Mexican · main
Carnitas
Carnitas reads richness 7.8, umami 6.8 and citrus 6.3 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Mexican main, about 3 hr. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.
The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10
- Umami & Savory — 7.1 / 10
- Sweet & Fruity — 6.4 / 10
- Sour & Bright — 7.7 / 10
- Bitter & Earthy — 1.8 / 10
- Rich & Fat — 8.0 / 10
- Aromatic & Spice — 4.3 / 10
The measured notes (of 18)
Richness 7.8 · Umami 6.8 · Citrus 6.3 · Fruity 5.2 · Sourness 4.5 · Sweetness 4.1 · Allium 3.7 · Herbaceous 3.2 · Salinity 2.9 · Floral 1.7 · Earthy 1.7 · Warm Spice 1.6 · Heat 1.3 · Bitterness 0.9
What's in it (14)
- 3 lbs pork shoulder
- 2 cups lard
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1/2 cup milk
- 6 cloves garlic
- 3 bay leaves
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- salt to taste
- 12 corn tortillas
- 1 cup salsa
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro
- 1/2 cup diced white onion
- 2 limes
Time & effort: about 3 hr (30 min active) · effort: involved
Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 278.5 kcal, 11.8 g protein, 12.7 g fat, 30.1 g carbs
Dietary: Contains meat · Contains dairy — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.
How it's cooked (3 steps)
- Submerge pork pieces in melted lard in a large heavy pot along with orange juice, milk, garlic, and spices.
- Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the liquid evaporates and the pork fries in its own rendered fat developing crispy caramelized edges.
- Shred the pork and serve in warm tortillas with salsa, cilantro, onion, and lime.
Dishes with a similar flavor shape
- Mojo Roast Pork (Lechon Asado) — Cuban
- Masitas de Puerco (Fried Pork Chunks) — Cuban
- Lechon (Whole Roasted Pig) — Filipino
- Cajun Blackened Pork Chops with Peach Salsa — Cajun/Creole · Cajun
- Pork Carnitas Burrito with Rice and Beans — Mexican
Keep reading: what richness, umami, citrus mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.
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Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.