Slow-Cooker Pork Carnitas
- Level: Easy
- Yield: Serves 4 to 6
- Nutritional Info Per Serving (1 of 6 servings): Calories 714, Total Fat 51 g, Saturated Fat 18 g, Carbohydrates 21 g, Dietary Fiber 4 g, Sugar 10 g, Protein 43 g, Cholesterol 169 mg, Sodium 1133 mg
- Total Time: 5 hr 15 min
- Active Time: 20 min
Transform your taco night with these irresistible slow-cooker pork carnitastender, juicy pork infused with zesty citrus and bold spices, crisped to perfection for that authentic Mexican crunch. Don't skip the vibrant pickled red onions; they cut through the richness and elevate every bite to crave-worthy status!
Ingredients
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- Juice of 2 oranges
- Juice of 2 limes
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- Pinch of ground cloves
- Kosher salt
- 1 medium white onion, cut into quarters
- 6 garlic cloves, peeled
- 2 bay leaves
- 3 pounds boneless pork shoulder, fat trimmed and cut into 2-inch chunks
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 cup lard
- Soft corn tortillas, to serve
- Cilantro leaves, to garnish
- Sliced jalapeos, for serving
- Pickled red onions (recipe below)
Pickled Red Onions
- 2 small red onions, thinly sliced
- 3/4 cup white vinegar
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 3 tablespoons lime juice
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon coriander seeds
- Kosher salt
Cook Mode: Activate Cook Mode to keep your screen awake while whipping up this crowd-pleaser.
- Whisk chicken broth, orange juice, lime juice, cumin, chili powder, oregano, red pepper flakes, cloves, and 2 teaspoons kosher salt in your slow cooker. Stir in onion, garlic, and bay leaves, then add pork chunks, tossing to coat. Cover and cook on high for about 5 hours until fork-tender and bursting with flavor.
- Transfer pork to a bowl with a slotted spoon, discarding bay leaves, onion, and garlic. Shred into bite-sized pieces (keep some chunks for texture) and season with salt and pepper.
- Heat 2 tablespoons lard in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high. Add half the pork, press into an even layer, and cook, pressing occasionally, until crisp and golden, 2-3 minutes. Transfer to a plate, cover with foil. Repeat with remaining lard and pork.
- Load warm tortillas with carnitas, fresh cilantro, jalapeo slices, and pickled red onions. Dig in and savor the magic!
Pickled Red Onions Preparation
- Pack sliced onions into a heatproof bowl. In a saucepan, whisk vinegar, orange juice, lime juice, bay leaves, sugar, coriander seeds, and 1 tablespoon kosher salt.
- Boil over high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves, about 1 minute.
- Pour hot mixture over onions; cool to room temperature. Serve fresh or refrigerate up to 4 days for peak tang.
Copyright 2020 Television Recipe Iseasy, G.P. All rights reserved.
