Pork Carnitas with Garlic and Orange

Name: Pork Carnitas with Garlic and Orange
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 4 h 45 min
Yield: 4 - 6 serving(s)
Ingredients: 1 boneless pork shoulder; vegetable oil; salt; Freshly ground pepper; 1 tsp. pure ancho chile powder; 20 clove unpeeled garlic; 3 jalapeños; 1/2 c. fresh orange juice; Warm tortillas

By Marcia KieselPublished: Oct 16, 2012

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Yields:

4 - 6 serving(s)

Cook Time:

40 mins

Total Time:

4 hrs 45 mins

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The trick to these luscious carnitas is to pull the meat into successively smaller pieces as it roasts, exposing more and more surface to the oven's heat for crisping.

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Ingredients

1 boneless pork shoulder
vegetable oil
salt
Freshly ground pepper
1 tsp. pure ancho chile powder
20 clove unpeeled garlic
3 jalapeños
1/2 cup fresh orange juice
Warm tortillas

Directions

1. Step 1Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. In a roasting pan, rub the pork all over with oil and season with salt and pepper. Turn the pork meaty side up and sprinkle with the ancho. Add 1/2 cup of water, cover with foil, and bake for 1 hour.
2. Step 2Scatter the garlic cloves and jalapeños around the pork and bake uncovered for 2 hours, turning the pan after 1 hour. Transfer the garlic cloves and jalapeños to a plate.
3. Step 3Increase the oven temperature to 375 degrees F. Cut the pork into 4 thick slices. Using 2 forks, pull the pork into large chunks. Arrange the chunks in the pan, browned sides up. Peel the garlic and add the cloves to the pan. Roast the pork for 30 minutes, until well-browned and crisp. Pull into smaller pieces and roast for 30 minutes longer.
4. Step 4Transfer the pork and garlic to a large platter and scatter the jalapeños on top.
5. Step 5Pour off all but 1 tablespoon of fat from the roasting pan. Set the pan over moderate heat, add the orange juice and boil, scraping up the browned bits; pour over the pork and toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper and serve with tortillas.
  
  Looking for more dinner options? Check out our pork chop recipes, chicken recipes, and potato recipes.