1.10.2012

Carnitas


Such a simple recipe resulting in so much flavor! Carnitas (which translates "little meats") may take a few hours to cook, but everyone in the family loves to eat them. Adding all sorts of toppings, they're sort of like a Mexican pizza, using a corn tortilla as the base. I love the tang of lime in this recipe and the barely-there orange is just right. Serve these with slaw, avocado, salsa, limes, tomatillos..... even sour cream. Any way you want, but I personally love the simplicity of a nice hot and crunchy corn tortilla with the caramelized pork on top, letting that pork flavor shine through. Even better the next day.


Carnitas
A combination of recipes





Ingredients:
3 pounds pork butt, with plenty of fat, cut in 2 inch cubes
1 cup fresh orange juice
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
3-4 garlic cloves, peeled and minced

1 teaspoon cumin
1 1/2 teaspoons salt

Method:

In a large Dutch oven, mix the pork, both juices, garlic, cumin and salt. Add enough water to just cover the meat. Bring to a boil and then reduce to simmer. Simmer without stirring for 2 hours.
Then, raise the heat to medium high and cook another 45 minutes, stirring frequently so the meat doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan. Most of the liquid will evaporate and all that's left is pork fat. Brown the carnitas in the fat until caramelized. Serve over a corn torilla with any fixings you like.



35 comments:

  1. I love the tang of limes and oranges too Barbara. Yum.
    Sam

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  2. These are definite crowd pleasers! I love the citrus in them! Makes the dish feel lighter.

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  3. Love the shot of the pork, coleslaw and salsa, great meal. The pork looks amazing with the flavorful crust!

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  4. I think I can actually smell the carnitas! Such a simple recipe but packed with flavor. The accompaniments are my favorites.

    Best,
    Bonnie

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  5. Love these Barbara, look nice:)

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  6. These are such fun to put together, who wouldn't want to spend a little time in the kitchen for such an outcome.

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  7. So droolworthy! Exactly the kind of food that I enjoy.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  8. Strangely enough I have never had these. They look PACKED full of flavor!

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  9. They look so tasty and loaded with flavours and deliciousness!

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  10. With lime juice and orange juice this has got to be a hit!

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  11. I don't cook meat, but I'm going to make an exception. I NEEEEEEED to try this!!

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  12. I love Mexican and the combination of flavors in this dish is very attractive. I would love to try it!

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  13. I love Mexican food, the flavours of the ingredients in this dish have my mouth watering already, yum!

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  14. This is my favorite thing to eat at our favorite Mexican spot! Thanks for posting, this looks simple and delicious!

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  15. Love those flavors together. These look delicious.

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  16. This would so great for a party. Guests could build their own tacos or tostadas. I'm thinking ahead to the Super Bowl!

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  17. Pork, fat, little meats? I'm there!!! Sounds like a tempting delight for Super Bowl watching...

    Thanks for sharing, Barbara...

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  18. Carnitas are a party staple at our house, however I don't use orange juice in mine I use chipotle chilies. Next time I'll use both.
    Mimi

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  19. Perfect Super Bowl food!

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  20. Happy New Year! Glad to be back to blogging with such a great recipe--your carnitas look great!

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  21. Those beautiful caramelized bites of pork just made my mouth water---plus those garlicky citrus tastes,what's not to love about this dish?

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  22. Is that it - with all that flavour - I would have thought so much more! I am definitely IN!! The comments are informative, too!
    :)
    V

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  23. mmm, carnitas is always the first thing i want to order at a mexican restaurant, delicious!

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  24. Yum, I took one look at this and knew it would be a hit in my house. I shall give it a try and let you know! Thanks for posting!

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  25. Lovely! My grandkids are coming this weekend and this might be just the ticket...

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  26. It's funny, my daughter who claims she hates all kinds of meat will eat carnitas at a Mexican restaurant - I'll have to make this for her at home!

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  27. I love all the zesty flavors going on in this dish. This is the exact sort of meal I love to serve in January -- fun and festive -- to brighten up the coldest month of the year!

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  28. I love carnitas; perhaps we are long lost cousins? I have never made them with orange juice and will absolutely have to try this. Thanks!

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  29. What's going on with the magic picture??? I can just imagine what it looks like... love all those flavors. Sometimes fat it a good thing... especially when it caramelizes meat... pure evil.

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  30. there's no way you could wrap that tortilla around those hunks of carnitas, but that's okay. in this instance, the more, the better. :)

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  31. I'm salivating just thinking about how good this tastes! What lovely flavors.

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  32. These look so good!

    Thanks for your comments about Anse Chastenet. I had remembered the post you wrote about the artist who had some work there, and who tragically died. I'll be sure to look up his art while we're there.

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  33. These look so good!

    Thanks for your comments about Anse Chastenet. I had remembered the post you wrote about the artist who had some work there, and who tragically died. I'll be sure to look up his art while we're there.

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  34. I've ordered carnitas many many times in restaurants and can't believe I've never thought about making them. These look so good Barbara! Bookmarked.

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