Carnitas Diana Style Recipes

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 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!

CARNITAS

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.

INSTANT POT CARNITAS

Steps:

• In your Instant Pot, or in a saute pan over medium heat on the stovetop, heat the oil until shimmering and brown the pork on all sides, working in batches if needed. (Transfer the pork to the Instant Pot if you browned it on the stovetop.).
• Add all the remaining ingredients. Place the lid on the pot, turn the pot to the "sealing" position, and select Manual mode and set the time for 20 minutes. Once it finishes cooking after 20 minutes, allow the Instant Pot to manually release for 20 minutes.
• Take off the lid (if the steam valve hasn't dropped, make sure you move the steam value away from "Sealing"). Let the pork cool slightly, then use two forks to shred the meat. It may look like you have way too much liquid, but it will absorb it after you shred the pork.
• Once shredded, use the pork however you like. I like to toast a few tortillas and top them with the pork, pineapple salsa, fresh cilantro, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice. Carnitas make a great salad topping, and are also excellent mixed into rice, in a sandwich (try it! trust me!), or reheated until crispy and served with eggs and hot sauce and avocado.
• Note: If the pork is too liquid-y even after shredding and sitting, transfer it to a large pan and cook it on the stovetop until some of liquid evaporates. This is also an excellent way to get the meat golden and crispy (you can also spread it on a sheet pan and broil it for a minute or two)-for tacos and salads, I like to take this extra step to get those crunchy edges.

CARNITAS-DIANA STYLE

Steps:

• Place pork in crock pot.
• Add everything else.
• Cook on high for 4-5 hours or low for 8.
• You want the pork fork tender so you can pull it apart using 2 forks.
• When done place a large mixing bowl on the counter and center a collander.
• Strain the juice from the pork mixture and reserve.
• Return meat mixture to the crock pot and pull the pork apart, leaving small chunks.
• Keep crock pot on warm.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Place pulled pork in a baking pan-single layer.
• Add enough reserved juice to moisten.
• Bake for 10-15 minutes or until the meat just starts to brown.
• Remove.
• Serve with hot corn tortillas (I fry mine keeping them soft), sour cream, guac, cheese -- whatever lights your candle.
• This recipe serves 4 for a meal, 6 for a snack.