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citrus braised pulled pork tacos with avocado, pickled onions, cilantro, queso fresco
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Citrus Braised Pulled Pork

If you’re craving a melt-in-your-mouth pulled pork recipe with a twist...
Course Main Course
Keyword braised pork, citrus braised pulled pork, citrus pork recipe, easy meals, meal prep recipes, one pot meals, pulled pork, pulled pork recipes, tender pork recipes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours 30 minutes
Servings 6 people

Ingredients

  • 2.5-3 lb pork shoulder cut into large pieces
  • Salt & pepper
  • 1 onion diced
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 cup white wine
  • 2 cups stock or broth
  • 2 oranges zest + juice
  • 1 lime zest + juice
  • 1 bay leaves
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tbsp coriander
  • 1 tbsp chili powder
  • 1 tbsp paprika
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar

Make it a Taco!

  • Tortillas warmed (for serving)
  • Lime wedges for serving
  • Avocado for serving
  • Fresh cilantro for garnish
  • Queso fresco for garnish
  • Pickled red onions for garnish

Instructions

  • Cut the pork shoulder into large pieces and season with salt and pepper on all sides.
  • Heat a Dutch oven over medium-high heat and sear the pork pieces on all sides until golden brown, about 3-4 minutes per side. Remove the pork and set aside.
  • In the same Dutch oven, sauté the diced onion and minced garlic for 2-3 minutes until softened.
  • Pour in 1 cup of white wine to deglaze the pot, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom.
  • Add the zest of 2 oranges, the zest of 1 lime, 1 cup of orange juice, and the juice of 1 lime. Stir to combine.
  • Pour in 2 cups of broth and stir in the bay leaf, cumin, coriander, chili powder, paprika, and brown sugar.
  • Return the seared pork to the pot, ensuring it's mostly submerged in the liquid. Bring to a simmer, cover, and transfer to a 300°F oven. Braise for 3-4 hours, or until the pork is fork-tender.
  • Remove the pork from the oven and shred it using two forks. Discard any large fat pieces.
  • Skim the excess fat from the braising liquid and return the liquid to the stovetop. Simmer for 5-10 minutes to reduce slightly.
  • Optionally, spread the shredded pork on a baking sheet and broil for 2-3 minutes to add crispy edges.
  • Warm taco shells and fill with the shredded pulled pork. Top with avocado, pickled red onions, fresh cilantro, and queso fresco.