Savory 3-Ingredient Pork Carnitas
Easily create deliciously tender and flavorful Pork Carnitas with only three main ingredients. This simple recipe results in a rich and juicy pork dish, perfect for serving in warm corn tortillas. By slowly cooking the pork shoulder in a soothing broth, the meat becomes perfectly infused with spices, then crisped in the oven to achieve a delightful texture. Serve with your favorite fresh toppings like red cabbage, sour cream, and avocado for a mouthwatering meal that the whole family will love.
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
14
Ingredients
Ingredients
boneless pork shoulder
3.5 lbs (cubed into 2-inch pieces with a generous fat cap)
water or low sodium chicken broth
8 cups (more if necessary to cover meat)
kosher salt
to taste
freshly ground black pepper
to taste
ground cumin
1.5 teaspoons
ground cloves
0.5 teaspoon
cayenne
0.5 teaspoon
corn tortillas
for serving (warmed)
red cabbage
for serving (thinly sliced)
sour cream
for serving
pickled red onions
for serving
cilantro
for serving (fresh, chopped)
avocado
for serving (sliced)
serrano chili
for serving (thinly sliced)
Instructions
1
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2
In a large Dutch oven, combine the cubed pork shoulder, water or low-sodium chicken broth, and 1 tablespoon of kosher salt. Make sure the liquid covers the meat; add more broth if necessary. Place the pot over medium-high heat and bring the mixture to a gentle boil.
3
Once boiling, transfer the pot to the preheated oven and cook for approximately 3.5 to 4 hours. During this time, the meat should become very tender as the liquid reduces to about 1 cup. Remember to baste the pork with the cooking liquid every 45 minutes to keep it moist.
4
After the initial cooking time, increase the oven temperature to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Carefully remove the pot from the oven and drain off all but 3 tablespoons of rendered fat.
5
Stir in the ground cumin, ground cloves, cayenne pepper, and black pepper (2 teaspoons). Mix together thoroughly to coat the meat with the spices, then return the pot to the oven.
6
Roast the pork for an additional 20 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes, until the meat is browned and crispy. If there is too much fat while crisping, feel free to drain off excess fat as needed.
7
Taste the carnitas and adjust the seasoning with additional salt and pepper as desired.
8
Serve the crispy pork in warm corn tortillas accompanied by thinly sliced red cabbage, sour cream, pickled red onions, fresh cilantro, avocado slices, and serrano chiles for a delightful meal.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary meat used in this carnitas recipe?
The recipe uses 3.5 lbs of boneless pork shoulder, cubed into 2-inch pieces with a generous fat cap.
How many main ingredients are required for the base recipe?
Only three main ingredients are needed to create the base of these tender Pork Carnitas: pork, liquid, and salt.
What temperature should I preheat my oven to initially?
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for the initial slow-cooking process.
What type of liquid should I use to cook the pork?
You can use either 8 cups of water or low-sodium chicken broth to submerge the meat.
How long does the pork need to cook in the oven initially?
The pork should cook in the oven for approximately 3.5 to 4 hours until it becomes very tender.
How often should I baste the meat during the slow-cooking process?
You should baste the pork with the cooking liquid every 45 minutes to ensure it remains moist.
What is the target volume of liquid remaining after slow cooking?
The liquid should reduce to approximately 1 cup during the initial 3.5 to 4-hour cooking window.
To what temperature should I increase the oven for the crisping stage?
Increase the oven temperature to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) to achieve a browned and crispy texture.
How much fat should be kept in the pot before the final roasting?
Drain off all but 3 tablespoons of rendered fat before adding the spices and returning the pot to the oven.
Which specific spices are added to the pork before the final roast?
Ground cumin, ground cloves, cayenne pepper, and black pepper are added to coat the meat before crisping.
How much ground cumin is required for this recipe?
The recipe calls for 1.5 teaspoons of ground cumin.
What amount of ground cloves and cayenne should be added?
Add 0.5 teaspoon of ground cloves and 0.5 teaspoon of cayenne pepper for flavor and spice.
How long is the final roasting period to crisp the meat?
Roast the pork for an additional 20 minutes at the higher temperature to brown it.
How frequently should the pork be stirred while it is crisping?
Stir the meat every 10 minutes to ensure even browning and to reach the desired crispiness.
What should I do if there is excessive fat during the crisping stage?
If there is too much fat while the meat is crisping, you can feel free to drain off the excess fat as needed.
How should the pork carnitas be served?
Serve the crispy pork in warm corn tortillas accompanied by various fresh toppings.
What fresh vegetable toppings are recommended?
Recommended toppings include thinly sliced red cabbage, fresh cilantro, avocado slices, and thinly sliced serrano chiles.
Are there any dairy or pickled toppings suggested?
Yes, the recipe suggests serving with sour cream and pickled red onions.
What size should the pork shoulder be cut into?
The boneless pork shoulder should be cubed into 2-inch pieces.
What is the purpose of the fat cap on the pork shoulder?
A generous fat cap helps keep the meat juicy and provides the fat needed for rendering and crisping later.
Is this recipe suitable for those on a low-carb diet?
Yes, 'low carb' is listed as one of the tags for this pork recipe.
What kind of cookware is recommended for this recipe?
A large Dutch oven is recommended for both the stovetop boiling and the oven cooking stages.
How much black pepper is used in the seasoning mix?
Two teaspoons of freshly ground black pepper are mixed with the other spices to coat the meat.
What should I do if 8 cups of liquid do not cover the meat?
If necessary, add more broth to ensure the liquid completely covers the cubed pork shoulder.
What is the first step once the pot reaches a boil on the stove?
Once boiling, transfer the Dutch oven to the preheated 350-degree F oven.
How can I adjust the flavor of the carnitas before serving?
Taste the finished carnitas and adjust the seasoning with additional salt and pepper as desired.
What is the general texture goal for this pork dish?
The goal is meat that is tender and juicy on the inside but browned and crispy on the outside.
Is this considered an easy recipe for families?
Yes, it is described as an easy recipe with only three main ingredients that the whole family will love.
What preparation is needed for the serrano chili?
The serrano chili should be thinly sliced for use as a fresh topping.
What kind of salt is specified in the ingredients?
The recipe specifies using kosher salt for seasoning the pork.