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Oven Braised Carnitas

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 20 minutes
Course entree
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 3-4 lbs pork shoulder
  • 2 tbsp cumin powder
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp avocaco oil
  • 1/2 cup bacon fat/lard
  • 6 cloves garlic whole, crushed
  • 1 medium onion roughly chopped
  • 1 lemon quartered
  • 1 lime quartered
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 2 bay leaves halved

Instructions
 

  • Cut pork shoulder into 2 inch sized pieces. Toss with oil and spices (excluding bay leaves) in a bowl. Add garlic and onion. Squeeze juices from lemons and limes, mix well. Place mixed ingredients into a casserole dish. Add bacon fat/lard, heavy cream and bay leaves to dish. Wrap tightly with two layers of foil, sealing all edges. Place casserole dish on sheet pan. Roast in 275 degree oven for 3.5 hours. Check that meat is fork tender. If not, cook another 15-30 min. Do not overcook. Drain ingredients through a strainer into a bowl. Remove the onions, bay leaves, lemons, limes, and garlic and discard. Replace meat into casserole dish and spoon drained juices over meat. Broil, uncovered for 3 to 5 minutes until tops are crispy. Watch carefully so it doesn't burn. Serve over greens, cauliflower rice, in cheese taco shells, or cabbage "taco shells".

Notes

I am not including macros for this recipe because all of the ingredients are removed from the meat after cooking.  Also, macros will change depending on how you serve it.