Carnitas Lettuce Wraps (with crispy, charred pork)
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My carnitas lettuce wraps feature hot, crispy-edged pork, cool guacamole, and crunchy Bibb lettuce. I make them with my dried pepper carnitas, and the charred bits make every bite.
My carnitas lettuce wraps are all about contrast: hot pork with crispy, charred edges tucked into cold, crunchy lettuce with a spoonful of cool guacamole. The crispy bits matter here. Broiling the pork until the edges char gives every bite something to crunch through, so the wrap never tastes soft or one-note.
I make them with my pork carnitas, which braise in a sauce of dried Mexican peppers and citrus. I reduce that braising liquid to a paste and toss it with the shredded pork before it goes under the broiler, so the crispiest pieces carry all that pepper flavor. On a weeknight, my easy crockpot carnitas get you there with less work, and they get broiled for crispy edges too.
Because the pork brings so much flavor, I keep everything else simple. The guacamole is just avocado, lime, garlic, and salt, and a sprinkle of minced red onion adds bite. My pork carnitas recipe makes a big batch, so plan on leftovers for tacos, nachos, or burritos.
Serving ideas
Carnitas Lettuce Wraps (with crispy, charred pork)
Ingredients
- 4 cups Mexican Pork Carnitas
- 2 large ripe avocados
- Juice from ½ lime
- 1 clove garlic (finely minced)
- a pinch of salt
- 1 large head of Bibb lettuce (butter lettuce or romaine hearts also work)
- ½ red onion (minced)
Instructions
- Start by making one of my two carnitas recipes:Mexican Pork Carnitas uses dried Mexican chiles and is the recipe I use 99% of the time.Easy Pork Carnitas is the recipe I make on weekdays when I need something easier.
- In a medium-sized bowl, mash the avocados with the lime juice, garlic, and salt.2 large ripe avocados, Juice from ½ lime, 1 clove garlic, a pinch of salt
- Put a scoop of carnitas in a Bibb lettuce leaf, add a spoonful of the mashed avocados (guacamole), and top with a sprinkle of minced red onions.½ red onion, 1 large head of Bibb lettuce
Notes
Nutrition
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These were incredible! The perfect meal for January. Actually, I’d totally eat these all year round. The carnitas were delicious.