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Orange and Beer Braised Pork Carnitas


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5 from 6 reviews

  • Author: Honest Cooking
  • Total Time: 230 minutes
  • Yield: Serves 6-8 1x
  • Diet: Omnivore

Description

Fall-apart pork shoulder, braised in ale and orange. Perfect for tacos or with rice and beans.


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 2 lbs (907 g) pork shoulder roast
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 6 tsp chili powder
  • 3 tsp ground cumin
  • 2 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil
  • 4 slices thick-cut applewood smoked bacon
  • 12 oz (340 g) beer
  • 2 qts (1893 ml) chicken stock
  • 1 orange zest
  • 2 oranges juice

Instructions

  1. Spice the Pork: In a bowl, combine all dry spices with salt. Coat pork pieces evenly with the spice mix. Allow resting at room temperature for 20 minutes for flavors to penetrate.
  2. Render the Bacon: In a Dutch oven over medium heat, add olive oil and cook diced bacon until crisp. Remove bacon and excess fat, leaving enough to coat the pot.
  3. Sear the Pork: Increase heat to high. Sear pork in batches, ensuring a golden brown crust on all sides. Set aside after searing.
  4. Prepare the Braising Liquid: In the same pot, combine chicken stock, beer, orange zest, and juice. Simmer, scraping up the pork remnants from the pot.
  5. Braise the Pork: Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Return pork and bacon to the pot, cover, and place in the oven. Braise for 3-3.5 hours until the pork is tender.
  6. Shred and Serve: Remove pork, shred, and return to reduced sauce. Mix well to combine flavors.

Notes

  • For a richer flavor, use a dark, robust ale like a stout or porter.
  • If you don’t have applewood smoked bacon, substitute pancetta or thick-cut bacon.
  • Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and are even better the next day!
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 210 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Braising
  • Cuisine: Latin-Inspired

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1.5 cups
  • Calories: 450
  • Sugar: 10
  • Sodium: 800
  • Fat: 25
  • Saturated Fat: 10
  • Unsaturated Fat: 10
  • Carbohydrates: 20
  • Fiber: 5
  • Protein: 40
  • Cholesterol: 100