Nor Cal Carnitas

Recipe courtesy Guy Fieri

Show: Episode:

Picture of Nor Cal Carnitas Recipe Photo: Nor Cal Carnitas Recipe
Rated 4 stars out of 5
  • Rate This Recipe
  • Read 33 Reviews
Total Time:
1 hr 50 min
Prep
30 min
Cook
1 hr 20 min
Yield:
5 servings
Level:
Intermediate
x

Save To My Recipe Box

Please limit to 20 characters

Saving Recipe

Adding Recipe

Or Do Not Add

Success

This recipe was saved to your Folder_Name folder.

x

Save To My Recipe Box

Please sign in to save this recipe to your Recipe Box!!

25 Characters Max

Enter Time:

:
:

You can create up to five timers

Ingredients

  • 3-pound pork butt, cut into 4 pieces
  • 3 pounds refined lard, or suet
  • 1 red onion, roughly chopped
  • 1 garlic clove, roughly chopped
  • 1 1/4 tablespoons kosher salt
  • Pico de Gallo, recipe follows
  • Corn tortillas, for serving
  • Salsa, for serving
  • Lime wedges, for serving
  • Radish slices, for serving

Directions

Remove the pork butts from refrigeration 1 hour before cooking. Do not remove the bone.

Heat the lard in a large stainless steel pot over high heat to 250 degrees F. The pot needs to be large enough to fit all the pieces of pork butt side by side, not on top of each other, and preferably not touching each other. Add enough lard to completely submerge the meat. Add the onion and garlic and let brown but do not burn. If garlic burns, you must start the process over. Remove onions and garlic from the lard and discard.

Carefully add the pork pieces to the lard and then allow the oil to reach 250 degrees F again. Do not let the pork stick to the bottom or sides of pot. Stir around every 30 minutes to insure even coloring. Cook for approximately 1 to 1 1/2 hours. The pork should be caramel-colored with an internal temperature of 170 to 180 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer.

Five minutes before you are ready to remove the meat, sprinkle the kosher salt into the oil. Continue to cook pork for 5 more minutes and then remove the pork from the oil to a platter. Cover and let rest for 15 minutes.

Shred the meat and serve with Pico de Gallo, warm tortillas, salsa, limes, and radish slices.

Pico de Gallo:

4 Roma tomatoes

1 red onion, diced

1 jalapeno, diced

2 tablespoons chopped cilantro leaves

1/2 lime, juiced

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Combine all ingredients and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Let sit for 15 to 20 minutes. Serve.

Print Recipe

Browse Reviews by Keywordnew!

Loading review filters...

COMMENT ON THIS PROJECT

    

Sign in

All fields are required.

E-mail Address:

Password:

Remember me on this computer

Signing in

Please enter your email address and we will send your password

E-mail Address

Your password has been sent and should arrive in your mailbox very soon.

Not a member?

Sign up for My Food Network to share photos, show off your style, and connect to an enthusiastic and helpful community.

It's free and easy.

Review This Recipe

You must be logged in to review this recipe.

Newest Ratings and Reviews

Read all 33 reviews

  • on January 26, 2013

    Flag

    It was okay, nothing I would call delicious or special

    people found this review Helpful.
    Was this review helpful to you? Yes | No
  • on October 02, 2011

    Flag

    Manteca is Lard or rendered pork fat. I guess Guy was misaken when he said beef fat. I had stopped using Lard years ago, but I recently found out that the FDA has said that it is a healthy fat now...go figure. So I'm back to frying my chicken in Lard.
    This recipe is right on the money for carnitas. If anybody thinks they are bland maybe you didn't use enough salt because mine were seasoned very well.

    people found this review Helpful.
    Was this review helpful to you? Yes | No
  • on March 10, 2011

    Flag

    Great recipe!! The only thing I can add is on the television program he also added -shredded cabbage for serving.
    The person asking about the orange soda look up -The Spaniard's Cocktail of Shrimp... he also made this on the program and this is were you will find the orange soda also a very good recipe.

    people found this review Helpful.
    Was this review helpful to you? Yes | No

Next Recipe

Nor Cal Cioppino 2

Nor Cal Cioppino 2

By: Guy Fieri
Rated 4 stars out of 5
Advertisement

What's Hot

Iron Chef America

Hosted by: Alton Brown

See More Recipes Like This From Food.com

Free Recipe of the Day Newsletter

Let Food Network chefs plan what's for dinner, with quick and easy recipes delivered to your inbox daily.

Ads by Google

© 2013 Television Food Network G.P. All rights reserved.