Lard-Braised Pork Carnitas
Lard-Braised Pork Carnitas deliver tender, richly seasoned pork with crisp, caramelized edges and a subtle citrus note from orange. Slow-fried in manteca with bay leaf, onion, and garlic, each bite balances succulent meat and aromatic depth. Serve for gatherings in tacos, tortas, or platters with warm tortillas and fresh salsas.
- Prep15 mins
- Cook1 hr
- Serves20
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Lard-Braised Pork Carnitas, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 51 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 17 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityFair
- 58 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Unprocessed or minimally processed
- 1 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 66
- Heart Health
- 60
- Metabolic
- 16
- Digestive
- 39
- Inflammatory
- 53
- Performance
- 39
- General Wellness
- 1
Warm the lard in a deep roasting pan over medium heat. Add the pork, bay leaves, salt, pepper, onions, and garlic, and stir. Squeeze the orange into the mixture and place the orange halves in as well. Add more lard if needed to fully cover the ingredients.
- 2
Cook until the pork is tender enough to shred with a fork, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Remove and discard the orange, onion, and garlic; lift the pork cubes out of the lard with a slotted spoon.
- Calories 235.07 kcal Moderate 12%
- Protein 24.02 g Good Source 48%
- Carbohydrate 5.53 g 2%
- Total Fat 12.49 g Moderate 16%
- Saturated Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 0.0 mg Low Source 0%
- Sodium 92.06 mg Low Source 4%
- Dietary Fiber 0.53 g Low Source 2%
- Total Sugars 1.36 g --
- Added Sugars 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 26.21 mg Low Source 2%
- Iron 0.07 mg Low Source 0%
- Potassium 38.06 mg Low Source 1%
- Vitamin A 2.38 mcg Low Source 0%
- Vitamin C 6.63 mg Low Source 7%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Citrus 🍊
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Lard Braised Pork Carnitas is made with 8 ingredients and serves 20. It takes about 1 hr 15 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Black Pepper, Boneless Pork Steak, Dried Bay Leaves, and Garlic. Each serving provides about 235.07 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Lard-Braised Pork Carnitas made of?
- The main ingredients are Black Pepper, Boneless Pork Steak, Dried Bay Leaves, Garlic, Lard. The full list of 8 is above.
- How long does it take to make Lard-Braised Pork Carnitas?
- About 1 hr 15 mins in total: 15 mins to prepare and 1 hr to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 235.07 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Lard-Braised Pork Carnitas easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 8 ingredients and 2 steps.
- Is Lard-Braised Pork Carnitas healthy?
- Lard-Braised Pork Carnitas has an easyChef Pro health score of 46/100. Per serving, it provides 235.07 calories and 24.02 g of protein, or 48% of the Daily Value. It contains Citrus, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products
easyChef Pro analyzes up to 41 nutrients using data sourced from USDA and other verified food databases. Its scoring method uses the nutrients relevant to nutrition quality, calorie density, processing level, and your selected health goal. Recipes and food products get a health score from 0 to 100, calculated using consistent rules instead of being estimated by AI. The same nutrition data, serving size and health goal will produce the same result.
The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.
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