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Oven Carnitas

Author: Julie

Ingredients

  • 1 tsp ghee
  • 2.5 lbs. pork shoulder
  • 1 onion
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • 1 Orange
  • 1 lime juice
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1.5 cups of broth or water
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1/2 tsp paprika
  • 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper or chili powder
  • Fresh ground pepper
  • Lime and cilantro for garnish

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350.
  • Rinse and dry the pork shoulder. Cut into large chunks.
  • Heat a dutch oven pot on medium heat. Add ghee or cooking fat of choice.
  • Sear the chunks of pork in the ghee until golden brown.
  • Add the rest of the ingredients (yes everything!).
  • Bring to a boil.
  • Make sure the dutch oven is oven safe and place it in there for 2 hours or until the chunks of carnitas fall apart with a fork. Check every 30-45 min.
  • Once they are done, shred with a fork and throw them on a cookie sheet. Add a little bit of the juice leftover in the dutch oven.
  • Set your oven to the “broil” setting and place the cookie sheet with carnitas on the top rack. Leave it in there for 5 minutes or until the carnitas are crispy.
  • Garnish with cilantro and lime juice.

Notes

This can easily be made in a crock pot. Just add all of the ingredients and cook on low for 7-8 hours or high for 4 hours. Repeat the same broiling step.