Carnitas

Mexican dish

Media: Carnitas

Carnitas, literally meaning "little meats", is a dish of Mexican cuisine that originated in the state of Michoacán. Carnitas are made by braising or simmering pork in oil or preferably lard until tender. The process takes three to four hours, and the result is very tender and juicy meat, which is then typically served with chopped cilantro (coriander leaves), diced onion, salsa, guacamole, tortillas, and refried beans (frijoles refritos).

Description

Pork carnitas are traditionally made using the heavily marbled, rich Boston butt or picnic ham cuts of pork^[1] which is seasoned heavily before slow braising or deep frying. Carnitas can also be made of chicken, using breasts or thighs, and cooking in a similar manner.

The traditional way to cook carnitas is in a thick-bottomed pot with seasonings simmered in lard until tender over a very low heat. When the meat is tender enough the heat is turned up and the outside of the pork begins to crisp. At this stage, the collagen in the meat has broken down sufficiently to allow it to be pulled apart by hand or fork or chopped with a cleaver. The meat can then be used as an ingredient in tamales, tacos, tortas, and burritos.

References

^ "Carnitas" Archived 2011-09-27 at the Wayback Machine. Food Resource, Oregon State University. Accessed June 2011.

External links

Carnitas recipe

Mexican cuisine

List of Mexican dishes

Soups
and stews

Rice dishes

Bean dishes

Egg dishes

Vegetable
dishes

Meat dishes

Al pastor Barbacoa Cabrito Discada Entomatada Mixiote Moronga Pastel azteca Relleno negro Tripas
Poultry	Arroz con pollo Patitas Escabeche oriental Mole poblano Pollo motuleño Tinga de pollo
Pork	Adobada Calabacitas con puerco Carne de chango Carnitas Chicharrón en salsa Chileajo de cerdo Chilorio Chorizo Cochinita pibil Cueritos Poc chuc
Beef	Alambre Aporreadillo Albóndigas al chipotle Beef brain Beef tongue Cabeza Carne a la tampiqueña Carne asada Carne seca Criadillas Machaca Milanesa Pachola Picadillo Puntas Quesobirria Salpicón Tinga de res
Seafood	Aguachile Cahuamanta Camarones al ajillo Ceviche Huachinango a la Veracruzana Mixmole de pescado Mojarra frita Pan de cazón Pescadito Pescado al ajillo Pescado a la talla Pulpo a la campechana

Other
protein dishes

Cheese dishes

Antojitos

Empalme Enchilada Guajolota Nachos Quesadilla Taco Taquito
Corn dough	Cazuelita Chalupa Chilaquiles Chimichanga Chochoyote Corn tortilla Corunda Doblada Duros Gordita Huarache Molote Panucho Papadzules Piedra Salbut Sope or Memela Tamale Tlacoyo Tlayuda Tostada Totopo
Wheat dough	Burrito Cemita Gringas Mollete Pambazo Paste Sincronizada Torta Wheat tortilla