Carnitas Taco Boats

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It’s been one of those weeks where you just crave a little comfort food – and today that mean a carnitas taco… or twelve!!

Carnitas Taco Boats from www.whatsgabycooking.com (@whatsgabycookin)

Specifically carnitas stuffed in a taco boat and filled with a spicy corn salsa, guacamole, crema and salsa. Anytime I need a little comfort food in my life, I turn to something with a Southwestern or Mexican flair. I stand firming by my belief that guacamole solves almost all problems and cheese is always the answer. These little beauties are packed into the Old El Paso Mini Soft Tortilla Taco Boats that have become my new favorite pantry staple. Can you just imagine all the different kinds of food you can stuff in there?!? Wait till my next creation – you guys will freak!

In the meantime, please taco on!

Carnitas Taco Boats from www.whatsgabycooking.com (@whatsgabycookin)

Carnitas Taco Boats

Ingredients
  

For the Carnitas

  • 3 pounds boneless pork shoulder cut into 2 inch cubes
  • 1/2 cup fresh Orange Juice
  • 1/4 cup fresh Lime Juice
  • 10 oz chipotle salsa
  • 1 tsp kosher salt plus more to taste

For the Corn

  • 2 cups raw corn
  • 1 poblano peppers
  • 1 jalapeno pepper
  • 1/2 cup red onion finely chopped
  • juice of 1 lime
  • 1/4 cup cilantro chopped

To Assemble + Top

  • 8 Old El Paso Stand ‘N Stuff Soft Flour Tortillas I’ll bring
  • 1 cup salsa
  • 1 cup homemade guacamole
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1 cup freshly shredded pepper jack cheese
  • fresh cilantro to garnish

Instructions
 

  • Place the pork in a large dutch oven with the orange juice, lime juice, salsa and salt. Add enough water to barely cover the meat. Bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to medium low and simmer with the lid on for 2 hours, at which point the pork should be falling apart to the touch. Turn the heat up to medium high, and continue to cook the pork for 45 minutes, uncovered, stirring every once in a while, until all the liquid has evaporated and the pork fat has been rendered. Parts of the pork should be caramelized and golden brown. Remove the dutch oven from the stove and season with salt and pepper as needed.
  • To make the corn salsa, roast the poblano peppers on a grill, an open flame until charred. Place in a bowl and seal with plastic wrap. Let sit 10 minutes. Meanwhile combine the corn, onion, cilantro, lime juice, and salt. Once peppers have “steamed”, remove the charred skin and dice the peppers and add to the bowl with the other ingredients. Toss to combine, season to taste with salt, and set aside.
  • Stuff the tortillas with the carnitas and corn salsa mixture and top with salsa, guacamole, sour cream and the shredded cheese. Garnish with cilantro as needed and serve.

Photo by Matt Armendariz / Food Styling by Adam Pearson / Recipe from What’s Gaby Cooking

** This post is brought to you by Old El Paso. All content, ideas, and words are my own. Thanks for supporting the sponsors that allow me to create new and special content like this for What’s Gaby Cooking**

6 Comments

  1. This would be a big hit at the Kelly house! Love those little boats. Sometimes food just needs a little more interesting to the kiddos into it.

  2. Oh. My. Goodness. These are the cutest! I can’t believe I have never seen these before! I will have to look for them ASAP as this looks to be the perfect party meal!!

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