Pork Carnitas

[ecowper]

Anybody have a good rub for Pork Carnitas? Was thinking pepper, cumin, oregano and maybe a bit of chipotle. Thoughts?

[Breadhead]

ecowper ... If I'm going to use it for tacos, burritos or enchiladas I use taco seasoning as my rub.😆👍

Taco Potion #19:
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon ground cumin
2 teaspoons cornstarch
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 1/2 teaspoons hot smoked paprika
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

[ecowper]

Like the McCormicks stuff you get at the store?

[ecowper]

Got it! That looks better than what I was coming up with.

[Potkettleblack]

Generally, you don't rub it, as it's more confited. The flavor is more in the cooking liquid than anything directly applied to the meat.

Really, you could use pulled pork, with the rendered fat mixed with orange juice or lime juice, back in.

[ecowper]

That makes sense. I was mostly looking for the right "taco" flavor and an excuse to use the WSM.

[Potkettleblack]

Up in my neighborhood (we have a large concentration of folks from Michoacan) the restaurants make it about like this:

http://www.rickbayless.com/recipe/michoacan-style-pork-carnitas/

Then serve with flavorful toppings, like pickled red onions, cilantro, and such.

[Potkettleblack]

I think what you might be thinking of, more than carnitas is cochinita pibil (like my favorite thing there is).

Something like this:

http://www.seriouseats.com/2016/05/food-lab-how-to-make-cochinita-pibil-mexican-pork.html

[ecowper]

Okay, I am absolutely doing that sometime soon!