Sweet and Spicy Slow Cooker Carnitas

🧂 Ingredients

• 3.5 lbs pork shoulder, pork butt, or pork blade roast
• 2 tsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp ancho chile pepper
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp coarse salt
• 1 tsp white pepper
• 1 tsp dried cilantro
• ½ tsp cumin
• ½ tsp coriander
• ½ tsp red pepper flakes
• 8 oz Coke
• 8 oz water

  this can be omitted if you like
• 2 oranges

  halved
• 2 limes

  halved
• 3 garlic cloves
• 16 corn or flour tortilla
• 2 medium tomatoes

  cut into small chunks
• 1 medium red onion

  diced
• 2 green onions

  diced
• 1 avocado

  sliced thinly
• fresh cilantro

  to taste
• salsa
• lettuce

Instructions

• 1 Remove pork shoulder from fridge. Set aside.
• 2 In a medium sized bowl combine the brown sugar, ancho chile pepper, smoked
  paprika, coarse salt, white pepper, dried cilantro, cumin, coriander, and red
  pepper flakes. Mix well so all the spices combine thoroughly. Carefully rub the
  entire pork shoulder with the spice rub, making sure to coat all the sides.
• 3 Place the pork shoulder in you slow cooker.
• 4 Pour the Coke and water around the side of the roast, but not over top of it.
• 5 Cut the oranges in half, squeeze the juice out over the roast. Place the pieces
  inside the slow cooker.
• 6 Cut the limes in half, squeeze the juice out over the roast. Place the pieces
  inside the slow cooker.
• 7 Place the garlic cloves in the liquid as well.
• 8 Cover and cook for 8 to 10 hours, you want the meat to be moist, and to pull
  apart easily.
• 9 Transfer the meat to a cutting board and pull it apart with two forks.
• 10 Place the meat in a large frying pan with a touch of olive oil. Cook over
  medium-high heat for about 3 to 5 minutes. I find adding just a touch of brown
  sugar helps to caramelize quickly. The key to great carnitas is having the meat
  be moist, but the edges crispy. Remove from heat and transfer to a large bowl.
• 11 To make Tacos:
• 12 Cut up all the toppings ahead of time, with the exception of the avocado. Do
  that at the last minute so it does not brown before serving.
• 13 Heat the tortillas by placing them in a frying pan, one at a time, flipping so
  you warm each side. Alternately you can warm them in the microwave all at once
  for about 30 to 45 seconds.
• 14 Top each tortilla with meat and toppings of your choice.
• 15 Serve with a big old sweet and spicy smile!

Nutrition Info