Roast Pork Loin "Carnitas"

I love Trader Joe's! They have awesome pork tenderloin in the meat section that couldn't be easier to roast and serve. Here's what I did with it this time.

Pork "Carnitas"                       

Preheat oven to 425 degrees (on "Roast" if you have a convection oven)

1 pork loin (approx 1 lb.)
2 tsp. paprika
2 tsp. cumin
1/2 t. salt
3 cloves garlic, minced
1-1/2 Tbsp. olive oil (divided use)
juice of 2 oranges and 1 lemon
cooked rice
2 onions, diced
1 pasilla or ancho pepper, seeded and chopped
2 Roma tomatoes
1/2 c. chopped cilantro

sour cream

In a Dutch oven or Le Creuset-type pot, heat 1 Tbsp. oil. Add paprika and cumin, and when hot, place pork loin in pan. Cook on high a minute or two each side, lowering flame if it starts to get too hot.

When loin is seared, add juices to deglaze the pan, scraping sides and bottom. Place lid on pot (or tightly seal with aluminum foil) and roast for 30 minutes in preheated oven.

Allow to sit 10 minutes.

Remove meat to a plate (and as much of the sauce as you can get too) and add the remaining olive oil, onions and peppers to the pot.

 

On the stove, saute until softened and browned. Take off the heat.

Chop pork loin coarsely, in approximately bite-sized pieces. Add sauce back into pot with cubed pork and toss to mix.

Chop tomatoes and cilantro.

Whip sour cream with a fork. Place rice in serving bowl or platter. Top with chopped meat. Layer onions and peppers on that, and end with tomatoes and then cilantro.

Sour cream can be drizzled over the entire dish or placed on table for guests to serve themselves.

Hope there will be leftovers for tomorrow night!