How to Make Sous Vide Carnitas - A Step-by-Step Guide

Sous vide cooking has become increasingly popular in recent years, and it's easy to see why. This method of cooking involves sealing food in a plastic bag and cooking it in a water bath at a precise temperature for an extended period of time. The result is perfectly cooked, tender and juicy meat that is sure to impress even the most discerning of palates.

One dish that truly shines when cooked using the sous vide method is carnitas. Traditionally, carnitas are made by braising pork in...

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Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons granulated garlic
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 (4 pound) boneless pork butt
  • 1 tablespoon chicken soup base (such as Better than Bouillon®)
  • 1 medium orange, sliced
  • 3 large bay leaves
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, or as needed

Information

  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 1 day
  • Total Time: 1 day 15 mins
  • Servings: 12
  • Yield: 12 servings

  • Fill a large pot with water and place a sous vide immersion cooker into the water. Set temperature to 165 degrees F (74 degrees C) according to manufacturer's directions.
  • Combine granulated garlic, cumin, salt, oregano, coriander, and black pepper in a small bowl.
  • Cut pork butt into 2 chunks and rub with soup base. Sprinkle with spice mixture and rub until evenly distributed. Place pork into a large vacuum bag. Add orange slices and bay leaves throughout the bag. Seal using a vacuum sealer.
  • Place bag into the water and set timer for 24 hours, turning bag over halfway through. When done, remove pork to a platter, reserving some or all of the juices.
  • To crisp up carnitas, heat vegetable oil in a large cast iron skillet over high heat until smoking. Add shredded pork and fry until edges are browned and crispy, 1 to 2 minutes. Drizzle with reserved juices, if desired. Alternately, you may crisp under an oven broiler for 3 to 4 minutes.
  • Nutrition

    205 cal.

    • Total Fat: 13g
    • Saturated Fat: 4g
    • Cholesterol: 61mg
    • Sodium: 415mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 3g
    • Dietary Fiber: 1g
    • Total Sugars: 2g
    • Protein: 19g
    • Vitamin C: 8mg
    • Calcium: 30mg
    • Iron: 1mg
    • Potassium: 273mg