Mexican Pulled Pork Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between pulled pork and carnitas? ›

Pulled pork and carnitas are both made by slow cooking pork shoulder (or similar cut of meat). The difference is carnitas are cooked with Mexican spices and is finished in the oven or on the stovetop to give it little crispy bits that add to the texture and flavor.

I'm sure pork has several different names in Spanish, even if you're only talking about Mexican cuisine, but two of the most widely-used in Mexico are cerdo (as in Carne de cerdo en salsa verde) and puerco (as in Chicharrón de puerco).

Carnitas is a traditional Mexican dish made with pork.

This is in contrast to barbacoa, which is made with beef. Carnitas means "little meats" in Spanish. It's a slow-cooked pork dish that is simmered until it becomes tender and juicy.

Pulled pork is just shredded pork that has been traditionally smoked or slow-cooked to achieve a soft texture.

The orange juice in the cooking liquid provides acidity that helps break down the meat so it's extra tender and juicy.

In short, if your goal is to prepare something yourself, carne al pastor is your best bet. It's easier to prepare than carnitas and just as flavorful. If, on the other hand, you are trying to decide what to order at El Pollo Norteno, the choice comes down to your personal preference.

The game changer for the Iberico pork meat is the fat. Because of its mostly acorns diet and its genetics, Iberian pigs are able to infiltrate a lot of fat into their muscles, resulting in a more flavorful pork.

Pork Carnitas Seasoning

Pork shoulder is extra flavorful thanks to kosher salt, a chopped onion, fresh garlic, lime juice, chili powder, dried oregano, and ground cumin.

The Al Pastor meat is usually made from boneless pork shoulder, which is a triangular cut from the area just above the front leg of the pig. Butchers often sell pork shoulder with the skin on and a layer of fat. The al pastor taco has to be cooked on a rotating spit.

The word “carnitas” means “l*ttle meats” in Spanish. These three dishes are very similar, but have some differences. Barbacoa can be either shredded or chopped, birria is usually shredded and served with a sauce or broth, and carnitas is usually chopped.

What is the meaning of Birria? ›

noun. bir·​ria ˈbir-ē-ˌä plural birrias. : a Mexican dish of stewed meat seasoned especially with chili peppers. Customers sometimes drive hours for its …

The name Birria in Mexico refers to stew, but in Spanish it defines something as useless or of lesser value. Probably a reference to feral goat meat. Today the most common meat used for Birria is beef.

BBQ Pulled Pork is fabulous for making ahead or serving a crowd because most of the work is hands-off cooking. To make ahead, cook the pork completely all the way through adding the barbecue sauce. Transfer the pork to the refrigerator directly in the ceramic crockpot insert or Dutch oven.

Try brine: Choose a wet marinade rather than a dry one. Dry rubs may work fine but brine or a wet rub will add that extra moisture along with the flavor that will penetrate deep inside the meat. Keep a spray bottle handy: Keep spraying the meat during smoking or reheating to replace the lost moisture.

Trim fat: To make pulled pork you will want to buy a pork shoulder (sometimes called pork butt or Boston butt) roast. I prefer boneless, but you could buy bone-in. Trim pork of excess fat and cut it into 4 pieces. Combine spices in a small bowl and rub all over the pork.

Pork shoulder is ideal for pulling purposes. It has an optimum fat content that yields to create tender, melty meat, but it's essential you cook it slowly to allow the protein to break down properly.

The main difference between ham and pork comes from the fact that all ham is pork, but not all pork is ham. Ham is a specific cut of the pork meat from the pig's thighs.

Double-Pork Carnitas. It's worth seeking out pork belly for the amazing texture it lends, but if you can't get it, substitute with another pound of shoulder.