Orange and Milk-Braised Pork Carnitas

Recipe View 5 mins Season pork generously with black pepper and kosher salt. (5 minutes)

Recipe View 30 mins Heat vegetable oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over high heat. Working in batches to avoid overcrowding, sear the pork on all sides until deeply browned. This should take about 5 minutes per batch. Return all cooked pork and any accumulated juices to the pot.

Recipe View 2 mins Add bay leaves, ground cumin, dried oregano, and cayenne pepper to the pot. Stir in the fresh orange juice, orange zest, and whole milk. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to low. (2 minutes)

Recipe View 2 hrs Cover the pot and simmer gently, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, until the pork is fork-tender but not falling apart. This will take approximately 2 hours.

Recipe View 10 mins Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). (10 minutes)

Recipe View 5 mins Remove the pork from the braising liquid using a slotted spoon or tongs. Skim some of the rendered fat from the surface of the pot and use it to lightly grease a baking dish. Transfer the pieces of pork to the prepared baking dish. (5 minutes)

Recipe View 2 mins Drizzle about 2 more tablespoons of the skimmed fat over the pork. Season with additional salt to taste, if needed. (2 minutes)

Recipe View 15 mins Bake in the preheated oven until the pork is nicely browned and slightly crispy around the edges, about 15 minutes. Stir the pork halfway through to ensure even browning. (15 minutes)

Recipe View 3 mins Turn on the oven's broiler. Broil the pork until it is beautifully crisp and caramelized, watching carefully to prevent burning. This should only take 2 to 3 minutes. (2-3 minutes)