Carnitas Burrito Bowl – Barefeet within the Kitchen

Piled excessive with crispy pork, rice, black beans, corn, crunchy cabbage, and a beneficiant squeeze of lime, this Carnitas Bowl is the whole lot I need in a single easy package deal. Twenty minutes. That’s all it takes. How can I say no?

If you happen to’ve been round right here for any size of time, you already know the way I really feel about carnitas. I’ve been making them on repeat for properly over a decade, and that exhibits no indicators of slowing down. My slow cooker carnitas are the set-it-and-forget-it model for busy days, and these conventional Dutch oven pork carnitas are what I make once I need to go all out. Each are implausible. And, each depart me with a fridge filled with pork that I’m glad to make use of in new in scrumptious methods every time we’ve leftovers.

Carnitas Bowl

Rising up within the Southwest, I’ve eaten my justifiable share of burritos and tacos. And, I’ll by no means flip them down. However, once in a while I crave one thing a bit of completely different. And a bowl satisfies that craving completely by letting every ingredient shine by itself.

This carnitas bowl recipe is what occurs when leftover pork carnitas meet a actually good bowl. Rice on the underside, all the great things piled on high, lime squeezed over the whole lot. It simply works.

Wait, you didn’t make carnitas yesterday, or final week, or pull them out of the freezer this morning? That’s okay. Don’t sweat it. Simply make them now!

Components and Substitutions

Rice – I like to make use of Jasmine rice for this recipe.

Corn – If I don’t occur to have recent corn at my fingertips, canned corn is the transfer, right here. I’ve additionally used frozen corn earlier than, however you’ll have to heat it up, first. Canned corn and recent corn, they’ll get added to the bowl straight from the can or the cob. (And sure, I love uncooked corn. If you happen to haven’t tried it, you’re lacking out!)

Black beans – I rinse and drain the canned black beans. However, you do you. Perhaps you want consuming gritty beans? As a result of that’s what you’ll get when you don’t rinse them.

Carnitas – If you’re like my household, you’ve got this able to go within the freezer. You will have about three cups of ready pork carnitas, chopped chew measurement.

Cabbage – Inexperienced cabbage is doing a little heavy lifting on this recipe! You’re going to like the feel it provides. However, it must be very finely sliced, nearly shredded.

Purple onion – Sliced as skinny as you probably can after which roughly chopped. A bit of of this punchy root vegetable goes a looong means.

Cilantro – Half a cup, chopped. If you happen to’re a kind of individuals who thinks cilantro tastes like cleaning soap, depart it out. No judgment. (However, perhaps attempt it once more as a result of I used to have that downside, and about 10 years in the past it simply went away so now I’m capable of get pleasure from it!)

Limes – Don’t skip the beneficiant squeeze of lime juice. It completely makes the bowl.

The best way to Make Carnitas Bowls

Warming the Parts: I heat the rice, beans, and corn collectively in a skillet or the microwave.

Crisping the Carnitas: You need them to have the ability to unfold out and re-crisp these edges. So, don’t toss them in with the remaining. I exploit my skillet, however you may also toss them on a sheet pan below the broiler.

Constructing the Bowls: Divide the rice, beans, and corn between 4 bowls. Layer the carnitas excessive. Don’t be shy about it.

Including the Contemporary Stuff: I sometimes will serve these bowls with the cabbage, pink onion, cilantro, and lime wedges on the facet. That means everybody will get to construct the precise bowl they need.

Serving: Set out the recent stuff and no matter different additional toppings you need. Salsa, guac, and queso make a daily look at our desk. And, we at all times put out the Cholula.

Serving Options

I’ve two go-to rice recipes that I like to make use of when making carnitas bowls, if I’ve the time. Cilantro lime rice and chipotle lime rice each lend implausible flavors to the completed dish.

And, when you actually need to go all out, make a batch of elote to serve on the facet. All of the flavors simply work collectively. It’s one of many issues I make most ceaselessly to serve with carnitas meat, irrespective of how I’m utilizing it!

Make Forward & Storage

Make Forward: That is virtually a make-ahead meal by design. The carnitas are already cooked. The rice could be made days upfront. The beans and corn come from cans. All you’re actually doing is chopping just a few recent toppings and warming issues up.

The best way to Retailer: Hold the nice and cozy parts and the recent toppings in separate containers within the fridge. The rice, beans, corn, and carnitas will preserve for 3-4 days. The cabbage and onion will preserve about the identical, however chop the cilantro recent.

The best way to Reheat: You possibly can heat the whole lot within the microwave when you’re in a rush. However, once more, don’t skip the skillet. The carnitas are so significantly better within the skillet!

Extra Carnitas-Impressed Recipes