Last Updated on May 19, 2022 by
Why is it so important to know how to make carnitas in a cazo when you would like to learn about Mexican flavoring? Well, this is the kind of preparation is the kind that you’ll typically find in the steak burrito or taco that you order at your local Mexican restaurant.
When you’re talking about a Mexican family getting together, this is a real go-to that ensures that everyone will feel satisfied and, especially with salsas at hand, licking their fingers and wanting seconds.
So, what is carnitas? Carnitas is very much a street food that’s pork-based, cooked in a copper pan, and is perfectly ready to enjoy on a corn-tortilla. When you’re talking about succulence, you can’t do much better than this.
With copper cazo, it is truly a traditional experience and cooks carnitas to perfection because it is not only a great heat transmitter, but it generates a uniform cooking that’s ideal for that tender meaty taste that so many wonderful Mexican restaurants are so beloved for. The juiciness that you come away with when preparing carnitas in cazo is probably the biggest reason why Mexican food is the most prevalent restaurant food in the entire world. In many ways, it is the Mexican version of a really juicy burger.
You can think of this as an old-school carnitas recipe, but this doesn’t mean that it is not easy to make or even make your own with your own unique spin by utilizing personalized ingredients that respect the kind of flavor that you enjoy the most.
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Table of Contents
How To Make Carnitas In A Cazo In A Way You Can Enjoy
Equipment
- Copper pan (the all-important cazo)
- Cooking pan (for the tortillas)
- Blender
- Cutting board
- Knives (for meat and vegetables)
- Small bowl
Ingredients
For the dough
- 500 grams of pork butter
- 500 grams of pork cut into large chunks
- 500 grams of pork rib cut into large chunks
- A cup and a half of orange juice
- Half an orange
- Cup of evaporated milk
- Quarter cup of combination of laurel, marjoram, and thyme herbs
- 3 pieces of big pepper
- Salt
- Garlic clove
- Corn tortillas (as many as you think you’d like)
- Lemons (or you can buy lemon juice)
For the salsa
- Quarter onion
- 2 avocados
- Quarter cup of lemon juice
- 3 whole habanero chilis
For garnish
- Half cup of cilantro
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1: Heat the cazo
Heat up the cazo on medium and add the butter so that it melts completely. Add the chunks of meat carefully, placing them one by one with plenty of space in-between.
Step 2: Pour liquids
Pour in the orange juice and the evaporated milk over the meat with a spoon.
Step 3: Sprinkle
On top of this evenly distribute the herbs, pepper, salt, and orange which you should slice into small chunks.
Step 4: Cook the meat
Lower the heat to medium-low and cook the meat for an hour, or until the meat turns tender.
Step 5: Cut the meat
Cut up the meat into small strips and add the sliced-up onion, avocado, and lemon. The proportions are up to you.
Step 6: Get tortillas ready
Heat up the tortillas on the pan.
Sauce
Step 1: Mix vegetables
In a blender drop in the onion, garlic, avocado, habanero, lemon juice, cilantro, salt, and pepper. You can adjust the ratio to your liking.
Step 2: Blend ingredients
Blend the ingredients until they change into a uniform color, and pour the sauce into a small bowl with a small spoon for serving.
Tips and Tricks For This Authentic Carnitas Recipe
If the liquid isn’t enough to cover the meat you can add water to compensate, and if you wish you can even add salt to the water. Some cooks claim that you get the best flavor out of the meat by slowly cooking it, thusly allowing the meat to really absorb the liquid that covers it.
You can include most any part of the pig in this recipe, and you’ll probably want to try out different proportions, not only to achieve the best taste for you, but also a great texture. This also goes for the sauce, some like it thicker for instance, and so they put a lot of avocado in the blender. It’s pretty common in Mexico to include lung, stomach, heart, tongue, ear, liver, and even the penis of the pig.
You can buy the tortillas pre-made, but if you really want to set off that fresh flavoring, the best thing to do is to make them from scratch, or at least buy the masa mix and make them from that.
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Servings and Preparation Time
Cooking Time: 30 minutes.
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 4 guests.
Conclusion
This Mexican carnitas recipe is a shining example of why tacos are just such a wonderful dining experience and offer an explosion of savory flavors that you won’t ever forget. In many ways, this is the ultimate party dish, and as such, it is sure to bring the whole family and all kinds of friends and acquaintances together. The great, and unexpected, thing about it is that it is just so easy to cook as the only truly hard part is the preparation of the ingredients that you’re going to drop in the cazo. It’s pretty common for people to buy a quality cazo just for this recipe, and to tend up trying out all kinds of other creations.
In 2021, Carnitas will celebrate their 500 year anniversary of combining European tools with American flavoring, This celebration serves as a testament to how much, and how many, people have thoroughly enjoyed this pork-based dining sensation! Tacos are the pride of Mexico, and carnitas have played a big role in cementing this notion within the culture, and even across the world. Mexican restaurants are most likely the most common restaurants across the board.
So if you’ve always wanted to create a Mexican feast from the comfort of your own home, give this succulent recipe a shot!
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Carnitas In A Cazo In A Way You Can Enjoy
Equipment
- Copper pan (the all-important cazo)
- Cooking pan (for the tortillas)
- blender
- Cutting board
- Knives (for meat and vegetables)
- Small bowl
Ingredients
For the dough
- 500 grams Pork butter
- 500 grams Pork cut into large chunks
- 500 grams Pork rib cut into large chunks
- 1½ cups Orange juice
- ½ Orange
- 1 Cup Evaporated milk
- ¼ Cup Combination of laurel, marjoram, and thyme herbs
- 3 pieces Big pepper
- Salt
- Garlic clove
- Corn tortillas as many as you think you’d like
- Lemons or you can buy lemon juice
For the salsa
- ¼ Onion
- 2 Avocados
- ¼ cup Lemon juice
- 3 whole Habanero chilis
For garnish
- ½ cup Cilantro
Instructions
- Heat the cazo. Heat up the cazo on medium and add the butter so that it melts completely. Add the chunks of meat carefully, placing them one by one with plenty of space in-between.500 grams Pork butter, 500 grams Pork rib cut into large chunks
- Pour liquids. Pour in the orange juice and the evaporated milk over the meat with a spoon.1½ cups Orange juice, 1 Cup Evaporated milk
- Sprinkle. On top of this evenly distribute the herbs, pepper, salt, and orange which you should slice into small chunks.½ Orange, ¼ Cup Combination of laurel, marjoram, and thyme herbs, Salt, 3 pieces Big pepper
- Cook the meat. Lower the heat to medium-low and cook the meat for an hour, or until the meat turns tender.
- Cut the meat. Cut up the meat into small strips and add the sliced-up onion, avocado, and lemon. The proportions are up to you.¼ Onion, 2 Avocados, ¼ cup Lemon juice
- Get tortillas ready. Heat up the tortillas on the pan.Corn tortillas
Sauce
- Mix vegetables. In a blender drop in the onion, garlic, avocado, habanero, lemon juice, cilantro, salt, and pepper. You can adjust the ratio to your liking.Salt, Garlic clove, 2 Avocados, ¼ cup Lemon juice, 3 whole Habanero chilis, ½ cup Cilantro, 3 pieces Big pepper
- Blend ingredients. Blend the ingredients until they change into a uniform color, and pour the sauce into a small bowl with a small spoon for serving.
Notes
Tips and Tricks For This Authentic Carnitas Recipe
If the liquid isn’t enough to cover the meat you can add water to compensate, and if you wish you can even add salt to the water. Some cooks claim that you get the best flavor out of the meat by slowly cooking it, thusly allowing the meat to really absorb the liquid that covers it. You can include most any part of the pig in this recipe, and you'll probably want to try out different proportions, not only to achieve the best taste for you, but also a great texture. This also goes for the sauce, some like it thicker for instance, and so they put a lot of avocado in the blender. It's pretty common in Mexico to include lung, stomach, heart, tongue, ear, liver, and even the penis of the pig. You can buy the tortillas pre-made, but if you really want to set off that fresh flavoring, the best thing to do is to make them from scratch, or at least buy the masa mix and make them from that.
Casia is a passionate home cook who loves to share her love of Mexican food with the world. She has been cooking since she was a child, helping her grandmother in the kitchen and learning the traditional techniques used to create delicious Mexican dishes. Casia loves to experiment with new ingredients and flavors, always looking for ways to make her dishes even more flavorful. She is also passionate about teaching others about Mexican cuisine and its rich history. When she is not in the kitchen, Casia enjoys exploring new cultures, traveling, and spending time with her family.