Carnitas for your tacos in mere minutes and better than ordering out! this carnitas has wonderful flavor and is so moist! crisp it up and put it on a taco, burrito, nachos or a tostada, how ever you enjoy your carnitas, you will love having it on your shelf ready when you are because there is a such thing as emergency tacos!!
Ingredients and Variations
Ingredients: Pork shoulder, limes, oranges, white onion, green pepper, chicken broth, Mexican oregano, ground cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper.
Variations: You can switch out the pork for chicken if desired, adjust the seasonings as you like. Chicken broth is used here but an broth can be used.
NOTE: Regular Italian oregano is not a substitute for Mexican Oregano!!!
Canning
Before you begin, be sure to do the safety checks on your canner per manufacturer instructions. Always inspect your jars for chips and cracks and wash all equipment needed for the canning project, in hot soapy water.
Be sure to check the recipe for recommended headspace and be accurate. This is important for shelf stability and safety. Consult the USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning and Preserving for more information. https://nchfp.uga.edu/publications/publications_usda.html
Carnitas for Pressure Canning
30
minutes1
hour30
minutes75
minutes7
quarts or14
pintsDelicious, slow cooked carnitas ready when you are!
Ingredients
7 lbs pork shoulder cut into 1 1/2 – 2 inch cubes
21 cups chicken broth
3 oranges, zested and juiced
2 limes, zested and juiced
4 cloaves garlic, minced
1 white onion, diced
1 – 2 green peppers, cut in enough slices for the amount of jars.
1 tbsp Mexican oregano
1 tbsp ground cumin
2 tsp garlic powder
1 tbsp onion powder
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper *optional – more can be added
3 1/2 tsp kosher salt – Divided
2 1/2 tsp ground black pepper – divided
Directions
- Inspect jars for cracks and chips. Wash jars, lids and rings in hot, soapy water. Prepare pressure canner per canner instructions, filling with water. Bring canner to a low simmer
- Heat oven to 425°. Lay pork cubes on sheet pans in single a layer. Sprinkle with 2 teaspoons of salt and 1 teaspoon of pepper. Roast pork for 30 minutes stirring at the 15 minute mark.
- Make Broth: In a large pot add broth, zest and juice of all the citrus, garlic, onions, 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt, 1/2 teaspoon of pepper and the rest of the seasonings, Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes or until ready to fill jars.
- Fill jars 1/2 to 3/4 full of roasted pork, add a strip of green pepper to each jar and fill with broth leaving 1-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles and add more broth if needed to return headspace to 1-inch. Wipe rims, place on lids and bands fingertip tight. Place jars directly into simmering pressure canner. -Side Note – Don’t forget to taste your broth before canning and add more salt and pepper to taste.
- Process quarts for 90 minutes and pints for 75 minutes.
