remaining 2 garlic cloves, and jalapeƱos to saucepot with strained pork liquid. Add water until about 1-inch below the top of the vegetables. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce to a simmer, and cook until all vegetables are completely tender, about 10 minutes. Blend salsa with hand blender or in a stand-up blender until smooth. Season to taste with salt. Allow to cool and refrigerate until ready to use. 4 To serve: Place casserole dish with pork 4-inches under a high broiler and broil until brown and crisp on surface, about 6 minutes. Remove pork, stir with a spoon to expose new bits to heat, and broil again for 6 more minutes until crisp. Tent with foil to keep warm. 5 Meanwhile, heat tortillas. Preheat an 8-inch non-stick skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Working one tortilla at a time, dip tortilla in bowl filled with water. Transfer to hot skillet and cook until water evaporates from first side and tortilla is browned in spots, about 30 seconds. Flip and cook until dry, about 15 seconds longer.

Tips:

  • Use fresh, high-quality pork shoulder for the best results.
  • Brown the pork in batches to prevent overcrowding and ensure even cooking.
  • Cook the pork on low heat for a long period of time to ensure it is fall-apart tender.
  • Use a variety of spices to flavor the pork, such as chili powder, cumin, and oregano.
  • Make the salsa verde ahead of time to allow the flavors to develop.
  • Serve the tacos with a variety of toppings, such as shredded cabbage, cilantro, and guacamole.

Conclusion:

These no-waste tacos de carnitas with salsa verde are a delicious and satisfying meal that can be made with affordable and easy-to-find ingredients. The pork is slow-cooked until it is fall-apart tender and flavorful, and the salsa verde is bright and refreshing. These tacos are perfect for a weeknight dinner or a casual gathering with friends.

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