Ernestos Mexican Food Carnitas Recipes

MEXICAN CARNITAS

Steps:

• Place meat in a medium-size roasting pan. Sprinkle with garlic and cilantro. Season with salt and pepper. Squeeze the juice from one orange and the lemon over the meat. Slice the remaining oranges and place over the meat. , Cover and bake at 350° for about 2 hours or until meat is tender. With a slotted spoon, remove meat and drain well on paper towels. Heat a small amount of oil in a skillet and fry meat in batches until browned and crispy. , Serve warm in tortillas with toppings of your choice. Freeze option: Freeze cooled pork mixture in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Fry meat in batches as directed until crispy and brown. Serve as directed.

CARNITAS HUEVOS RANCHEROS

Steps:

• Rub roast with oil, garlic, salt and pepper. Place in a 4- or 5-qt. slow cooker. Top with onion, green chiles, salsa, cilantro, broth and tequila. Cook, covered, on low 7-8 hours or until meat is tender., Remove roast; shred with 2 forks. Discard cooking juices, reserving 1 cup. Return cooking juices and meat to slow cooker. Stir in beans; heat through., Meanwhile, coat a large skillet with cooking spray; place over medium-high heat. Working in batches, break eggs, 1 at a time, into pan; reduce heat to low. Cook until whites are set and yolks begin to thicken, turning once if desired. Divide pork mixture among 12 serving bowls. Top with salsa, eggs, avocados and additional cilantro. Serve with tortillas. Freeze option: Freeze cooled meat mixture and juices in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a saucepan, stirring occasionally; add a little water if necessary.

CARNITAS (AUTHENTIC)

Steps:

• Cut pork meat into chunks and discard the big pieces of fat. (I leave some fat as it adds flavor).
• Add pork chunks, broth, garlic*, comino*, onion* and cilantro* to a dutch oven. If necessary, add water so that the meat is covered.
• Bring to boil, reduce heat to low and simmer for about 3 -4 hours or until meat is very soft and pulls apart easily. (Be careful not to shred meat, needs to stay in chunks).
• Remove the meat carefully from pot and place in a roasting pan. Discard onion and broth. Break the meat apart into smaller chunks (don't shred, it needs to stay in chunks).
• Bake in the oven at 450°F for about 20 minutes or until the meat is brown and crispy.
• Heat (or make homemade) corn tortillas, serve with desired toppings.
• (You may have to adjust garlic, comino, onion and cilantro to your liking, everyone's taste is different. You can add salt and pepper if you like too, I use Nature's seasonings, personal preference).

ERNESTO'S MEXICAN FOOD CARNITAS

Steps:

• Heat oil to medium temperature. Place all ingredients in oil except sugar. Cook on medium temperature for 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours.
• Take sugar and caramelize in small pan over medium heat almost to burn.
• Turn meat mixture heat to high and add caramelized sugar, stir and cook for an additional 15 minutes.
• Drain meat thoroughly.
• Serve with pico de gallo salsa, fresh homemade tortillas, frijoles and margaritas.
• Source: Luis Sanchez, Ernesto's Mexican Food, Sacramento, California.

MEXICAN CARNITAS AS MADE BY CLAUDETTE ZEPEDA RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• To a large pot, add the cubed pork shoulder, onions, avocado leaves, pepper, salt, garlic, and bay leaves. Add enough cold water to cover all the meat. Bring to a boil over high heat, then continue to boil for 20 minutes.
• Add the orange juice, milk, and cola, return to a boil, and simmer until the liquid has reduced by half, about 1 hour.
• Add the lard, let it melt, then boil off the rest of the liquid until the meat begins to fry, 1 hour more.
• Once the meat turns dark golden brown and is crispy, scoop it out of the pot and onto a paper bag or paper towel-lined baking sheet to drain.
• Serve with corn tortillas, guacamole, pickled vegetables, cilantro, lime wedges, cilantro rice, and pinto beans.
• Enjoy!