Carnitas Flour Tacos with Onion and Cilantro

Sink your teeth into the bold flavors of Carnitas Flour Tacos with Onion and Cilantro, a mouthwatering dish that's perfect for taco night or any festive gathering. This classic Mexican recipe features tender, slow-cooked pork shoulder, simmered with orange and lime juices, aromatic spices like cumin and oregano, and a touch of bay leaf for depth. The pork is caramelized to golden perfection before being piled onto warm, soft flour tortillas. Topped with a refreshing combination of finely diced white onion and fresh cilantro, each taco bursts with vibrant, zesty goodness. Easy to assemble and bursting with authentic flavor, these carnitas tacos are guaranteed to delight your taste buds. Perfect for meal prepping or feeding a crowd, this recipe combines traditional cooking techniques with approachable, everyday ingredients to deliver restaurant-quality tacos at home.

Nutriscore Rating: 65/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:180 mins

Total Time:200 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 3 pounds pork shoulder
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 2 units bay leaves
• 1 unit medium onion
• 4 units garlic cloves
• 0.5 cup orange juice
• 0.25 cup lime juice
• 12 units flour tortillas
• 0.5 cup cilantro
• 0.5 unit white onion
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

Directions

Step 1

Cut the pork shoulder into large chunks and season with salt, pepper, cumin, and oregano.

Step 2

Place the pork pieces in a large Dutch oven or heavy pot. Add bay leaves, a peeled and halved medium onion, and the garlic cloves.

Step 3

Pour the orange juice and lime juice over the pork pieces.

Step 4

Add enough water to cover the pork by about 2 inches.

Step 5

Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer for 2 1/2 hours, or until the pork is tender and shreds easily.

Step 6

Remove the pork from the pot and discard the onion, bay leaves, and garlic.

Step 7

Increase the heat to medium-high and cook uncovered until the liquid has evaporated and the pork begins to caramelize in its rendered fat, after about 20 to 30 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.

Step 8

As the pork caramelizes, shred it with forks into bite-sized pieces.

Step 9

In a separate pan, heat olive oil over medium heat and warm the flour tortillas for about 30 seconds on each side to make them pliable.

Step 10

Finely dice the white onion and roughly chop the cilantro.

Step 11

Assemble the tacos by placing the carnitas on the warm flour tortillas, and top with diced onion and chopped cilantro.

Step 12

Serve immediately and enjoy the delicious flavors of homemade carnitas tacos.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(2301.6g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	4555.8

Total Fat 219.6g	0%
Saturated Fat 78.6g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.7g
Cholesterol 1200.7mg	0%
Sodium 8582.9mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 266.8g	0%
Dietary Fiber 19.6g	0%
Total Sugars 22.8g
Protein 362.2g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 1191.9mg	0%
Iron 29.6mg	0%
Potassium 5679.7mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 44.0%

Protein: 32.3%

Carbs: 23.8%