Piled excessive with crispy pork, rice, black beans, corn, crunchy cabbage, and a beneficiant squeeze of lime, this Carnitas Bowl is every little thing I need in a single easy bundle. Twenty minutes. That’s all it takes. How can I say no?
When you’ve been round right here for any size of time, you already know the way I really feel about carnitas. I’ve been making them on repeat for nicely over a decade, and that reveals no indicators of slowing down. My slow cooker carnitas are the set-it-and-forget-it model for busy days, and these conventional Dutch oven pork carnitas are what I make once I need to go all out. Each are unbelievable. And, each depart me with a fridge stuffed with pork that I’m pleased to make use of in new in scrumptious methods every time we’ve leftovers.
Carnitas Bowl
Rising up within the Southwest, I’ve eaten my justifiable share of burritos and tacos. And, I’ll by no means flip them down. However, every so often I crave one thing a bit of totally different. And a bowl satisfies that craving completely by letting every ingredient shine by itself.
This carnitas bowl recipe is what occurs when leftover pork carnitas meet a actually good bowl. Rice on the underside, all the good things piled on prime, lime squeezed over every little thing. It simply works.
Wait, you didn’t make carnitas yesterday, or final week, or pull them out of the freezer this morning? That’s okay. Don’t sweat it. Simply make them now!
Substances and Substitutions
Rice – I like to make use of Jasmine rice for this recipe.
Corn – If I don’t occur to have contemporary corn at my fingertips, canned corn is the transfer, right here. I’ve additionally used frozen corn earlier than, however you’ll have to heat it up, first. Canned corn and contemporary corn, they will get added to the bowl straight from the can or the cob. (And sure, I love uncooked corn. When you haven’t tried it, you’re lacking out!)
Black beans – I rinse and drain the canned black beans. However, you do you. Possibly you want consuming gritty beans? As a result of that’s what you’ll get in the event you don’t rinse them.
Carnitas – If you’re like my household, you’ve got this able to go within the freezer. You have to about three cups of ready pork carnitas, chopped chunk dimension.
Cabbage – Inexperienced cabbage is performing some heavy lifting on this recipe! You’re going to like the feel it provides. However, it must be very finely sliced, virtually shredded.
Purple onion – Sliced as skinny as you presumably can after which roughly chopped. Just a little of this punchy root vegetable goes a looong method.
Cilantro – Half a cup, chopped. When you’re a kind of individuals who thinks cilantro tastes like cleaning soap, depart it out. No judgment. (However, perhaps attempt it once more as a result of I used to have that drawback, and about 10 years in the past it simply went away so now I’m capable of get pleasure from it!)
Limes – Don’t skip the beneficiant squeeze of lime juice. It completely makes the bowl.
Notes on Gear
- Massive skillet or microwave-safe dish
- Chef’s knife – That is my all-time favourite knife for meals prep. The weighting makes it an absolute dream to make use of, and it holds an edge extremely nicely. When you’re able to graduate to the next high quality knife, this one is my choose.
- Slicing board
Methods to Make Carnitas Bowls
Warming the Parts: I heat the rice, beans, and corn collectively in a skillet or the microwave.
Crisping the Carnitas: You need them to have the ability to unfold out and re-crisp these edges. So, don’t toss them in with the remaining. I take advantage of my skillet, however it’s also possible to toss them on a sheet pan below the broiler.
Constructing the Bowls: Divide the rice, beans, and corn between 4 bowls. Layer the carnitas excessive. Don’t be shy about it.
Including the Contemporary Stuff: I usually will serve these bowls with the cabbage, pink onion, cilantro, and lime wedges on the facet. That method everybody will get to construct the precise bowl they need.
Serving: Set out the contemporary stuff and no matter different further toppings you need. Salsa, guac, and queso make a daily look at our desk. And, we at all times put out the Cholula.
Skilled Tip
The only greatest distinction between an excellent and an important carnitas bowl is in taking the time to re-crisp the pork. I do know it’s tempting to only microwave every little thing. Don’t. Take the additional jiffy to get these carnitas again right into a scorching skillet. It’s even simpler to unfold them over a sheet pan and let the broiler work its magic. The sizzle. The perimeters. That’s what makes carnitas particular within the first place!
Prep the Toppings First – I’ve been cooking for many years. My knife abilities usually are not the blazing quick work that you just see on-line. That’s okay. You don’t need to rush. Simply chop the cabbage, onion, and cilantro earlier than you begin warming the remainder of it. Then, it’s able to assemble so every little thing remains to be heat when it hits the desk.
Don’t Skip the Lime – I say it just about each time I share a carnitas recipe, and I’ll carry on saying it. The squeeze of lime excessive is what makes this bowl shine. It doesn’t style “limey”. It brightens the opposite flavors, and retains the wealthy pork from overwhelming every little thing else.
Serving Recommendations
I’ve two go-to rice recipes that I like to make use of when making carnitas bowls, if I’ve the time. Cilantro lime rice and chipotle lime rice each lend unbelievable flavors to the completed dish.
And, in the event you actually need to go all out, make a batch of elote to serve on the facet. All of the flavors simply work collectively. It’s one of many issues I make most regularly to serve with carnitas meat, irrespective of how I’m utilizing it!
Make Forward & Storage
Make Forward: That is virtually a make-ahead meal by design. The carnitas are already cooked. The rice could be made days prematurely. The beans and corn come from cans. All you’re actually doing is chopping a number of contemporary toppings and warming issues up.
Methods to Retailer: Preserve the nice and cozy elements and the contemporary toppings in separate containers within the fridge. The rice, beans, corn, and carnitas will preserve for 3-4 days. The cabbage and onion will preserve about the identical, however chop the cilantro contemporary.
Methods to Reheat: You possibly can heat every little thing within the microwave in the event you’re in a rush. However, once more, don’t skip the skillet. The carnitas are so a lot better within the skillet!
Extra Carnitas-Impressed Recipes
Any of them! My slow cooker carnitas and Dutch oven pork carnitas each work nice right here. You too can use store-bought carnitas in a pinch. The necessary factor is that the pork is already cooked and simply must be re-crisped.
Completely. Grilled rooster, carne asada, and even seasoned floor beef would all work nicely in these bowls. I’ve achieved it with leftover Cajun rooster too and it was unbelievable. Simply don’t name it a carnitas bowl if you use a unique protein, or somebody on the web will depart you an offended remark.
Nope. Lengthy grain, basmati, brown rice, even cauliflower rice if that’s your factor. Jasmine is simply what I often have readily available. Leftover rice really works greatest as a result of it holds its texture higher below all of the toppings.
They’ll lose texture if you retailer them. So, to crisp them again up, you must use a skillet or the broiler. Or, even the air fryer. Simply don’t use the microwave.
OPTIONAL ADDITIONAL TOPPINGS
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Utilizing a skillet over the range or utilizing the microwave, heat the rice, beans, and corn. Recrisp the carnitas individually in one other skillet.
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Chop the contemporary elements whereas the others heat up within the pan. Then, assemble the bowls with rice, beans, and corn on the underside, then a layer of carnitas, and end with the contemporary elements.
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Generously squeeze lime juice over every portion. Serve with further lime wedges and extra toppings of your alternative.
Energy: 719 kcal | Carbohydrates: 109 g | Protein: 38 g | Fats: 15 g | Saturated Fats: 5 g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 1 g | Monounsaturated Fats: 1 g | Ldl cholesterol: 76 mg | Sodium: 1238 mg | Potassium: 627 mg | Fiber: 11 g | Sugar: 27 g | Vitamin A: 442 IU | Vitamin C: 22 mg | Calcium: 152 mg | Iron: 5 mg
Diet data is routinely calculated, so ought to solely be used as an approximation.
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