Carnitas with Grilled Salsa Verde and Tortillas

(from castro15’s recipe box)

Categories: Mexican

Ingredients

  • 3 1/2 ounces achiote paste* (about 1/2 package)
  • 8 garlic cloves, peeled
  • 2 jalapeño chiles, chopped with seeds
  • 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar
  • 3/4 cup orange juice
  • 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro with stems
  • 1/3 cup fresh lime juice
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 5 pounds boneless pork shoulder (Boston butt), cut into 2-inch cubes
  • 20 corn or flour tortillas
  • Grilled Salsa Verde
  • Sour cream
  • Chopped red onions

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 300°F. Puree first 10 ingredients in blender until smooth.

  2. Arrange pork in large roasting pan. Add achiote puree; mix to coat pork. Cover pan tightly with foil. Roast pork until very tender, stirring occasionally, about 3 1/2 hours. Cool slightly. Coarsely shred pork. Mound pork in large bowl; add enough juices from roasting pan by 1/4 cupfuls to moisten as desired. Season with salt and pepper. DO AHEAD Can be made 2 days ahead. Cool slightly. Cover and chill remaining pan juices. Chill pork uncovered until cold, then cover and chill. Before using, rewarm pork in large pot over medium heat, stirring and adding more pan juices to moisten, if desired.

  3. Wrap tortillas in paper towels or clean kitchen towel. Microwave on high until heated through, about 1 minute. Fill warm tortillas with carnitas. Top with Grilled Salsa Verde, sour cream, and red onions.

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