Authentic Braised Pork Carnitas

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Authentic Braised Pork Carnitas

I was a Mexican in another life. Of this I am entirely convinced, especially since I am prone to bouts of fluent Spanish. Sure, some say it’s the tequila talking, but when I drink Vodka I don’t start waxing poetic in Russian. Nor do I take on a Scottish brogue when I sip on scotch. I’ve always had an affinity for the language, the food, the country and the culture of Mexico. And my very favorite Mexican dish of all is authentic braised pork carnitas!

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Recipe card and instructions updated 5/5/23

I’ve had many fun adventures eating, drinking (ahem) and dancing my way all around Mexico. I’ve been to the tops (and inside) of the incredible pyramids, bartered for silver jewelry, snorkeled in the crystal blue Caribbean in the Yucatan, had tequila poppers poured down my throat at Papas an Beer, and explored the Zona Rosa in Mexico City. There was that time when I’ve sipped pina coladas in a restaurant deep in the steamy jungle near Puerto Vallarta, and eaten mole in the lovely mountain town of Puebla where the complex sauce was conceived. And yeah, I’ve gotten sick. So sick. And once I was riding in a taxi when the driver ran over a stray dog. Ah Mexico. Such memories!

We have Mexican food often in this house. Luckily for me, the kids all seem to like it, or at least one portion of the meal. My daughter, being a vegetarian, is a huge fan of beans. The boys prefer meat tacos, especially crispy authentic braised pork carnitas served on warm corn tortillas.

How to Make Fresh Corn Tortillas for Tacos

Have you made tortillas from scratch before? I picked up a package of Bob’s Red Mill Masa Harina the other day at the market. Masa, the Spanish word for dough, is the traditional dough that’s used to make corn tortillas. It’s made by soaking and cooking dried corn kernels in limewater. The kernels are then ground up into masa. Masa harina is flour that is made by drying the masa.

To make tortillas, you simply need to add some warm water and salt to the masa harina, shape the dough into disks and cook them on a hot griddle for a for a couple of minutes. They are so easy to make and they are way better than store bought tortillas. I’m not one to advocate for buying lots of kitchen gadgets, however the $15 I spent on the tortilla press (which folds neatly and stores easily) was well worth it.

Gluten Free Masa Tortillas
Gluten-Free Masa Tortillas

Anyway, with Cinco de Drinko er…Mayo just around the corner, I thought you might enjoy one of my very favorite recipes that I make at least once a month. This particular cut of pork (butt or shoulder) is cheap, and must be cooked all afternoon. But it is incredibly tender and juicy and frankly out of this world. I often buy the biggest roast I can find and then freeze half of it after it’s cooked and cooled so I have a quick and easy dinner set aside for another night.

Classic Braised Pork Carnitas

Top these delectable authentic braised pork carnitas tacos with some chopped cilantro and onions, some avocado slices, and some spicy salsa. And don’t forget the margaritas! ¡Salud! And have a fabulous weekend!

LOVE MEXICAN FOOD? TRY THESE OTHER RECIPES:

If you make this recipe, or any of my others be sure to drop a comment below and tag me on Instagram with the hashtags #agirldefloured #deflouredrecipes!

Authentic Braised Pork Carnitas

The Most Delicious Pork Carnitas Recipe for Tacos

Alison Needham
This pork is tender and flavorful and makes the perfect taco when piled onto fresh corn tortillas. Or you can shred it, toss it with barbecue sauce and eat on a bun. Though it takes 3 hours to bake, the prep time is minimal and the results are out of this world.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 15 minutes
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 6 servings
Calories 157 kcal

Equipment

  • Dutch Oven

Ingredients
  

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Heat a large, heavy pot over high heat (I use my Le Creuset–you'll want something with a lid). Add a glug of olive oil to the pan. Season meat well with salt and pepper, then brown quickly on each side (about 2 minutes per side).
  • Add stock, orange zest and juice, onions and garlic. Place lid on pot and put in the oven. Bake for 2 hours or until meat is almost fork tender. Remove lid (and keep it off), drain off all but ½ cupjuice and return to the oven for another hour, turning meat halfway through. This will help brown the pork nicely.
  • Remove from oven and shred meat, discarding any fatty bits. If you like your carnitas tender and juicy, stop here. If you like them crispy (like me), place the meat on a large rimmed cookie sheet and set under the broiler for a few minutes or until all the meat is dark golden brown and crackling hot. Serve with corn tortillas, chopped cilantro and green onions, guacamole and salsa.

Notes

You can also make this in a slow cooker. Brown the meat as directed above, add all remaining ingredients to a slow cooker, cover and cook on low for 8 hours.

Nutrition

Serving: 1portionCalories: 157kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 19gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 62mgSodium: 229mgPotassium: 378mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 94IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 27mgIron: 1mg
Keyword Carnitas, Carnitas Recipe Tacos, Carnitas Tacos, Pork Carnitas, Pork Tacos
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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14 Comments

  1. Alison, I can completely relate. I think I should have been born Mexican! Your pictures are mouthwateringly delicious. Makes me excited for our Cinco de Mayo celebration tonight. I need to dust off my tortilla press and make some corn tortillas. Thanks for reminding me! Salud!

  2. “juice from 1/2 and orange”

    Not sure what you mean by this…does it mean 1 and 1/2 oranges or limes or lemons?

    Half of what?

    Thx!

    1. Oh my Dianna! Thanks for catching that. It is juice from half an orange. Or in this case, about 1 ounce. I’ve corrected the recipe.

  3. I’ve never thought about buying a tortilla press- but for $15, I might just have to do that! SO delicious- all of this.

    1. You should! It’s so easy. My 12 year old son made all the tortillas. =)

  4. Wow. I love carnitas, and these look so fresh with the avocado and cilantro. The handmade tortillas are beautiful.

  5. Melissa Takeuchi says:

    Making these tonight. So excited! Meat is in the oven and smells awesome. Thank you!

  6. Alison- I just discovered your website and I’m hooked. I went GF after being diagnosed with MS earlier this year. I too feel like I must have been Mexican in a previous life!! Luckily I married one so now I can pretend to be one too!! I can’t wait to try this recipe and make my own tortillas!!! So far I didn’t have anything on my Christmas list until now….tortilla press here I come!! Cheers!

    1. Welcome, Andrea! Homemade tortillas are the best! Enjoy.

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