Slow-Cooker Carnitas
- 5 tablespoons grapeseed or other neutral-flavored oil, divided
- 1 boneless pork shoulder roast (3 1/2 lbs.; aka Boston butt)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon pepper
- 1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon adobo sauce from canned chipotle chiles
- 1 teaspoon achiote paste
- 4 wide strips orange zest
- 12 corn tortillas (6 in.)
- Pico de gallo, store-bought or homemade
- Heat 3 tbsp. oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Season pork with the salt and pepper. Add pork to skillet and brown on all sides, 12 to 14 minutes. Place pork in a 6-qt. slow-cooker.
- Discard fat from skillet and wipe clean with paper towels. Stir together broth, adobo sauce, and achiote paste in skillet and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Pour over pork, then add orange zest.
- Cover slow-cooker and cook on low until pork is very tender, about 8 hours. Lift meat to a cutting board or platter. Pour cooking liquid through a fine wire-mesh strainer into a measuring cup, then discard solids. Skim fat from cooking liquid. Using two forks, shred meat into large chunks.
- Heat 1 tbsp. oil in cleaned cast-iron skillet over high heat. Arrange half of meat in an even layer in skillet and cook, undisturbed, until deeply caramelized, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in 1/2 cup cooking liquid; transfer to a bowl. Repeat with remaining 1 tbsp. oil, pork, and 1/2 cup cooking liquid.
- Toast tortillas over an open flame 20 to 30 seconds per side and wrap in a clean kitchen towel until ready to serve. Or, wrap in towel and microwave 1 minute to warm.
- Serve pork with warm tortillas and pico de gallo.
- Wine pairing: Lone Madrone 2013 Sheep Camp Zinfandel (Paso Robles; $45).
grapeseed, pork shoulder roast, kosher salt, pepper, chicken broth, adobo sauce, achiote paste, wide strips orange zest, corn tortillas
Taken from www.myrecipes.com/recipe/slow-cooker-carnitas-0 (may not work)