Carnitas (“little meats”), pork braised in Coca-Cola and orange juice until tender, then shredded and fried in its own fat, are perfectly brown, crisp, and flavorful little morsels of meat. Excellent for filling your tortillas. For Cinco de Mayo or any day!
It’s Cinco de Mayo night at Casa de Angie (that’s me)! Except, of course, it’s Tres de Mayo. And actually, this meal was served on Treinta de Abril but is shared with you today.
Look at it this way, I am at least fulfilling my duty as a food blogger. I’m giving you a recipe idea for the real event, 5/5, ahead of time. So you can prepare and plan and organize and scheme and strategize.
Well, maybe not scheme and strategize. Unless of course, that’s your modus operandi. You can confess to me, my friends. The truth shall set you free!
I myself sometimes feel as if I have to scheme my way out of cooking, haha…
There’s definitely nothing wrong about scheming and strategizing. A little of each, or both, never hurts anybody.
So, this Coca-Cola Carnitas! Good for any day, by the way, not just for Cinco de Mayo.
Let me start by saying that when I first heard of it, my first reaction was whaaat?! Coca-Cola in Carnitas?! Yucky, right?!
Well, it turned out I was wrong. I was so wrong! Coca-Cola Carnitas es muy delicioso! The sugar in the soda helps to caramelize the meat, and whatever else they put in the cola gives it that slight smokiness. Or maybe it’s the smoked paprika that gives the smokiness. But who cares, right? All I know is that this Coca-Cola Carnitas is a keeper.
I adapted this from a Food Network recipe. I should say, heavily adapted. I use my usual Carnitas recipe that I swear by and basically just add a cup of coke in it.
And then I added kumquats, too… Whaaat?!
Oh, please, relax! It’s okay! What do you have against kumquats?! They’re so cute! You should start using them in your beverages, in place of the usual boring limes and lemons. Okay, limes and lemons are not boring, but kumquats are not boring-er. I think I just turned twelve.
Besides, you’re already adding coke in the Carnitas. Kumquats certainly wouldn’t hurt. I just thought I needed to add some acidic element with all the sugary stuff. And these babies have been in my fridge for a month. You can certainly use lime juice and lime zest in place of the kumquats. Remember, it’s your Carnitas!
What I wouldn’t use in this dish, though, is a diet cola. It needs the sugar for the caramelization to happen. But you don’t have to use Coca-Cola. Any cola soda can be substituted. I heard that the Mexican Coca-Cola works even better, since it uses pure cane sugar instead of corn syrup. So give that a try if you can find it.
Serve the carnitas with the usual suspects, i.e., corn or flour tortillas, cilantro, grated cheese, shredded lettuce, sliced avocados & radishes, salsa verde, pico de gallo, etc.
Or you could be like my son and top your carnita tacos with an unusual suspect like mayonnaise. Whaaat?!
Chillax, people! It’s his tacos; I let him do whatever he wants with them.
Do yourself a favor, make this Coca-Cola Carnitas and top them with whatever you like, and have yourself a Feliz Cinco de Mayo! Can I hear you say ole’?!
- 2 pounds boneless pork meat, cut into large chunks (See notes below)
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons black pepper
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, smashed
- 1 cup Coca-Cola
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth or water
- ½ cup freshly squeezed orange juice
- 2 bay leaves
- Several sprigs of oregano
- Several sprigs of thyme
- 5 kumquats (plus more for garnish, if preferred), seeds removed, sliced thinly
- 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil (See notes below)
- In a small bowl, mix garlic powder, salt, pepper, and paprika. Season pork pieces with the mixture.
- On medium-high, heat 1 tablespoon oil in a Dutch oven or braiser. Sear pork pieces in the oil until browned on all sides. Remove and set aside.
- In the same pan, add onion and garlic. Cook until onion is translucent.
- Add the Coca-Cola, broth/water, and orange juice. Return meat to the pan.
- Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Add the herbs and kumquats.
- Cover and simmer until the pork is tender, about 1½ hours. Once pork is tender, remove and shred using a couple of forks, then return it back into the pan.
- There may still be some liquid left in the pan at this point. If that's the case, turn up the heat and let it boil until it's completely evaporated. This is when the carnitas will begin to fry in its own fat. Or, if you're using a lean cut of meat, you can add more oil. If you have kumquat slices reserved for garnish, add them to the pan now.
- Continue frying until carnitas are well-browned and crisp on the outside.
- Alternately, you can spread the shredded meat on a baking sheet and put it under the broiler for a few minutes.
Nadia says
A very interesting and different recipe. Intrigued!
Angie says
It’s a keeper, Nadia! If you have leftover you can turn it into taquitos or flautas. I did! ?
Kristy Rhine says
These look so good!!
Angie says
Thanks, Kristi! Have you joined our weekly Fiesta Friday Link Party yet?
Life Diet Health says
Angie I love all the gorgeous photos and had a giggle at you being twelve! Boring-er is a great word but I agree, definitely not for kumquats. Do you think would work with anything other than pork? as it sounds like something my boys would love☺
Angie says
Carnitas is usually made with pork, but I’m sure chicken or beef would work. You may need to adjust your cooking time or the amount of oil. And I’m glad you like the word boring-er ??
Life Diet Health says
Coca cola chicken sounds great :p I think I’ll give it a try (for the boys that is)! It most definitely won’t be ‘boring-er’ than plain chicken :p
Angie says
Lol! I’m going to send you the cohosting guidelines in a minute. Sorry I forgot.
Life Diet Health says
🙂 That’s okay. Thank you.
cookingwithauntjuju.com says
The meat looks heavenly, cooking then frying it – yum! I was trying to decide what to make for Cinco de Mayo and you’ve given me a proven recipe. I use “pop” in a number of recipes and you’re right never use diet. Love working with kumquats – they are just too cute 🙂
Angie says
Lol, I have to laugh. I used to live in Kansas and I remember people saying pop. I’ve also lived in California and now East coast where people say soda. Nowadays to be clear I make sure to say soda pop. ??
lapetitepaniere says
I have never heard about this dish but these looks delicious, Angie. Love your terracota bowl 😉
Angie says
Thanks, Linda! I used to have 8 of those bowls, now I can only find 5. Where did they go? ??
Jenny says
Those tacos look so colorful and appetizing! One of my sister-in-laws (I have 6 of them!) is from Mexico, and for a Christmas Eve dinner last year, she made a pork roast braised with Coke. It was so delicious, so I can imagine the meat in your recipe is too! I will definitely keep this in mind next time I make tacos.
Angie says
Yes, I heard that the practice is pretty widespread actually in Mexico. I was just surprised about it and how good the result was. I guess they knew something we didn’t ??
Jenny says
Yes, I was surprised too!
spiceinthecity says
Muy Delicioso Angie! I’m close to licking the screen 😀 The cola must make the meat all caramely! YUM!!
Angie says
Yes, it did! Now I wonder if I can add it to all my braised meat dishes ? Thanks, Naina!
Sarah 'n Spice says
These sound wonderful! Soda always makes the most tender meat. Happy early Cinco de Mayo!
Angie says
I didn’t know that about soda! I’ve seen recipes now with Dr. Pepper, too. They all sound good now to me. ??
Melody Procter says
Yum!! My mouth is watering!! These coca-cola carnitas look TO DIE FOR!!
Angie says
Thanks, Melody! It really is very delicious. And that’s why I bought more ingredients last night. I’m going to make it again, in slow cooker this time ?
Antonia says
Beautiful photos Angie! What a cool dish and it looks amazing!
Angie says
Thanks, Antonia! It was very delicious! ?
Julie is Hostess At Heart says
I’ve resisted the cocoa cola recipe but looking at yours, I wont any longer. They look amazing. I love the way they caramelized, and kumquats? Genius!
Angie says
I did, too, at first! On paper it didn’t seem such a good idea. But I decided to be open-minded about it and I’m glad I tried it ? I think it’s improved my usual Carnitas recipe!
Linda says
Delicious Angie!!! I make something similar to this and everyone loves it!!! 🙂 🙂
Kloesunny @ Kloe's Kitchen says
Looks amazing!
Angie says
Thanks, Kloe! Where you been, girl? Haven’t seen you at Fiesta Friday for a looong time! ?
Ai | Ai made it for you says
My grandma used to cook chicken drummies in coca cola and orange juice and I loved the flavor the cola gave the meat! So yummy! A spicy Mexican flavor added to that sounds amazing!
Angie says
I actually also remember my grandma using soda (Sprite), too, but for baking these little cakes. I wish I had paid more attention, maybe she used coke when I wasn’t looking, lol ?
MB@Bourbon and Brown Sugar says
Oh wow… Angie, these are absolutely gorgeous! I have fond memories of eating Coca Cola marinated meat in Mexico City as a kid (I thought it was awesome that such a thing existed on a restaurant menu). Must try these!
Angie says
Thanks, MB! Lucky you to have experienced coke marinated meat as a kid. I’m kind of jealous! ??
Debbie Spivey says
Hope you had a wonderful Cino de Mayo, but I don’t see how you couldn’t have. These carnitas look amazing! Pinning!
Angie says
Thanks, Debbie! It’s a keeper alright. Thanks for pinning! ??
Annie says
Looks delicious! Cinco de Mayo or not, I think this will be a hit with any Mexican food lover. Thanks for the recipe! ?
Angie says
No problem, Annie. I hope you’ll enjoy it!
Imagination_ind says
I don’t eat pork but tacos are my favorite; Looks amazing.
Dena says
A wonderful recipe indeed! Thank you very much for sharing this. I made these carnitas For the very first time two weekends …ago using lime instead of kumquat.
Flash forward To this beautiful Sunday afternoon in North Georgia..where they are simmering as we speak, my second go around with these fantastic morsels of deliciousness. My boyfriend is a Carnitas maniac. Needless to say, he ain’t goin’ anywhere. LOL Happy new year and thanks again?
Angie says
I’m so glad to hear, Dena! Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. Happy New Year to you and your boyfriend. Lucky boyfriend! ?