Despite the political back and forth, Americans and Mexicans have a lot in common when it comes to what we love to eat. Sure, we might prepare things a little differently by trading one ingredient for another but at our core we share a lot of similar traditions. One of these that I'm exploring today is carnitas - or pulled pork as it would be called in the Southeastern United States.
At Mexican restaurants, carnitas is one of my favorite types of meat and I love to make crockpot pulled pork, so I was excited to combine the two and give it my own twist thanks to some inspiration from La Morena.
As "European Americans" we really shouldn't be afraid of the "Hispanic Food" aisle at the grocery store, but I find all too often we pass that by and opt for more familiar brands when there are some gems that we've yet to discover. La Morena is one of those and while I've seen their distinctive orange cans before, I've never actually tried it out till now. They have a variety of products ranging from beans to Pickled Jalapenos & carrots to Chipotle Peppers in Adobo sauce and they can be found in the Hispanic Food section of your local Walmart.
8 Things Great Steakhouses Do That Even Master Grillers Can't Match at Home
ManTripping: Men's Travel and Lifestyle Blog for busy men who love to travel.
Master Your Grill: A Progressive Guide to Outdoor Cooking
Master backyard grilling through systematic progression: equipment selection, core techniques, menu expansion, and advanced entertaining skills that transform any gathering into memorable culinary exp
Scrub Daddy BBQ Daddy Grill Brush Head Refill
Replacement brush head for the BBQ Daddy grill brush. Water activated steam cleaning with flexible stainless steel fibers and no wire bristles.
Promoted by FlowAds
I also picked up some pork shoulder, spices, and corn tortillas while I was there to complete the meal.
Back home it was time to break out the crockpot and get cooking!
Crockpot Chipotle Carnitas Recipe:
Ingredients:
- 1 Can of La Morena Pickled Jalapeno Peppers
- 1 Can of La Morena Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce
- 1 Package of Extra Tender Boneless Pork Shoulder
- 1 Medium Yellow Onion
- 1 Bottle of Mexican Beer
- 3 oz of Reposado Tequila
- 2 Tbs Garlic Powder
- 2 Tbs of Cumin
- 2 Tbs of Black Pepper
- 2 Tbs of Season Salt
- 1 oz olive oil (for pan to brown pork shoulder)
- Fresh Corn Tortillas
- 3 Tbs of Cotija cheese
- 1 lime sliced in quarters (optional)
Man Gear Pick of the Month
Kenyon City Grill Portable Stainless Steel Electric Grill
Why we picked it: a grill you can actually carry to the campsite, the tailgate or the cabin without borrowing a truck. Stainless, no propane tank to wrestle, and hot enough to cook for four guys rather than reheat for one.
August's Pick LiberNovo Maxis Electric Big and Tall Ergonomic Office Chair, Graphite 52cm $1,393.00 
July's Pick Powerful Propane Torch Gun, Adjustable Flame Thrower Gun, Kitchen Torch with Detachable Design, Flamethrower Blow Torch for BBQ, Searing Steak, Welding, Camping Charcoal Lighter(Tank Not Included) $42.99 
June's Pick OYASUMI Funny BBQ Man Hot Dog Holders, 4 PCS Reusable Stainless Steel Sausage Stands, Portable Hot Dog Roasters, Barbecue Grill Accessories for Camping & Party Gifts $7.98 Promoted by FlowAds
Preparation:
Just as you would if you were preparing pulled pork for the crockpot, brown all edges of the shoulder, making sure to pour some olive oil in the pan first so it doesn't stick.
While it is browning, dice 3 the chipotle peppers and onion and toss it into the crockpot along with 2 tablespoons of the adobo sauce from the can.
After the pork has been browned, add the seasonings and then pour in the beer to deglaze the pan so that all the good tasty bits of burned meat come up and can be added into the crockpot when you pour the mixture in there.
Cook on high for approximately 6 hours or until you can shred the pork with your fork.
With the pork shredded, it's time to complete your tacos!
Take the meat and place it in the center of the tortilla and add a jalapeno and some carrots, then top with some cotija cheese.
If you've done things right, you'll have a taste that is completely Mexican - but a texture that is completely familiar as pulled pork. The thing I like about this is that since you are cooking with all natural ingredients it tastes great and you don't need to add BBQ sauce to it, so there's no added fat or sugar from BBQ sauce like you would have if it was traditional pulled pork.
Now you're ready to dive in and enjoy these Chipotle Carnitas Tacos and feel free to add a squeeze of lime to the top.
Promoted by FlowAds
