Carnitas Tacos
Taco Party
Several times a year I have family pass through town and stay for several nights which is always a great excuse to invite friends over for a small gathering. Taco night has become increasingly popular because, although I like to serve up good grinds, I don’t want to be stuck in the kitchen while everyone’s enjoying tequila and a good catch-up. Tacos provide flexibility and allow me to prep ingredients ahead of time and store them all in the fridge for later use.
My favorite protein for tacos is pork due to the juicy richness it lends to the delicate dish. I cook the pork several hours, or a day, in advance and heat it right before serving. Once heated, I set out all the accouterments which allow for each person to make their own tacos to their liking. Super easy.
Carnitas
Carnitas is the Mexican term for pork that is slightly crispy on the edges yet super moist and tender. The 5.5 pound pork butt takes about 3 hours to cook in a dutch oven so be sure to give yourself plenty of time. The result of the lidded cast iron dish allows the pork to lock in its flavorful juices while catching the drippings for a savory sauce. You don’t necessarily have to crisp up the meat before serving, you can simply serve it in a dish surrounded by juices. Though I prefer a slight crisp to mine. To achieve this I heat the shredded pork in the oven around 375* on a shallow sheet pan or tray right before serving.
Dutch Oven Pork Ingredients:
5.5 lbs pork butt
2 cups filtered water
1 large orange (rind removed and quartered)
1 lime
1 small white onion
2 stalks celery
2 carrots
1 bay leaf
3 sprigs of thyme
cumin
salt & pepper to taste
Taco Accoutrements:
taco shells
pico de gallo
cheese (shredded)
cabbage (chiffonade)
radishes (sliced)
avocado
tortilla chips
rice & beans (for sides)
Instructions:
Follow the cooking instructions for my Dutch Oven Pork.
Instructions for the Pico de Gallo can be found in another post as well.
Shred cheese, chiffonade the cabbage, slice the radishes, cut avocado and set everything aside in the fridge for use later.