Carnitas
Carnitas translates to "little meats" and is a simple dish of boiled pork that is then roasted in the oven to caramelize. It's served in tortilla wraps with lots of sauces and toppings.
This is a great dish for parties because you can boil the meat well in advance and roast it just when your guests arrive. Similarly, the sauces and toppings can be prepared ahead of time. Only the guacamole is more delicate and should be prepared as late as possible, since avocado oxidizes easily.
Ingredients
1 unsmoked pork knuckle (or pork leg)
2 bay leaves
3 cloves garlic
chili flakes
peppercorns
For serving
tortilla wraps
guacamole
salsa ranchera
sour cream
Mexican refried beans
Spanish rice
Servings: 4-5 if served with the suggested sides and sauces
How to prepare carnitas
- Cut the meat from the knuckle into large pieces, removing as much fat as possible. Add plenty of water and simmer with all the aromatics over low heat for 3-4 hours, until the meat is so tender it falls apart into shreds when you poke it with a fork.
- Let the meat cool in the broth until you're ready to serve it.
- 30 minutes before serving, remove the meat from the broth and shred it into bite-sized pieces. Arrange them on a baking tray in a single layer. Roast in the oven at 200°C for approximately 15 minutes.
- Serve the meat on tortilla wraps accompanied by small bowls of sauces and toppings, so everyone can make their own combination.
Simmer the meat for about 3-4 hours
Roast the meat pieces
Serve with different sauces