Mini Carnitas Taco Bowls

This easy stovetop carnitas recipe skips the lard (the traditional way to make carnitas) in favor of vegetable oil and water for a crazy-delicious Dutch-oven dinner.
Prep 40 Minutes
Total Time 3 Hours 50 Minutes
Servings 12

Ingredient List

Carnitas

  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 packet (1 oz) Old El Paso™ Original Taco Seasoning Mix
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3- to 4-lb boneless pork shoulder, trimmed, cut in 2- to 3-inch pieces
  • 2 cups chopped yellow onions
  • 6 cloves garlic, peeled
  • 2 cups water
  • 1/4 cup orange juice
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • 2 packages (5.1 oz) Old El Paso™ Flour Soft Tortilla Mini Bowls (12 Count)
  • 1 1/2 cups crumbled queso fresco
  • 1 cup sliced radishes
  • 2 medium jalapeño chiles, thinly sliced
  • Lime wedges
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Recipe Continues Below

Preparation

  1. In large bowl, mix vegetable oil, taco seasoning mix, cumin, coriander and salt. Add pork, and toss to coat; pour into 5-quart Dutch oven. Place onions and garlic on top of pork. Add water, orange juice and lime juice. Heat to boiling over high heat. Stir; reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer uncovered 2 to 3 hours, stirring occasionally, until pork is tender.
  2. Increase heat to medium; cook 3 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently and pressing on pork with spatula to shred meat, until sauce thickens and pork is coated in cooking liquid.
  3. Divide pork mixture among heated mini bowls; top with queso fresco, radishes and jalapeño chiles. Serve with lime wedges.

Expert Tips

  • Remove as much fat as possible from the pork to avoid a fatty sauce.

Nutrition

  • 2 Mini Taco Bowls Calories 400 (Calories from Fat 220);  Total Fat 24g (Saturated Fat 8g ,Trans Fat 0g);  Cholesterol 80mg;  Sodium 660mg;  Potassium 410mg;  Total Carbohydrate 19g (Dietary Fiber 1g ,Sugars 2g);  Protein 28g
  • % Daily Value: Vitamin A 4%;  Vitamin C 8%;  Calcium 10%;  Iron 10%
  • Exchanges: 1 Starch;  1/2 Other Carbohydrate;  3 Lean Meat;  1/2 High-Fat Meat;  2 Fat
  • Carbohydrate Choice: 1
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Ratings and Reviews

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