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Pork Carnitas

Pork Carnitas is a very versatile main dish. The Mexican cooks working at Acropolis Café and Grille would often prepare this pulled pork for the employees. Below is the recipe they shared with me.
Ingredients

  • 3 pounds boneless pork butt (shoulder)

  • Salt

  • 8 cloves Garlic, peeled

  • Onion, minced

  • 2 teaspoons Paprika

  • 8 ounces Olive Oil

  • 1-2 Oranges, juiced

  • 1 Lime, juiced

  • 2 Bay Leaves

  • 1 teaspoon ground Black Pepper

  • 1 teaspoon ground

  • Cumin

  • Orange peel removed and slice into thin strips

  • 2 whole Cloves

  • Coca-Cola

  • 12 ounce bottle of Negra Modela Beer

  • Pinch of ground cinnamon, Red Pepper Flakes and oregano (optional)

Directions
  • Preheat oven to 300˚f.
  • Remove fat from pork; cut pork meat into 2-3 inch cubes and roughly chop the fat. Sprinkle liberally with salt.
  • Rub garlic, olive oil, half of the orange juice, black pepper, cumin, paprika and minced onion together in a bowl until pork is coated completely.
  • In a large sauce pan, add oil.
  • When oil is heated add the coated meat and brown. Searing for 4-5 minutes on each side until browned.
  • Add orange rinds, bay leaves, 2 whole cloves, lemon juice, Coca-Cola and bottle of Negra Modela beer.
  • Transfer mixture to a 9x13-inch baking dish or Dutch oven. Place baking dish on a baking sheet and cover baking dish tightly with heavy-duty aluminum foil or lid.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until pork is fork-tender, about 2-3 hours. Remove baking dish from oven.
  • Set oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler.
  • Transfer meat to a colander set over a bowl. Remove garlic, bay leaves, and orange peels from baking dish and pour accumulated juices from the baking dish over meat in colander into the bowl. Return meat to a large cookie sheet and drizzle accumulated juices over each piece of meat.
  • Cook meat under the preheated broiler for 3 minutes. Drizzle more accumulated juices over meat and continue broiling until crispy, 3 to 5 minutes.
  • Transfer pork to a serving plate and drizzle more accumulated juices over the top.

Categories

EntreeMeatMexicanSpicyAmerican