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Crispy Carnitas Street Tacos Recipe with Easy Zesty Tomatillo Avocado Salsa

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These crispy carnitas street tacos feature tender, slow-braised pork with crispy edges, topped with a bright and tangy tomatillo avocado salsa. Perfect for quick weeknight dinners or casual gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 lbs pork shoulder, cut into 2-inch chunks
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 small onion, quartered
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 5 medium tomatillos, husked and rinsed
  • 1 ripe avocado, peeled and pitted
  • 1 small jalapeño, seeded or whole
  • ½ cup fresh cilantro leaves
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • Salt to taste
  • Optional: 1 small garlic clove
  • 12 small corn tortillas
  • 1 small red onion, finely chopped
  • Fresh cilantro leaves for garnish
  • Crumbled queso fresco or cotija cheese (optional)
  • Lime wedges

Instructions

  1. Pat the pork shoulder chunks dry and season with salt, pepper, cumin, oregano, and chili powder.
  2. Heat vegetable oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown pork pieces in batches, about 3-4 minutes per side, until golden and crispy. Remove and set aside.
  3. In the same pot, sauté quartered onion and minced garlic until fragrant and translucent, about 3 minutes.
  4. Pour in chicken broth, scraping up browned bits. Return pork to pot, cover with lid, and transfer to a preheated 300°F oven.
  5. Braise pork for 2 to 2.5 hours until tender and shreddable.
  6. Remove pork with tongs or slotted spoon, spread in a single layer on a baking sheet or skillet. Broil or pan-fry over medium-high heat for 5-7 minutes until edges are crispy, flipping halfway.
  7. Blend tomatillos, avocado, jalapeño, cilantro, lime juice, salt, and optional garlic until smooth. Adjust seasoning.
  8. Warm corn tortillas on a dry skillet or over low flame until soft and pliable. Keep wrapped in a towel.
  9. Assemble tacos by piling crispy carnitas on tortillas, spooning salsa over, and topping with chopped red onion, cilantro, and cheese if using. Serve with lime wedges.

Notes

Do not skip searing the pork before braising to develop flavor. Spread pork in a thin layer when crisping to avoid steaming. Blend salsa just until combined to avoid watery texture. Seed jalapeño to control heat. Braise pork slowly for tender results. Broiler step is faster than frying for crisping.

Nutrition

Keywords: carnitas, street tacos, tomatillo salsa, avocado salsa, crispy pork, Mexican tacos, easy dinner, weeknight meal

Find it online: https://jodierecipes.com/crispy-carnitas-street-tacos-recipe-with-easy-zesty-tomatillo-avocado-salsa/