Slow Cooker Carnitas. Carnitas are small pieces of braised pork, Slow cooked in mild spices until tender and juicy, then fried. Can be served on flour tortillas and topped with cilantro, salsa, onion, guacamole or any of your favorite toppings.
Carnitas are my all-time, favorite Mexican dish. I can honestly say that I have eaten them in every Mexican restaurant I have ever been to. In fact, they are what I use to gauge whether the restaurant is good or not. If they can’t make good carnitas it’s usually safe to say that the rest of the menu isn’t that good either.
If you’re wondering where to find the best carnitas, well that would be at the Old Town Mexican Cafe in San Diego. If you ever get the opportunity to dine there I highly suggest that you try the carnitas (fried), it’s an experience that your taste buds will thank you for.
If you’re looking for the next best place to find carnitas, well that can be in your own kitchen. I’ve created this recipe that comes very close to matching the taste and texture of the Old Town Mexican Cafe’s. You’re family will love it. Serve them on some homemade flour tortillas, top with some guacamole or pico de gallo and you’ll have a very good idea of what the carnitas at the Old Town Mexican Cafe taste like.
Slow Cooker Carnitas
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds pork tenderloin cut into 2" cubes
- ½ to 1 cup water
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp chili powder
- ¼ tsp ground cumin
- ¼ tsp oregano
- 1 med onion quartered
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 2 tbsp lard
- 8 10-inch flour tortillas
Instructions
- Place pork and water in slow cooker. Sprinkle with salt and spices. Add onion and garlic. Cover and cook on low for 4 hours. Drain and dry pork.
- Heat oil in a skillet over medium high heat. Cook pork until browned.Serve on warmed flour tortillas.
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