carnitas

June may be all about grilling on YumSugar, but there's one noncharred dish that deserves a place next to its blackened counterparts: pork carnitas. While often deep-fried or oven-braised, this taco-truck staple is just as comfortable on its own as it is served beside carne asada and chorizo.

While preparations vary, my favorite incarnation of carnitas is fork-tender in the middle but encircled in a flavorful crust — a result of the aforementioned deep-frying technique or of the meat frying in its own rendered fat. Not the healthiest of taco options, but definitely worth the extra calories!

This recipe oven-braises the meat with fragrant seasonings before cooking off the liquid and basting the pork in the fat that remains at the bottom of the pan. Toppings are limited to your imagination, but I love the fresh, tangy flavor of salsa verde alongside sweet pickled red onions and salty cotija cheese. Serve up this delicious meat at your next taco bar gathering: it's sure to be a crowd favorite! Keep reading for this simple recipe.

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• Perfecting carnitas without all the lard. — Serious Eats
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When it comes to Mexican cuisine, there's nothing quite as satisfying and succulent as carnitas. Delicious in everything from soft tacos to nachos to quesadillas, the juicy pulled pork dish is one of my absolute favorites.

A traditional carnitas recipe consists of pork shoulder that's simmered in lard for a long period of time; the resulting meat is shredded and literally melts in your mouth. With my new found love for the slow cooker and Cinco de Mayo around the corner, I recently decided to make carnitas. This variation is seasoned with chipotle chiles, orange juice, and beer.

I served the savory pork as an appetizer on top of mini soft corn tacos, but feel free to enjoy it however you want. The leftovers made an amazing quesadilla. Learn the super easy technique — seriously, you dump the ingredients in a slow cooker and that's it! — when you read more

One of my favorite money-saving meal strategies is to buy a protein that's both budget-friendly and versatile in bulk, and prepare it several ways. Tonight, use leftover meat from a pork and veggie hot pot towards a quick and simple carnitas dinner.

Carnitas, which is made from braised pork shoulder, typically takes a long time to cook. Shorten the process by cutting the pork shoulder into cubes; they'll cook faster. Once they're tender, they'll be ready to serve as bite-sized pieces. For a speedier, healthier version of a taqueria favorite, read more.