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Orange & Milk Braised Pork Carnitas

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Servings 0

Ingredients
  

  • 3 1/2 pounds 3 1/2 pounds boneless pork shoulder cut into large pieces
  • 1 tbsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tbsp kosher salt, or more to taste
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 2 tsp ground cumin
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1 orange, juiced, and zested
  • 2 cups whole milk

Instructions
 

  • Season pork with pepper and salt.
  • Heat oil in a large pot over high heat.
  • Working in batches, cook pork in the hot oil until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes.
  • Return all cooked pork and accumulated juice to the pot.
  • Season pork with bay leaves, cumin, dried oregano, and cayenne pepper.
  • Stir in fresh orange juice, orange zest, and milk.
  • Bring mixture to a boil over high heat; reduce heat to low.
  • Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, until meat is fork-tender but not falling apart, about 2 hours.
  • Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
  • Remove pork from the liquid.
  • Skim some fat from the pot to grease a baking dish. Stir pork.
  • Transfer the pieces of pork to the baking dish.
  • Drizzle about 2 more tablespoons of the floating fat over the meat.
  • Season with more salt, if needed.
  • Bake in preheated oven until pork is browned, about 15 minutes.
  • Turn on the oven's broiler.Cook pork under the broiler until crisp, 2 to 3 minutes.
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