Authentic Crispy Carnitas Tacos
Experience the rich, savory flavors of traditional Mexican cuisine with these crispy carnitas tacos. Perfectly braised pork is crisped to perfection and served in warm tortillas with your favorite toppings.
Equipment
- Large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven
- Paper towels
- Large skillet
- Two forks
Ingredients
Carnitas
- 3-4 pounds pork shoulder (Boston butt) bone-in or boneless
- 2-3 teaspoons salt or to taste
- Lard or vegetable oil as needed
- 1 large onion quartered
- 6-8 cloves garlic peeled and smashed
- 2-3 oranges halved
- 2-3 bay leaves
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon dried Mexican oregano
- Water or chicken broth enough to nearly cover the pork
For Serving
- Corn tortillas for serving
- Diced white onion for serving (optional)
- Chopped cilantro for serving (optional)
- Salsa verde for serving (optional)
- Lime wedges for serving (optional)
- Sliced avocado for serving (optional)
Instructions
Preparation
- Cut the pork shoulder into 2-3 inch pieces, pat them dry, and season generously with salt.
- Sear the pork chunks in a large pot with melted lard or oil over medium-high heat until deeply browned, then set aside.
Braising
- In the same pot, sauté quartered onions, smashed garlic, orange halves, bay leaves, cumin, and Mexican oregano for 2-3 minutes until fragrant.
- Return the seared pork to the pot, add water or broth to nearly cover the pork, and simmer on low heat for 2.5-3.5 hours until fork-tender, adding more liquid if needed.
Crisping and Assembly
- Remove the tender pork from the liquid, shred it, and then crisp it in a skillet with reserved braising liquid and fat until golden brown and crunchy.
- Warm corn tortillas on a skillet and fill with the crispy carnitas, topping with desired accompaniments like onion, cilantro, salsa, lime, or avocado.
Notes
For best flavor, consider marinating the pork overnight with the salt and spices before searing. The braising liquid can be strained and saved for future use as a flavorful broth. Adjust spiciness with your choice of salsa. Feel free to customize toppings to your preference!