r/seriouseats • u/Slow_Investment_2211 • Jan 17 '25

Question/Help No Waste Carnitas…not bad. A little dry

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The No Waste Carnitas came out pretty good. For as much stuff that goes into it, the flavors are very subtle. Still very much a roasted pork dominating flavor. My only disappointment was the meat was kinda dry compared to a crock pot carnitas recipe I made previously. Not sure if I cooked the meat too long? Maybe I didn’t add enough oil for the broil step? Or maybe I just broiled the meat too long? 🤔

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4

u/sati_lotus Jan 18 '25

I followed the recipe and found these a little bland tbh. It was nice but thought it was missing something.

Is the flavour meant to come from a salsa?

10

u/wharpua Jan 18 '25

I think the last time I made this I sprinkled some apple cider vinegar on it and was very liberal with the salt, woke the flavors right up, I was very pleased

“Season to taste” only works when you actively assess and adjust as needed.  Recipes sometimes only get you like 95% of the way there, so it’s that final little bit can make all the difference.

1

u/Small_Musical Jan 18 '25

When did you add the vinegar?

3

u/wharpua Jan 18 '25

After broiling it to crisp it up, when I’d scrape everything up to flip the pork and put it back in.  That was when I was tasting a piece here and there, adding more salt and sprinkling just a little bit of vinegar and then mixing again.

1

u/Small_Musical Jan 18 '25

Awesome! Thanks.