This carnitas norteñas recipe includes pork chunks slowly simmered in fat. Carnitas norteñas are delicious in tacos or burritos, or accompanied with beans and rice.
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 1 hour and 40 minutes
Yield: 6 servings
2 pounds pork shoulder or butt
Salt and pepper to taste
1 1/2 pounds lard or pork fat or shortening
1 medium red onion
1 bunch cilantro
5 serrano chiles
Cut the pork into 2-inch cubes.
Generously season the pork all over with salt and pepper.
Melt the lard in a large, deep saucepan or Dutch oven over moderate heat.
Add the well-seasoned meat and simmer, uncovered, over medium-low heat for 1 hour and 15 minutes, until fork tender.
Remove the pork with a slotted spoon and transfer to a cutting board.
You can refrigerate the fat for future use.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Dice the red onion.
Chop the cilantro and chiles.
When cool enough to handle, shred the pork by hand or with the tines of two forks.
In a mixing bowl, toss the pork with the onion, cilantro, and chiles to combine.
Transfer to a casserole, cover tightly, and bake, until heated through, about 15 minutes.
Serve hot.