Manteca Fried Carnitas

Nuggets of pork shoulder are slowly cooked with orange and onion in lard in this authentic Mexican dish.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 60 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins
• Calories: 304 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons kosher salt
• 2 large onions, quartered
• 6 bay leaves
• 1 gallon lard for frying (manteca)
• 5 pounds boneless pork shoulder, cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes
• 1 ½ teaspoons coarse ground black pepper
• 3 whole garlic cloves
• 1 large orange, halved

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Heat the lard in a deep roasting pan over medium heat. Stir in the pork, bay leaves, salt, pepper, onions, and garlic. Squeeze the orange into the mixture and drop in the orange halves. Add more lard if needed to cover all of the ingredients.

Step 2

Cook until the pork is tender enough to pull apart with a fork, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Discard the orange, onion, and garlic; strain the pork cubes from the lard using a slotted spoon.