Carnitas tacos with fresh mango salsa

Carnitas Tacos are my favorite item to order at most Mexican restaurants. I love the moist and tender meat with the most incredible crispy edges that is usually topped with some type of delicious salsa. And the flavor…wow! There is nothing like it.

The goal for this recipe was to make these tacos sweet and savory with a little kick of spice. Then I topped them with my sweet mango salsa and homemade guacamole and voila…deliciousness in a taco!

CARNITAS TACOS

Ingredients:

4 lb pork butt or shoulder cut into long 2-4” strips

2 limes, juiced and included

1 orange, juiced and included

1/4 cup olive oil

1 tsp minced garlic

1 tsp thinly diced jalapeño

Rub Ingredients:

2 TBL brown sugar

2 tsp kosher salt

2 tsp pepper

1 tsp chili powder

1 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp cumin

Directions:

1-    Marinade: Place pork meat in sealable plastic bag. Squeeze in the lime and orange juices, drop in the juiced fruit halves and let the marinade until you’re ready to cook. (24-72 hours or freeze).

2-    Slow-cook: Combine rub ingredients into a bowl and mix. Pour pork meat and marinade (including the lime/orange peels) into crock pot. Rub all of the rub seasonings on all sides of the meat. Place seasoned meat in a single layer inside the crockpot. Turn crock pot on High and cook for 6-8 hours, depending on your machine. Shred meat inside crock pot and mix with juices. Discard any additional gristle and fat.

3-    Bake: (meat can be slow cooked ahead of time and stored. Continue with this step when ready to serve.) Preheat oven 400°F. Line baking sheet with tinfoil or parchment paper. Lay out shredded pork on cookie sheet in one layer. Bake in center of oven for 5-10 minutes until edges of pork are crispy.

4-    Serve: Serve this warmed and crispy shredded pork carnitas inside your favorite taco shell or tortilla, top with fresh mango salsa and guacamole (recipes below) and enjoy! Happy Cinco de Mayo!

MANGO SALSA

Toss the following ingredients together in a bowl.

Ingredients:

2 cups small diced fresh mango

1/4 cup minced red onion

1 tsp minced garlic

1 TBL chopped oregano or parsley

1/4 tsp salt

(optional) 1-3 tsp minced fresh jalapeño

GUACAMOLE

Mix the following ingredients in a bowl. Store with plastic wrap touching the surface of the guacamole to prevent browning.

Ingredients:

4 cups roughly mashed avocados

1 tsp minced garlic

2/3-3/4 cup fresh lemon juice

1-2 tsp kosher salt