carnitas

singular carnita

1. plural normallyuncountableA Mexican dish of strips or chunks of pork (or sometimes other meat) which are braised or roasted, especially in their own fat.

   Broil […] until the carnitas are crispy to your liking.

   2015, Caroline Potter, All-American Paleo Table: Classic Homestyle Cooking from a ..., page 66

   4 more examples

   Carnitas is easy to make, even if you don't have a whole pig to cook.

   2006, Deborah M. Schneider, ¡Baja! Cooking on the Edge, page 18

   I was trying to bring supplies across the border to cook a trio of ceviche — marinated raw fish in lime — and duck carnitas with mole coloradito, for the festival’s gala dinner.

   2007 January 23, Scott Lindquist, As Told To Christopher Elliott, “A Yankee Chef With a Mexican Flavor”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 19 Sep 2019

   […] he bites into his gordita, filled with so much carnitas, cilantro, radishes, salsa, and cheese, […]

   2023, Jonny Garza Villa, Ander & Santi Were Here: A Novel

   […] carnitas are eaten in the morning or early afternoon. Carnitas are also popular stuffed into gorditas, round corn flatbreads toasted on a griddle.

   2025, Julie Meade, Moon Mexico City (Moon Travel Guides)