Recipes

Carnitas Tacos

Pork is seasoned and cooked until it is fall-apart tender. The cooked meat is combined with pico de gallo, shredded cabbage and avocado and used to fill warmed tortillas.

Submitted By: Based on a recipe from Whole Foods Market
Yield: 6-8 Servings
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Ingredients

Carnitas
3 lbs boneless pork loin, cut into 1-inch pieces (or buy pre-cut pork stew meat)
3 large garlic cloves, minced
1 to 2 jalapeños, minced (optional)
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup fresh orange juice
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1 cup chicken stock

16 corn tortillas, warmed

Pico de Gallo
4 large ripe tomatoes, finely chopped
1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1/2 small red onion, finely chopped
1 jalapeño pepper, finely chopped (optional)
2 to 3 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste

Instructions

For the Pico de Gallo, combine all tomatoes, cilantro, red onion, jalapeño peppers, lime juice, olive oil and salt. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use. Use any fresh, juicy tomatoes and adjust proportions to your own taste. Makes about 2 cups.

Preheat oven to 325°F.

Toss pork with garlic, jalapeños, cumin, salt and pepper. In a large saucepan, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add pork and cook, stirring frequently, until lightly browned on all sides, about 10 minutes.

Transfer to roasting pan and add orange juice, lime juice and chicken stock. Cover tightly (you don't want to lose the steam from a loose fitting lid) and place in oven for 2 to 2 1/2 hours, until meat is very tender. If juices cook out, add more chicken stock.

Allow pork to cool and absorb remaining juices. Shred meat with a fork.

To serve, pass warmed tortillas and allow each person to make their own tacos.


Nutritional information

 

Posted: 10/4/2008 12:00:00 AM

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