Name: Slow-Cooker Pork Carnitas
Total time: 7 h
Ingredients: 1 (3- to 3 1/2-pound) boneless pork butt roast , lightly trimmed and cut into 2-inch chunks; 1 small onion , peeled and halved; 3 (2-inch) strips orange zest plus 1/2 cup juice; 3 (2-inch) strips lime zest plus 2 tablespoons juice; 5 garlic cloves , minced; 1 tablespoon ground cumin; 1 tablespoon dried oregano; Salt and pepper; 2 bay leaves; 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Why This Recipe Works

To achieve a slow-cooker version of this Mexican pulled pork dish, we had to make some adjustments to compensate for the moist environment of the slow cooker. We cut pork shoulder (with a good amount of fat left on it) into chunks and combined the meat with onion, orange zest and juice, lime zest and juice, garlic, ground cumin, oregano, and hefty amounts of salt and pepper. As the meat cooks on low in the slow cooker, it releases just the right amount of liquid to help it braise and become pull-apart tender. To get the characteristic crispiness of the dish, we turned to the stovetop and a nonstick skillet. We mashed the pork pieces, added them to the hot skillet along with some of the intensely flavorful juices, and cooked the mixture until the pork began to fry and turn crispy.

Before You Begin

Remove the lime and orange zest with a vegetable peeler. Pork butt roast is often labeled Boston butt. Do not overtrim the pork; this extra fat is essential to keeping the pork moist and helping it brown when sautéed in step 3. We like to serve carnitas with warmed corn tortillas and a variety of toppings, like finely chopped onion, fresh cilantro leaves, thinly sliced radishes, sour cream, and lime wedges.

Instructions

Combine pork, onion, orange zest and juice, lime zest and juice, garlic, cumin, oregano, 2 1/2 teaspoons salt, 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper, and bay leaves in slow cooker. Cover and cook until fork slips easily in and out of pork, 5 to 7 hours on high or 8 to 10 hours on low.

Using slotted spoon, transfer pork from slow cooker to large bowl. Using potato masher, smash pork until coarsely shredded. Strain cooking liquid from slow cooker through fine-mesh strainer set over separate bowl and discard solids.

Heat oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add pork to skillet. Whisk cooking liquid to recombine, then add 1 cup to skillet with pork. Cook, stirring occasionally, until liquid has evaporated and pork is evenly browned and crispy in spots, 10 to 15 minutes.

Season with salt and pepper to taste. Transfer pork to serving platter and moisten with 1/4 cup remaining cooking liquid, or more as needed. Serve.