Mexican Pull Pork {Carnitas} Tacos with Serrano Cilantro Lime Hot Sauce

Delicious tender and juicy slow cooked pulled pork in a flame grilled tortilla with pickled onions, fresh cilantro, sour cream, avocado, feta cheese and a spicy drizzle of our Serrano Cilantro Lime Hot Sauce.   And to make it even better, we pan fry the pork so it's just a bit crispy before placing it in the taco and we serve it with this ridiculously delicious can't- have-just-one grapefruit tequila paloma cocktail.  

Mexican Pull Pork {Carnitas} Tacos with Serrano Cilantro Lime Hot Sauce

Ingredients:

4 LB Pork Shoulder Roast

Make Your Pork Rub - *okay now this pork rub can really be a hodge podge of spices, you don't have to perfectly measure out each and every spice and if you want to add something else from your cupboard, maybe a Mexican spice mix or a bbq spice mix you have on hand, whatever, then just go for it.  Also for the little bit of liquid you add to the crock pot, it can be fresh lime juice, you can use orange juice, a can of beer, chicken stock.  We added some fresh squeezed lime juice and a bottle of hard cider from the fridge. 

Rub Spices:

3 Tbs chili powder
1 Tbs paprika
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp ground oregano or throw in a few fresh sprigs if you have them
1 Tbs salt
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp cayenne or just throw in a fresh chili

You can also add onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, fennel and coriander.

Additional Crock Pot Spices & Ingredients:

3 garlic cloves smashed
2 bay leaves
2 fresh limes squeezed for juice
1 can of hard cider or 1/2 cup orange juice

Pickled Onion Ingredients:

2 Cups Vinegar (you can use whatever vinegar you have, white, cider, etc)
2 Tbs Salt
2 Tbs Sugar

Additional Ingredients:

Fresh Cilantro
Wozz! Serrano Cilantro Lime Hot Sauce


Method:

Combine Dry Spice Mix:
In a bowl combine your chili powder, paprika, cumin, oregano, salt, pepper and cayenne.  

Dry Rub Pork Roast:
Rub your pork shoulder with the mix of dry spices

Brown Off Pork Roast:
In a large skillet on high heat, add oil to your pan and sear pork shoulder for a minute on each side to seal in the juices and sear the meat.  

Transfer Pork Roast to Crock Pot:
Transfer pork shoulder to crock pot, add your can of hard cider or orange juice, add fresh squeezed lime juice, add a fresh chili (if you are using that instead of cayenne), add fresh smashed garlic cloves and bay leaves.  You can also add fresh chopped onion if desired.  

Set It and Forget It! :) Cook Overnight in Crock Pot on Low Heat
Place your slow cooker on low heat and cook overnight (for approximately 6-10 hours).  

Make Your Pickled Onions For Your Tacos The Night Before As Well:
Add sliced red onions to a heat proof bowl, set aside. 
In a small saucepan bring sugar, vinegar and salt to a boil.  
Pour the hot liquid over the sliced onions and allow to cool, refrigerate overnight. 

Shred That Juicy Pork!
Once pork is cooked, transfer from slow cooker to cutting board and shred the meat with two forks, once all the meat is shredded, place back in slow cooker to toss with pork juices.  Turn the slow cooker off. 

Make Your Tacos:

You can use either corn or flour tortillas and you can either wrap your stack of tortillas in aluminum foil and bake in the oven or you can individually dry pan cook them or toss over grill or open flame to brown just a bit.  I just quickly toss over open flame, but be careful not to set your tortilla on fire...

Taco Toppings:

Fresh Cilantro
Fresh Diced Avocado
Feta Cheese
Sour Cream 
Pickled Onions
Wozz! Serrano Cilantro Lime Hot Sauce

Optional Taco Ingredients:

Guacamole
Fresh or Pickled Radishes
Sliced Cabbage
Lettuce
Tomatoes
Cojita Cheese

OPTIONAL: Pan Fry Your Pulled Pork Before Adding to Your Tortillas:

In a large skillet on medium high heat, add your shredded pork and crisp up just a bit.   Add to your tacos.  You can also crisp up under the broiler or in the oven, or you can just add your juicy shredded pork to your tacos without this step.   

Assemble Your Mexican Carnitas Tacos and Top with Wozz! Serrano Cilantro Lime Hot Sauce!

Don't Forget Your Tequila Grapefruit Paloma Cocktail! :)