Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Asian Style Carnitas Noodle Salad

Holy Moly! I've been wanting to share this recipe since the second I cooked and tasted it. I've also been craving it at every meal (though I haven't given into that one just yet.) Definitely death row last meal material.

Asian scented Carnitas :

To start off you're going to have to prepare the carnitas because these yummy nuggets take a while to prepare, about 3 hours or so.

• 1-1-5 chunk Pork (a cut that is used for stews/braising... ask your butcher)
• Olive oil
• Water
• 2-3 Bay leaves
• Celery stick
• Whole stick of Cinnamon
• 3 Star of Anise
• 3 crushed Cloves of Garlic
• 2 Spring Onions
• Pinch salt and pepper

Preheat your oven to 150°C, then on your stove on high heat preheat a cast iron/oven safe roasting dish fit with a lid. Cut the pork into 6 equal chunks. Brown the chunks in a generous amount of olive oil, then add all the goodies and cover with water about half way up the meat. Place in the oven with the lid on, and braise for about 2.5 to 3 hours. You know it's done when the meat is so tender you can cut it with a spoon. Discard all the spices, onions, garlic etc.

Bump up the heat on your oven to 200°C. On a baking sheet lined with parchment paper rip up all of the meat chunks in to bite sized threads using two forks. Then pour over this mixture:
• 2 Garlic Cloves grated finely
• 2 cm chunk Fresh Ginger grated finely or more if you really love ginger
• 2 Tbsp Japanese soy sauce
• 4 Tbsp white sugar
• a drizzle of Sesame Oil

Allow to caramelise in the oven until gorgeously golden with a lovely smell of burnt sugar and ginger. Takes about 20 minutes. Your Asian scented Carnitas are now done!


On to the Noodle Salad:
• Rice noodles cooked and cooled according to package.
• 1 Lime juice and zest
• 1 Tbsp sugar
• 1 Tsp Fish Sauce
• 1 Tsp White Vinegar
Mix ingredients together and dress over noodles just before serving. This is also a taste thing. If you like more sour add more lime, or if you like sweeter add more sugar.

For garnish to toss over salad and carnitas: (Use any or all, or your own veggies)
• Sliced Spring Onions
• Carrots julienne sliced
• Cucumber julienne sliced
• Red Bell Pepper
• Mint
• Thai Basil
• Cilantro
• Sprouts
• Diced Red or Green Chilies

Ugh this is soooooo good! I could eat these carnitas on there own as a very carnivorous candy snack! Hope you'll enjoy them too.

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