Pork Carnitas Tacos
- 5 sprigs thyme
- 3 pounds boneless pork butt (fat cap intact), cut into 2-inch chunks
- 5 cloves garlic
- 2 bay leaves
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- Juice of 2 limes
- Juice of 1 orange
- Kosher salt
- Corn tortillas, warmed, and assorted toppings, for serving
- Tie the thyme sprigs together with kitchen twine; combine the pork, garlic, bay leaves and thyme bundle in a large Dutch oven.
- Add the vegetable oil, lime juice, orange juice, 1 cup water and 2 teaspoons salt and bring to a simmer over medium heat.
- Reduce the heat to low; cover and gently simmer, stirring occasionally, 1 hour.
- Uncover the pot and continue simmering, stirring once or twice, until the pork is tender, about another 1 hour, 15 minutes.
- Increase the heat to medium; cook, stirring occasionally, until the liquid is mostly evaporated, about 35 more minutes.
- Discard the thyme bundle and bay leaves, then increase the heat to medium high so the pork starts to fry.
- Cook, stirring and scraping the bottom of the pot occasionally, until the pork is golden brown and crisp in spots, about 10 more minutes.
- Serve in tortillas with assorted toppings.
- Pickled Red Onions
- Combine 1 thinly sliced red onion, 1 cup cider vinegar, 1/2 cup water, 2 tablespoons sugar, 2 bay leaves, 1 teaspoon each coriander seeds, mustard seeds and cumin seeds, 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano and 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt in a small saucepan.
- Boil 2 minutes; let cool.
- Photograph by Andrew Purcell
thyme, pork butt, garlic, bay leaves, vegetable oil, orange, kosher salt, tortillas
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/pork-carnitas-tacos-recipe.html (may not work)