Crock-Pot Carnitas

Delicious crispy pieces mingled among scrumtious, butter-soft pieces of deliciousness known as carnitas.

I spied a fabulous photo of some carnitas tacos on Tastespotting.  Lo and behold, it led me to The Noshery, home of the Slow-Cooker Pernil.  There was no way around it, I had to have it.

Following Meseidy's recipe as well as her notes (click the link below), I wound up with this:

Carnitas

3.5-4 lb pork butt roast (or country-style ribs), cut into 2" cubes

4 tbsp olive oil, divided
3/4 c fresh-squeezed orange juice
juice from half a lemon
7 garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp kosher salt
1 tbsp cumin
1/4 c cilantro, chopped
1/4 c chicken stock

Cut pork into cubes if you haven't already.

Place salt and cumin in a bowl large enough to accomodate pork. Stir pork in bowl to evenly coat with spices.

Heat oil in large skillet.

Add pork to skillet in batches, turning to brown on all sides.

Place pork in Crock Pot.

Pour juices, broth and garlic over pork; sprinkle with cilantro.
 
At this point, I covered the Pot with plastic wrap and placed it in the refrigerator overnight. In the morning, the Pot was allowed to come closer to room temperature (30-45 minutes) and placed in the Crock Pot heating element to cook.

Set on low for 8 hours.

Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in cast iron skillet. Add pork batchwise, smooshing the pieces with the bottom of a sturdy fork, coarsely shredding the pork. Toss pieces on occasion; remove pork from skillet when satisfied with the crunchy-to-tender ratio.

I tasted this from the Crock Pot and wow, it was simply fantastic.  I couldn't wait to crisp up those succulent pork pieces in my cast iron.  What is it about those crispy pieces of pork that make it so irresistable? 


So easy to make, so easy to eat and so easy on the pocketbook. 

Cost:

• pork butt roast: $3.81
• oranges: $0.50
• lemon: $0.33
• everything else?  Let's say: $1

Total: $5.64, generously serving 4, conservatively serving 6, bringing it to a range of $0.94-1.41 per serving.  Definitely a winner.

Make some tacos if you have tortillas, beans, diced onions, extra cilantro.  And guacamole and salsa. And chips.  Or serve it with a side of refried beans (topped with some fresh cheese), rice and tortillas.  However you have it, this pork is awesome.

 

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