Carnitas: Braised and Fried Pork

Gluten Free
Health score
14%
Carnitas: Braised and Fried Pork
120 min.
8
288kcal

Suggestions


Indulge in the rich, savory flavors of homemade Carnitas, a traditional Mexican dish that promises to elevate your lunch or dinner experience. This gluten-free recipe features tender, braised pork shoulder that is slowly cooked to perfection, allowing the flavors of garlic, bay leaves, and zesty orange to infuse every bite. The result is a melt-in-your-mouth texture that is simply irresistible.

What sets this Carnitas apart is the final touch: a quick trip to the oven to achieve a delightful crispy exterior. The contrast between the tender meat and the crispy edges creates a satisfying bite that will have your taste buds dancing. Perfect for serving in tacos, burritos, or simply on its own, this dish is versatile enough to please any crowd.

With a preparation time of just 120 minutes, you can easily whip up a batch that serves eight, making it an ideal choice for family gatherings or casual get-togethers with friends. Plus, the leftovers (if there are any!) can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days, allowing you to enjoy this delicious meal multiple times. So gather your ingredients, roll up your sleeves, and get ready to impress with this mouthwatering Carnitas recipe!

Ingredients

  •  bay leaves 
  •  garlic clove peeled
  • 0.5  cranberry-orange relish cut into 2 pieces
  • teaspoons oregano dried crumbled
  • pounds boston butt pork shoulder cut into 2-inch pieces
  • teaspoons kosher salt fine
  • tablespoon condensed milk sweetened
  • 0.3 cup vegetable oil 
  • cups water 
  • medium onion white thinly sliced

Equipment

  • bowl
  • oven
  • pot

Directions

  1. Put all the ingredients in a wide 6-to 7-quart heavy pot (don't worry if the pork is not completely covered) and bring the water to a boil, skimming the surface as necessary. Lower the heat and simmer vigorously, stirring occasionally, until the pork is fork-tender and the liquid has completely evaporated, 1½ to 2 hours. Discard the orange pieces and bay leaves. If the liquid hasn't evaporated after 2 hours, transfer the pork pieces to a bowl and let the liquid continue to bubble away, stirring often, until it has.
  2. Preheat the oven to 450°F.
  3. Transfer the pork and fat to an ovenproof dish, if necessary, and brown the pork, uncovered, in the oven for 20 to 30 minutes. There's no need to stir.
  4. Carnitas keeps in the refrigerator for up to three days.
  5. If you want to make half a batch, cut the amount of pork, salt, and oregano in half, but use the same amount of the remaining ingredients and water. You will need to use a slightly smaller pot.
  6. Reprinted with permission from Truly Mexican by Roberto Santibañez with JJ Goode, © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Nutrition Facts

Calories288kcal
Protein39.1%
Fat53.88%
Carbs7.02%

Properties

Glycemic Index
20.69
Glycemic Load
1.73
Inflammation Score
-6
Nutrition Score
17.947826091281%

Flavonoids

Hesperetin
2.23mg
Naringenin
1.25mg
Luteolin
0.02mg
Isorhamnetin
0.69mg
Kaempferol
0.11mg
Myricetin
0.06mg
Quercetin
2.88mg

Nutrients percent of daily need

Calories:288.26kcal
14.41%
Fat:16.97g
26.11%
Saturated Fat:4.61g
28.82%
Carbohydrates:4.98g
1.66%
Net Carbohydrates:4.26g
1.55%
Sugar:2.76g
3.07%
Cholesterol:93.54mg
31.18%
Sodium:695.32mg
30.23%
Alcohol:0g
100%
Alcohol %:0%
100%
Protein:27.71g
55.42%
Vitamin B1:1.25mg
83.04%
Selenium:41.74µg
59.63%
Vitamin B6:0.64mg
31.99%
Vitamin B3:6mg
30.02%
Zinc:4.46mg
29.71%
Phosphorus:296.29mg
29.63%
Vitamin B2:0.46mg
26.93%
Vitamin B12:1.17µg
19.55%
Potassium:534.58mg
15.27%
Vitamin K:15.76µg
15.01%
Vitamin B5:1.22mg
12.16%
Iron:1.99mg
11.04%
Vitamin C:7.51mg
9.1%
Magnesium:34.94mg
8.74%
Copper:0.17mg
8.53%
Manganese:0.12mg
5.81%
Calcium:49.66mg
4.97%
Vitamin E:0.67mg
4.48%
Folate:13.6µg
3.4%
Fiber:0.72g
2.86%
Source:Epicurious