Juicy Flavorful Carnitas No Lard Recipes

PORK CARNITAS (MEXICAN SLOW COOKER PULLED PORK)

Steps:

• Rinse and pat dry pork with a paper towel.
• In the bowl of a 6-quart slow cooker, add pork, salt, pepper, oregano, cumin, onion, garlic, lime juice, orange juice, coke, and bay leaves.
• Cover and cook on low heat setting for 8-10 hours, or high heat for 5-6 hours (until the meat falls apart).
• Remove pork and shred with two forks (DO NOT DISCARD THE LIQUID!)

JUICY, FLAVORFUL CARNITAS (NO LARD)

Steps:

• Trim large chunks of fat from the pork shoulder, but leave some fat on for flavor.
• Cut pork shoulder into large chunks. I usually cut them to about half the size of my fist.
• In a large pot, add the oil to the bottom of the pan and brown the pork. Add in the ground herbs while browning the pork.
• Once pork is browned, add the first bottle of beer. Using a wooden or silicone spoon, scrape the bottom of the pot to loosen the delicious browned bits.
• Add the remaining ingredients to the pot(reserve half of the cilantro for later), cover and slow cook for 3-4 hours on low heat or until pork is tender and falling apart.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Remove pork from pot and place into a foil-lined, large baking pan. DO NOT discard the liquid stock.
• Turn the pot with the liquid stock to high heat to reduce the amount of liquid.
• Using two forks, shred the pork in the pan completely.
• Add in reserve cilantro.
• Pour enough of the liquid stock into the pan to halfway cover the pork. Return pot to heat. Place pork in oven.
• Check pork every 15 minutes or so, turning gently and adding liquid stock until all the stock has been used.
• Remove pork from oven when there is almost no liquid left in the pan.
• Serve and enjoy!

CARNITAS

Steps:

• Cut off any big pieces of fat from the pork and put them into a wide, heavy saucepan or frying pan. Cut the pork into strips about 1 1/2 inches long and 3/4 inch wide. Add the pork to the pan with the garlic, orange zest, orange juice, and 2 teaspoons sea salt. The meat should be in a single layer, if possible. Add water to barely cover the meat and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat to medium low, cover partially, and cook, stirring occasionally, until all of the liquid has evaporated, about 1 hour. If the meat is not yet fork tender, add a bit more water and continue cooking.
• Uncover the pan and continue cooking the pork until all the fat is rendered and the meat is browning in the melted fat, 10-15 mintues longer. There is usually enough melted fat in the pan, but if necessary, add the 1 tablespoon oil. When the meat is brown and crisp, using a slotted spoon, transfer it to a colander and let any excess fat drain away.
• Immediately transfer the pork to a warmed serving bowl. Accompany with the warm tortillas to make tacos: slather each tortilla with the guacamole and the salsa. Serve with the refried beans and or rice on the side.