Piled excessive with crispy pork, rice, black beans, corn, crunchy cabbage, and a beneficiant squeeze of lime, this Carnitas Bowl is all the pieces I need in a single easy package deal. 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 properly over a decade, and that exhibits no indicators of slowing down. My sluggish cooker carnitas are the set-it-and-forget-it model for busy days, and these conventional Dutch oven pork carnitas are what I make after I wish to go all out. Each are unbelievable. And, each go away me with a fridge filled with pork that I’m blissful to make use of in new in scrumptious methods every time we now have 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 slightly 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 good things piled on prime, lime squeezed over all the pieces. 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 should you don’t rinse them.
Carnitas – In case you are like my household, you have got this able to go within the freezer. You’ll need about three cups of ready pork carnitas, chopped chunk measurement.
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, nearly shredded.
Crimson onion – Sliced as skinny as you presumably can after which roughly chopped. A bit of of this punchy root vegetable goes a looong means.
Cilantro – Half a cup, chopped. When you’re a kind of individuals who thinks cilantro tastes like cleaning soap, go away it out. No judgment. (However, possibly 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
- Giant 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. When you’re able to graduate to the next high quality knife, this one is my decide.
- Chopping board
Tips on how 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 remainder. I take advantage of my skillet, however you may as well 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 Contemporary Stuff: I sometimes will serve these bowls with the cabbage, pink onion, cilantro, and lime wedges on the aspect. That means everybody will get to construct the precise bowl they need.
Serving: Set out the contemporary stuff and no matter different additional 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 one largest distinction between a very good and an incredible carnitas bowl is in taking the time to re-crisp the pork. I do know it’s tempting to simply microwave all the pieces. Don’t. Take the additional jiffy to get these carnitas again right into a sizzling 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 simply 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 all the pieces 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 all the pieces 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 unbelievable flavors to the completed dish.
And, should you actually wish to go all out, make a batch of elote to serve on the aspect. All of the flavors simply work collectively. It’s one of many issues I make most steadily 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 will 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.
Tips on how to Retailer: Hold the nice and cozy parts 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.
Tips on how to Reheat: You possibly can heat all the pieces within the microwave should 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 sluggish cooker carnitas and Dutch oven pork carnitas each work nice right here. You may also 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 hen, carne asada, and even seasoned floor beef would all work properly in these bowls. I’ve executed it with leftover Cajun hen too and it was unbelievable. Simply don’t name it a carnitas bowl once you use a unique protein, or somebody on the web will go away 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 truly works finest as a result of it holds its texture higher underneath all of the toppings.
They will lose texture once you retailer them. So, to crisp them again up, it’s a must 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 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 selection.
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 robotically calculated, so ought to solely be used as an approximation.
