Crispy Citrus-Scented Carnitas

1. Preheat Oven

Start by preheating your oven to 300°F, positioning the rack in the lower-middle.

2. Combine Ingredients in Dutch Oven

In a Dutch oven, combine the pork chunks, water, halved onion, lime juice, oregano, cumin, bay leaves, and season with salt and pepper. Squeeze the juice from the orange halves into the mixture, then add the spent halves directly to the pot.

3. Simmer Mixture

Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium-high heat. Once it reaches a simmer, cover the Dutch oven and transfer it to the preheated oven. Allow the pork to cook for about 2 hours, flipping the meat halfway through the cooking time.

4. Remove and Broil

Once the meat is tender, remove the Dutch oven from the oven and set it to broil. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the pork to a bowl, discarding the orange halves, onion, and bay leaves.

5. Reduce Cooking Liquid

Place the Dutch oven on the stove over high heat and simmer the cooking liquid, stirring occasionally, until it reduces to a thick, syrupy consistency, which should take about 8 to 12 minutes. You should end up with around 1 cup of reduced liquid.

6. Shred and Mix Pork

Using two forks, pull the pork apart into smaller chunks, mixing it well with the reduced liquid.

7. Broil Pork

Spread the pork evenly on a wire rack set over a rimmed baking sheet or a broiler pan. Place it under the broiler on the lower-middle rack, broiling for 5 to 8 minutes per side until the edges are well browned and crispy.

8. Serve

Serve the crispy carnitas with warm tortillas, lime wedges, minced onion, fresh cilantro, and thinly sliced radishes. Enjoy the fruits of your labor and the vibrant, citrusy aroma that fills your kitchen!