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Beer-Braised Carnitas

These beer-braised carnitas offer a sophisticated twist on the classic Mexican shredded pork. By slow-cooking the pork shoulder in a crisp lager with toasted dried chillies and garlic, the meat becomes incredibly tender while absorbing a deep, complex flavour. The final stage of frying the pork in its own juices ensures those signature crisp, caramelised edges that make this dish so irresistible. It is a wonderful way to prepare a large batch of protein that feels indulgent yet remains balanced.

As a diabetes-friendly option, this recipe focuses on high-quality protein and natural aromatics rather than added sugars. This homemade version allows you to control the salt content while enjoying a heart-healthy, satisfying meal. Serve the shredded pork in lettuce cups or over a bed of cauliflower rice with plenty of fresh lime and coriander for a nutritious, low-carbohydrate dinner that the whole family will enjoy.

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Ingredients for Beer-Braised Carnitas

  • 2 dried New Mexico or guajillo chillies

  • 1.8kg skinless, boneless pork shoulder (Boston butt), cut into 2" pieces

  • 350g lager (such as Modelo Especial or Budweiser)

  • 4 garlic cloves, lightly crushed

  • 4 teaspoons kosher salt

How to make Beer-Braised Carnitas

Toast chillies in a dry large heavy pot over medium heat until slightly puffed and lightly darkened on both sides, about 2 minutes. Remove from pot; let cool. Stem chillies and halve lengthwise; discard seeds.

Bring chillies, pork, beer, garlic, salt, and 240ml water to a boil in same pot. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until pork is fork-tender, 60-80 minutes.

Uncover pork; simmer until liquid evaporates and pork begins to brown, 20-25 minutes. Continue to cook, stirring frequently and scraping bottom of pot, until pork is shredded and browned, 10-15 minutes.

Add 240ml water to pork; cook, scraping up browned bits from bottom of pot, for about 1 minute. DO AHEAD: Carnitas can be made 3 days ahead. Let cool. Cover and chill. Reheat with 120ml water in a covered pot, adding more water if needed to keep pork moist.

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While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, individual needs may vary and dietary requirements can differ based on personal health conditions. Always check food labels and allergen information before preparing or consuming any recipe. If you have specific health concerns, allergies, intolerances, or are following a medically prescribed diet, seek advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.

Historique de l'article

Les informations contenues dans cette page ont été évaluées par des cliniciens qualifiés.

  • 16 janvier 2026 | Publié à l'origine

    Auteur: :

    UK recipe editors

    Examiné par des pairs

    UK recipe editors
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