It’s time to expand this blog. While I still love and ride my bike every day, I don’t have much to say about it anymore. So what’s the next best thing? Food. Meat, to be more precise. Mmmmmmm meat.

Carnitas: Finished

Here's What We're Aiming For

The Recipe

Serves: Lots

Times:

  • Prep: 15 minutes of work + 1-3 days of waiting
  • Cooking: 4 hours

Ingredients:

  • 4.5 lbs uncured, skinless pork belly (half a belly)
  • celtic sea salt
  • virgin coconut oil
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 2 tsp chili powder
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1/4 tsp cumin
  • 8 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1 chipotle chili in adobo sauce
  • juice and zest of one small lime
  • some water

Method:

  1. Rub the pork belly all over with salt & refrigerate 1-3 days.
  2. Cut the pork belly into pieces.
  3. Brown the pieces in coconut oil.
  4. Remove the meat from the pan & add everything but the water; stir.
  5. Add the meat back to the pan & put in enough water to almost cover.
  6. Bring to the boil, then simmer very slowly for 2 hours.
  7. Turn the heat up and boil until water has all evaporated & fat is the only remaining liquid. This step took 2 hours for me, but it will vary. Stir occasionally during this time to keep the meat from sticking to the bottom of the pan & to break it up. It’s done when the meat is well browned & swimming in fat.
  8. Turn off the stove, wait for it to cool a little, get a fork and dig in.

Note that at no time did I ever say to cut off, pour out, or otherwise remove any fat. Leave it there; it’s good for you.

Meat Porn:

Pork Belly (Meat Side)

Pork Belly (Meat Side)

Pork Belly (Fat Side)

Pork Belly (Fat Side)

Pork Belly (Bacon Side)

Pork Belly (Bacon Side)

Pork Belly All Cut Up

Pork Belly All Cut Up

Pork Belly Browned

Pork Belly Browning

Lime, Garlic & Chipotle in Adobo

Lime, Garlic & Chipotle in Adobo

Seasonings in the Pan

Seasonings in the Pan

Pork Belly in the Pan

Pork Belly, Seasonings & Water to Almost Cover

Simmering

Boiling

Half Way Done

Half Way Done

End Product

Where's My Fork?