Piled excessive with crispy pork, rice, black beans, corn, crunchy cabbage, and a beneficiant squeeze of lime, this Carnitas Bowl is every part I need in a single easy bundle. Twenty minutes. That’s all it takes. How can I say no?
In case 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 properly 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 wish to go all out. Each are improbable. And, each go away me with a fridge stuffed with pork that I’m completely happy to make use of in new in scrumptious methods every time now we have leftovers.
Carnitas Bowl
Rising up within the Southwest, I’ve eaten my fair proportion of burritos and tacos. And, I’ll by no means flip them down. However, from time to time I crave one thing a bit completely 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 great things piled on prime, lime squeezed over every part. 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!
Elements and Substitutions
Rice – I like to make use of Jasmine rice for this recipe.
Corn – If I don’t occur to have recent 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 recent corn, they will get added to the bowl straight from the can or the cob. (And sure, I love uncooked corn. In case 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 should you don’t rinse them.
Carnitas – If you’re like my household, you may have this able to go within the freezer. You will have about three cups of ready pork carnitas, chopped chew dimension.
Cabbage – Inexperienced cabbage is doing a little heavy lifting on this recipe! You’re going to like the feel it provides. However, it must be very finely sliced, virtually shredded.
Crimson onion – Sliced as skinny as you presumably can after which roughly chopped. A bit of this punchy root vegetable goes a looong manner.
Cilantro – Half a cup, chopped. In case you’re a kind of individuals who thinks cilantro tastes like cleaning soap, go away 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 Tools
- 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 properly. In case you’re able to graduate to a better high quality knife, this one is my decide.
- Reducing board
How you can 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 you can too toss them on a sheet pan underneath 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 Recent Stuff: I usually will serve these bowls with the cabbage, crimson onion, cilantro, and lime wedges on the facet. That manner everybody will get to construct the precise bowl they need.
Serving: Set out the recent stuff and no matter different additional toppings you need. Salsa, guac, and queso make a daily look at our desk. And, we all the time put out the Cholula.
Knowledgeable Tip
The one largest distinction between a very good and an ideal carnitas bowl is in taking the time to re-crisp the pork. I do know it’s tempting to simply microwave every part. Don’t. Take the additional couple of minutes 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 expertise aren’t 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 part 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 part else.
Serving Ideas
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 improbable flavors to the completed dish.
And, should you actually wish 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 steadily to serve with carnitas meat, regardless 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 recent toppings and warming issues up.
How you can Retailer: Preserve the nice and cozy elements and the recent toppings in separate containers within the fridge. The rice, beans, corn, and carnitas will hold for 3-4 days. The cabbage and onion will hold about the identical, however chop the cilantro recent.
How you can Reheat: You possibly can heat every part within the microwave should you’re in a rush. However, once more, don’t skip the skillet. The carnitas are so significantly 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 can even use store-bought carnitas in a pinch. The vital factor is that the pork is already cooked and simply must be re-crisped.
Completely. Grilled hen, carne asada, and even seasoned floor beef would all work properly in these bowls. I’ve carried out it with leftover Cajun hen too and it was improbable. Simply don’t name it a carnitas bowl if you use a unique protein, or somebody on the web will go away you an indignant remark.
Nope. Lengthy grain, basmati, brown rice, even cauliflower rice if that’s your factor. Jasmine is simply what I normally have readily available. Leftover rice truly works greatest as a result of it holds its texture higher underneath all of the toppings.
They’ll lose texture if you retailer them. So, to crisp them again up, it’s important to 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 recent 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 recent 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
Vitamin data is mechanically calculated, so ought to solely be used as an approximation.
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