‘Carnitas’ Articles at Sweetnicks

Tender slices of onions that lend themselves perfectly to a million dishes … this is something you need in your kitchen.

When I asked Nick what he wanted me to cook for our family meal to celebrate his birthday, he quickly decided on carnitas (pulled pork). An idea I totally love. It’s a crowd pleaser, easy to make, and because we set it up with lots of different fixins’, it’s a great way for everyone to put together their own plate exactly how they want it.

I usually use this recipe for the carnitas, and then set out dishes with homemade guacamole, salsa, sour cream, shredded cheese, rice, and black beans. It means a relatively easy day in the kitchen for me, and you can please a crowd of people without breaking a sweat.

Which is kind of my favorite way to entertain.

A few days before, I spied a recipe for Brick Chicken with Drunken Onions in People magazine from Michael Symon (love him!). While the chicken pictured in the recipe looks divine, I immediately thought the drunken onions would be perfect as another toppings option for our carnitas fest.

And I was right.

Although the original recipe is meant to be cooked on the grill, since I don’t have one, I just did it in the oven, and it worked out just fine.

You certainly don’t have to make carnitas to enjoy these onions … they would taste heavenly on top of a burger or grilled chicken. However you decide to use them, just be sure to make them.

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I have been to Chipotle exactly three times. Each time, I’ve ordered the exact same thing. Rut much? But when it’s so very good, why deviate, right? After the last time that my friend Beth and I went, I decided to get to work on recreating my favorite dish at home. After all, it really was just a combination of a few different components, packed with fresh ingredients and clean eating to the very last bite. Why shouldn’t I enjoy it at home?

When you order the salad at Chipotle, you start with the base of lettuce and build from there, deciding on your meat option, which salsa you want, whether you want red beans or black, rice or not, corn or not, guacamole, sour cream and so on down the line. When I’m ordering, I go with carnitas (pork), black beans, fresh salsa, cilantro lime rice and guacamole. Although it comes with dressing, I swear you don’t need it. All the other flavors mingle together to do a happy little dance in your mouth without it. The salad is filling, utterly satisfying and guilt-free.

As far as a recipe goes, the most important one you need is for the carnitas. It’s super simple since it just hangs out in your crockpot. The pork is insanely tender, coming apart with just the touch of your fork after it’s done.

To assemble your dish? When serving, I put out lettuce leaves in a big bowl, and then separate bowls for the pork, black beans, fresh salsa, guacamole (avocado, cilantro, sea salt and lemon juice, that’s it people), and cilantro lime rice (last weekend, I used my own made up version, but I have since found this copycat version, which I’ll be trying tomorrow night). This way, everyone could build their Carnitas Salad the way they see fit. And now with the recipe below, you can too, so hop to it. It’s so very good, especially when all put together … your only regret will be not having had it sooner.

Project 365
March 4, 2011, Photo #62
Went to a fundraiser tonight at a new (to me) gym, which is, by all accounts, more like a spa resort than a place to go sweat. Loved this poster on the way out.

Bonus picture from Thursday night. Jamie taught the kids the art of eating whipped cream from a can. As you can tell by the look of pure joy on Madeline’s face, she was fighting every second of it….

Recipe: Drunken Onions

Recipe: Carnitas Salad