Carnitas

I had a hankerin' for Carnitas a while back (can't believe how long it took me to get to this post.. Yikes!), but I had never actually made it before.  I took a quick search on line for some "authentic" recipes and just couldn't bring myself to make it the classic way.  The authentic/classic way, from what I could find, is to cook the meat in lard.  Yes, you read that correctly... LARD.  Now I know it is used to make that meat succulent and unbelievably good, BUT, I knew I could probably get pretty close, without having to do something that makes me believe I will be arrested for doing.  SOOOO, with a little more searching, I found one I thought would be the perfect substitution.  This might not be authentic, but that's okay, I'm part German and Italian, no one really expected me to make authentic Mexican food properly, did they? :)

Carnitas
Adapted from The Food Network
Printable Recipe 
Ingredients:
2 1/2 lbs country style pork ribs
1 Tablespoons olive oil
salt and pepper
2 teaspoons dried Mexican oregano
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 lime, juiced and zested
1/4 teaspoon liquid smoke
1 cup water
3 garlic cloves, quartered
1 jalapeno, roughly chopped

Directions:
Drizzle the olive oil over the ribs; rubbing it into the meat.  Season all sides with oregano, cumin and the lime zest.  Season liberally with salt and pepper.

In a crock pot, add the lime juice, liquid smoke, water, garlic cloves and jalapeno.  Place the pork on top and cover with a lid.  Cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 8 hours.  Pork should just fall apart when try to pick it out of the pot.  Remove from liquid and allow to cool before serving.  Serve with tortillas, avocado, coleslaw, lettuce, tomato, whatever you desire..... the pork is the true star to this dish!  Enjoy!

One Year Ago:  Green Sauce
Two Years Ago:  Chorizo and Shrimp Naan Pizza
Three Years Ago:  Hot Honeyed Grilled Chicken