Lettuce Wrap Ground Pork Carnitas Tacos

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 lbs. ground pork
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tsp. dried oregano
• 2 tsp. cumin
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 1/2 c. orange juice
• 12 Romaine lettuce leaves
• jarred salsa verde sauce
• Cotija cheese, grated
• cilantro, optional
• pickled onions, optional

Directions

1. In a large, non-stick skillet sprayed with cooking spray, sauté onion and jalapeño pepper on medium heat until they start to soften, about 5 to 7 minutes.
2. Add in ground pork, garlic, oregano, cumin, salt, and pepper. Brown pork and break it up as it cooks. (A potato masher works great for this.) Continue to cook mixture until pork is well browned and at least 140°F (think “sausage-like browning;” the browning gives the pork extra flavor), and the onion and pepper is soft.
3. Drain any excess fat.
4. Return meat to pan and increase heat to medium-high.
5. Add in orange juice and stir. Allow juice to come to a boil and reduce by at least half. Take off heat and keep warm.
6. To assemble tacos, wrap in lettuce leaves. Place “tortillas” on a plate and add meat, salsa, cheese, cilantro, and pickled onion.
7. Serve immediately.

Amounts per Serving

• Calories: 666
• Fat: 44.67 grams
• Cholesterol: 158.87 mg
• Sodium: 1419.26 mg
• Sugar: 6.92 grams
• Carbohydrate: 11.45 grams
• Fiber: 7.81 grams
• Protein: 51.5 grams