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Pork Carnitas Quesadillas

Course Lunch
Keyword Appetizer, Mexican, Pork
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 minute
Servings 6
Author Mark & Fey

Ingredients

Ingredients

  • one 4-pound pork shoulder
  • 1 strip orange zest
  • 1/4 cup chopped white onion
  • 5 cloves garlic smashed
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 12 ounces Mexican lager beer
  • 2 cups low-sodium chicken stock
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 2 teaspoons Mexican oregano
  • 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 16 flour tortillas
  • 4 cups shredded Oaxacan or mozzarella cheese
  • 1 cup diced white onion
  • 1/2 cup finely diced red jalapeño
  • 6 lime wedges
  • Tomatillo salsa
  • Crema

Instructions

  • Nobody likes to be stuck cooking while guests are at the house. We love this recipe because you can make the pork the day before and even pre-assemble the quesadillas.
  • Technique tip: Cook the quesadilla over charcoal for an extra smoky flavor.
  • Swap option: You can swap in queso fresco for the cheese, sour cream for crema and use pico, or any other salsa that you love, in place of the tomatillo.
  • For the pork: Preheat oven, grill or pellet smoker to 300 degrees.
  • Slice the pork into 2-inch chunks and trim off excess fat. Arrange in an ovenproof pan or Dutch oven and top with zest, onion, garlic and bay leaf. In a mixing bowl combine the beer, stock, salt, oregano, pepper and cumin. Pour the mixture over the pork and add water to cover the meat by one inch.
  • Place the pan on the stovetop on medium-high and bring to a simmer. Place the pan in the oven, grill or pellet smoker until it becomes tender and falls apart, 1½-2½ hours (add hot water if needed to keep covered). Remove zest and bay leafs, pour off most of the braising liquid, and shred with a fork. Set aside.
  • For the quesadillas: Lay out eight tortillas on a sheet tray. Place a 1/4 cup of cheese on each tortilla. Top them with the shredded pork, a few tablespoons of onions, chiles to taste, another 1/4 cup of cheese and then the second tortilla. Heat a grill to medium direct heat. You can also use a grill pan or cast iron skillet. Brush the grill with a little oil and place the quesadillas on the grill. Cook on both sides until the tortilla gets crisp and cheese is melted. To serve: Cut the quesadillas into wedges and serve with crema, salsa and limes on the side.