Epic Pork Carnitas Recipe

pork shoulder

🥗Healthier: pork tenderloin

💰Cheaper: pork butt

Pork tenderloin is leaner, while pork butt is often less expensive.

lard

🥗Healthier: olive oil

💰Cheaper: vegetable oil

Olive oil is healthier, while vegetable oil is budget-friendly.

Cut half of a medium onion and mince five cloves of garlic.

Squeeze the juice from one medium or two small oranges.

Sprinkle two teaspoons of salt and one teaspoon of pepper over the pork shoulder.

Add a tablespoon of high-heat oil to a Dutch oven.

Place the pork in the Dutch oven with the fattiest side facing up.

Arrange the chopped onion, minced garlic, cinnamon stick, and bay leaf around the pork.

Drizzle two tablespoons of oil over everything in the pot.

Cover the pot with its lid and place it into the oven.

Cook in the oven until the pork is fork tender, about 3 to 3 ½ hours.

Transfer the pork to a cutting board and let it cool until you can handle it.

Strain the cooking liquid and save it, discarding the onion, oranges, and spices.

Pull the pork with forks or your fingers into larger chunks or shred it, based on your preference.

Spread the pulled pork on a baking sheet and pour over enough of the saved cooking liquid to moisten the pork.

Set an oven rack four to five inches below the broiler and turn it on.

Slide the baking sheet with the pork underneath the broiler and broil for 2 to 5 minutes, stirring the pork once or twice to caramelize the tips.

Keep a close eye while it broils to prevent burning or smoking.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary