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    Home » Recipes » Pork » Savory Pork Mexican Carnitas

    Published: Sep 2, 2014 Modified: Aug 20, 2024 by Catherine Arena 2 Comments

    Savory Pork Mexican Carnitas

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    These Savory Pork Mexican Carnitas are deliciously tender and perfectly flavored.  Topped with red onions, sliced avocados, queso fresco, hot sauce and cilantro.  Excellent!

    Savory Pork Mexican Carnitas served on a platter.

    Aaaaah carnitas!!!!  This appetizer or main dish is all sorts of mouthwatering deliciousness!

    Carnitas in spanish means “little meats” and it refers to braised or roasted pork.  Absolute yumminess!

    But there is a process to having savory pork Mexican carnitas because you see…

    A lot of people claim that their “carnitas” come out dry.  There may be several reasons for that.

    Usually they are not adding enough water or chicken broth when cooking the carnitas.  Another reason is they are cooking the pork for a short amount of time.

    That’s probably one of the biggest culprits…time.

    I’ve seen that time and time again where we become a little impatient and cut down on the cooking time. But if you want the best savory pork Mexican carnitas, it’s best not to do this.

    And flavoring the carnitas is super important too!

    For example in Michoacan, Mexico the people season the pork with bay leaves, thyme and marjoram.  In other regions in Mexico they add black pepper, garlic, chicken broth, coke or beer.

    My carnitas are flavored with lots and lots of garlic, I love garlic!

    Start with garlic cloves, red pepper flakes, oregano and olive oil.  Add to a chopper or blender.

    Garlic cloves, red pepper flakes, oregano and olive oil to a chopper or blender-Savory Pork Mexican Carnitas

    and chop, chop or blend, blend away. 😊  Form a paste.

    Garlic cloves, red pepper flakes, oregano and olive oil to a chopper or blender-Savory Pork Mexican Carnitas
    Chopping the pork shoulder into 2 inch pieces on a cutting board for the Savory Pork Mexican Carnitas

    Chop the pork shoulder into 2 inch pieces, leaving the fat and skin on if you don’t mind that sort of thing….makes them taste better my friends…promise!

    Add pork to a large pot with the garlic mixture,

    Pork cooking in a deep pot for the Savory Pork Mexican Carnitas

    Add chicken broth to cover and bay leaves.

    Pork cooking in the chicken broth with spices for the Savory Pork Mexican Carnitas

    Pork will start to cook down and smell amazing!!  Oh so good!

    Pork is starting to cook down and smelling amazing-Savory Pork Mexican Carnitas

    Prepare your toppings.  Chop red onion, crumble queso fresco, slice avocado and sprinkle with lemon juice so the avocado does not turn brown.

    Chopped red onion, crumble queso fresco and sliced avocado-Savory Pork Mexican Carnitas

    You will end up with these delicious Pork Mexican Carnitas.

    Savory Pork Mexican Carnitas served on a platter.

    📖 Recipe

    Savory Pork Mexican Carnitas served on a platter.

    Savory Pork Mexican Carnitas

    These Savory Pork Mexican Carnitas are deliciously tender and perfectly flavored.  Topped with red onions, sliced avocados, queso fresco, hot sauce and cilantro.  Excellent!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer, Main Course
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Prep Time: 1 hour hour 40 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour hour 55 minutes minutes
    Servings: 12
    Calories: 696kcal
    Author: Catherine Arena

    Ingredients

    • 5 lb pork shoulder cut into 2 inch cubes
    • ¼ cup red wine vinegar
    • 7 garlic cloves
    • 1 tablespoon oregano
    • 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
    • ¼ cup olive oil or vegetable oil
    • ½ cup vegetable shortening
    • 2 bay leaves
    • chicken broth or water to cover
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 red onion chopped
    • ¼ cup cilantro coarsely chopped
    • 4 avocados thinly sliced
    • mexican queso fresco crumbled
    • 1 lemon
    • 1 package corn tortillas or flour tortillas
    • hot mexican sauce for topping, optional

    Instructions

    • Add garlic, red pepper flakes, oregano and olive oil to a chopper or blender. Chop and blend.
    • Cut pork into 2 inch pieces.
    • Over medium heat add vegetable shortening to a deep pot. Add pork and cook for about 10 minutes. 
    • Then add chicken broth, red wine vinegar, bay leaves and salt. 
    • Add the garlic, red pepper flakes, oregano and olive oil mixture from chopper.  Cook for 1 ½ hours or until meat is super tender.
    • Once pork is done, remove bay leaves.
    • Chop cilantro, red onion, crumble queso fresco and slice avocados. Sprinkle some lemon juice over avocado slices so they do not discolorate.
    • Warm tortillas a couple at a time in microwave for a few seconds. 
    • Assemble tortillas with some of the pork. 
    • Top with onions, avocado slices, cheese and cilantro. You can also sprinkle some lemon juice over carnitas and top with hot sauce if you like. Enjoy!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 696kcal
    Tried this recipe?Click the stars above or below to rate or leave a comment down below!

    Although these delicious carnitas take a little time to prepare, you will not be disappointed with these carnitas!

    You may also like these vegan carnitas, by Veggie Society.

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    Comments

    1. Alvin says

      January 27, 2015 at 1:05 am

      I bought a papaya today and have some pork mince. Going to pair them and see what happens. Thanks for this recipe.

      Reply
      • Cathy says

        February 05, 2015 at 2:14 am

        Thanks Alvin! Papaya sounds great! Let me know how it turned out!!

        Reply
    5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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