5Scallions– both white and green parts, trimmed and roughly chopped
1smallSweet Yellow Onion– roughly chopped
5clovesGarlic– peeled and smashed
½Bunch ofFresh Thyme– leaves only (about 1 TBS)
2fresh Bay Leaves– stalks removed
1tspGround Allspice
½tspGround Cinnamon
1TBSCoarse Kosher Salt
2TBSWhite Wine Vinegar
1TBSHoney
1TBSDark Jamaican Rum
3TBSExtra Virgin Olive Oil, or more as needed to thin out sauce
CARNITAS:
3poundsBoneless Pork Butt– Cut into 2’’ Cubes
2TBSalt
3-4TBExtra Virgin Olive Oil(or as Needed for Browning Pork Cubes)
1(12 oz)Lager Beer
1CupOrange Juice
1CupPineapple Juice
½CupBeef Stock(unsalted)
¼CupLime Juice
1Yellow Onion– Peeled and Halved
3ClovesGarlic– Peeled and Halved
2fresh Bay Leaves– stalks removed
1tspCumin
½tspDry Oregano
2tspSalt
½tspPepper
¾tspChili Powder
¼tspCrushed Red Pepper Flakes
PINEAPPLE JALAPENO SALSA: (yield approximately 2 cups)
1 ½CupsFresh Pineapple– coarsely diced
1Jalapeno– stemmed, partially deseeded and finely diced
¼Red Onion– diced (about ½ cup)
¼CupCilantro Leaves, packed – roughly chopped
1Scallions– thinly sliced
2TBSLime Juice
1tspHoney
1tspDark Rum
Splash OJ
Sea Salt, to taste
For Serving: Corn Tortillas, Shredded Cabbage, Avocado, Jalapeno, Lime Wedges
Instructions
Make the Jerk Sauce: Place chiles, scallions, onions and garlic in the bowl of a food processor. Process until all ingredients are minced. Add remaining ingredients and process until smooth. If sauce is too thick add more oil, more tablespoon at a time, until a smooth pourable sauce is achieved.
Place pork cubes in a large nonreactive baking dish or Ziploc bag. Pour in jerk sauce and roll/stir pork around until thoroughly coated. Refrigerate and allow to marinate for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight, turning pork occasionally.
Make the Pineapple-Jalapeno Salsa: Combine all the salsa ingredients together in a medium sized mixing bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
To Cook Carnitas: Remove pork from refrigerator and transfer to a colander to drain of jerk sauce/marinade, discarding sauce. Allow pork to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.
Set a Large Dutch Oven, or large sauce pot, over Medium – Medium High Heat.
Add ONE Tablespoon of Oil to Pot. Add Pork, in batches and being sure to not over crowd the pot. Brown in oil, about 2 minutes per side, for a total of 6-8 minutes. DO NOT disturb Pork Cubes while they are cooking on each side. After all sides are browned, use tongs to transfer to a plate and set aside.
Repeat browning process, adding one tablespoon of oil before browning each batch, until all Pork Cubes are browned and removed from pot.
Deglaze Pan with Beer, Orange Juice, Beef Stock, and Lime Juice; scraping up brown bits from bottom of the pan.
Add Onion, Garlic, Bay leaves and remaining Carnita ingredients. Add browned pork cubes and any accumulated juices back to pan.
Bring to simmer. Once simmering, reduce heat to low – medium low to maintain a gentle simmer. Cover and cook Pork 2 Hours, or until are fork tender.
Use a slotted spoon to transfer Carnitas to a baking dish, or sheet pan lined with aluminum foil.
Strain cooking liquid into a large bowl or container. Set aside.
Place Oven Rack on Upper-Middle Rack and preheat oven to high broil.
Add ½ Cup of the strained cooking liquid to the Carnitas and toss to coat.
Broil Carnitas 4-5 minutes. Remove from oven, flip and again toss to coat with liquid. Continue Broiling an additional 4-5 minutes.
Serve Carnitas tossed in additional strained sauce or use two forks to shred meat to desired consistency.
For Taco Assembly: Top each tortilla with a small amount of shredded cabbage, carnita meat, sliced avocados, pineapple salsa, jalapeno rings and a drizzle of reserved strained cooking liquid. Serve and enjoy.
Notes
*To Cook Carnitas in the Oven: Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Bring Pot to simmer as indicated as above, once simmering, cover, and transfer pot to preheated Oven. Continue with directions as stated in recipe. *To Prepare Carnitas in Advance: 1. Prepare carnitas through step 10. 2. Remove Carnita meat to a container and allow to cool slightly before covering and transferring to the refrigerator. Strain the cooking liquid and transfer to a separate container with a tight fitting lid. Refrigerate. 3. When ready to use- allow the carnita meat and liquid to come to room temperature on the counter for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Toss the cold carnita meat with 1/3 cup cooking liquid. Warm in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Remove and proceed with recipe as directed (step 13).