⏰ Service 28 — Carnitas and the Whole Shoulder Taco Dinner
← Block 21–22: Pork & Charcuterie Overview
Skill: Carnitas — Mexican lard-braised pork shoulder — is one of the finest applications of cheap pork in any cuisine. The shoulder goes into a Dutch oven with lard (or a combination of water + lard), orange, lime, bay, and cumin. The water evaporates and the pork fries in its own fat at the end, creating both tender interior and hard-crisped exterior simultaneously.
- Read (and mostly follow): Serious Eats — No-Waste Tacos de Carnitas
- Serve with: Serious Eats — Charred Tomatillo Salsa Verde + guacamole + pickled jalapeños + fresh white onion and cilantro + warm corn tortillas
The real skill: the warm tortilla is important. Wrap them in a cloth. Keep them warm. The taco is only as good as the tortilla.
🎥 Compare Notes: Carnitas are Easy, Inexpensive, and Delicious — Watch the final fat-frying step closely — that's the moment the pork goes from braised to both tender AND crispy simultaneously.