How to Make Carnitas with Pico De Gallo - A Step-by-Step Guide

There's nothing quite like the delicious combination of tender, flavorful carnitas and fresh, zesty pico de gallo. This classic Mexican dish is a favorite for many and for good reason – it's packed with bold flavors and incredibly satisfying. Whether you're cooking for a crowd or simply want to indulge in a delicious homemade meal, carnitas with pico de gallo is always a winning choice.

The key to making the perfect carnitas is slow-cooking the pork until it's meltingly tender and inf...

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Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 6 pounds boneless pork shoulder
  • 1 cup ground cumin
  • 4 dried New Mexico chiles, seeded and cut into 1/2 inch pieces
  • 1 onion, quartered
  • 6 cloves garlic, halved
  • 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
  • 6 cups water
  • 6 tomatoes, chopped
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 tomatillos, husked and chopped
  • 2 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
  • ⅓ cup lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Information

  • Prep Time: 20 mins
  • Cook Time: 18 hrs 10 mins
  • Total Time: 18 hrs 30 mins
  • Servings: 10
  • Yield: 10 servings

  • Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the pork in the hot oil until browned on all sides, about 10 minutes. Place into a slow cooker along with the cumin, New Mexico chiles, quartered onion, garlic, and 1 minced jalapeno pepper. Pour in the water, cover, and cook on High for 6 to 8 hours, then reduce heat to Low and cook until the pork is tender and easily shredded, 12 to 16 hours more. Once cooked, remove the pork and vegetables to a large bowl and shred finely with two forks. Mix in enough cooking liquid to moisten the meat to your taste.
  • Prepare the pico de gallo 2 to 6 hours before the carnitas will be ready. Combine the tomatoes, onion, tomatillos, and 2 minced jalapeno peppers in a mixing bowl. Season with lime juice, salt, and pepper. Mix well, and refrigerate until ready to serve.
  • Nutrition

    635 cal.

    • Total Fat: 39g
    • Saturated Fat: 13g
    • Cholesterol: 174mg
    • Sodium: 864mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 14g
    • Dietary Fiber: 3g
    • Total Sugars: 5g
    • Protein: 56g
    • Vitamin C: 23mg
    • Calcium: 170mg
    • Iron: 9mg
    • Potassium: 1455mg