Recipes ideas to use up frozen carnitas
April 6, 2020 10:52 AM Subscribe
We made this recipe of carnitas awhile back and ended up freezing about 2 cups of leftovers. We’re tired of nachos/tacos, our access to fresh product is limited, and I’m not feeling inspired in the kitchen right now. Please lend me your ideas!
At the same time we also froze some of our favorite locally made corn tortillas and have found that defrosting/reheating them doesn’t go well (they just fall apart) and I’ve been trying to figure out how to incorporate them into a new dish with the carnitas. Maybe using it to thicken a soup made with carnitas? Would that even be good in a soup? I don’t know, but maybe you do!
We have things like canned (or dried) tomatoes, green chilis, beans, rice, I have a ridiculously large spice collection, I have some frozen veggies. We have a lot of medium cheddar but no other cheese. I have lots of homemade chicken broth frozen. Can’t think of any other relevant info about what we have on hand but happy to pop in once to clarify.
At the same time we also froze some of our favorite locally made corn tortillas and have found that defrosting/reheating them doesn’t go well (they just fall apart) and I’ve been trying to figure out how to incorporate them into a new dish with the carnitas. Maybe using it to thicken a soup made with carnitas? Would that even be good in a soup? I don’t know, but maybe you do!
We have things like canned (or dried) tomatoes, green chilis, beans, rice, I have a ridiculously large spice collection, I have some frozen veggies. We have a lot of medium cheddar but no other cheese. I have lots of homemade chicken broth frozen. Can’t think of any other relevant info about what we have on hand but happy to pop in once to clarify.
Layered enchiladas maybe? Gets around trying to roll brittle tortillas, just layer them with carnitas, beans, cheese, homemade enchilada sauce if you don't have any on hand (I like this recipe ).
posted by Knicke at 11:01 AM on April 6, 2020 [5 favorites]
posted by Knicke at 11:01 AM on April 6, 2020 [5 favorites]
It's breakfast-y sometimes, but some of that mixed in with scrambled eggs would use up some of that food.
Sandwich filling. If you have any rolls - even small ones - make sandwiches or sliders with the carnitas-filling.
On a baked potato.
Add it to a green salad. (If Taco Bell can do it and make serious coin, why not regular people in the midst of a pandemic???)
If possible, make these a smaller side dish to another main course.
(None of these are recipes, specifically - just low-effort ways to re-use leftovers. I don't know if these will work for you or not.)
posted by Tailkinker to-Ennien at 11:05 AM on April 6, 2020
Sandwich filling. If you have any rolls - even small ones - make sandwiches or sliders with the carnitas-filling.
On a baked potato.
Add it to a green salad. (If Taco Bell can do it and make serious coin, why not regular people in the midst of a pandemic???)
If possible, make these a smaller side dish to another main course.
(None of these are recipes, specifically - just low-effort ways to re-use leftovers. I don't know if these will work for you or not.)
posted by Tailkinker to-Ennien at 11:05 AM on April 6, 2020
Flatbreads with caramelized onions (and barbecue sauce if you have/make it), or Cubanesque grilled cheese sandwiches with mustard, cheese, pickles and (if you have it) ham.
posted by notquitemaryann at 11:07 AM on April 6, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by notquitemaryann at 11:07 AM on April 6, 2020 [3 favorites]
Pulled pork is really good in pasta. No need for a sauce, cook noodles in broth and save some of the starchy broth as a sauce. Add in pork pieces, whatever veggies, some Parmesan cheese. Good eats!
posted by wilky at 11:10 AM on April 6, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by wilky at 11:10 AM on April 6, 2020 [3 favorites]
I make carnitas salad as an alternative to taco salad. For a dressing, I thin sour cream (or SC/salsa mix) with citrus juice (orange if you have it) and add cilantro, garlic powder, and hot sauce (a packet of fast food hot sauce will work!) You can fry, air fry, or bake the tortillas in strips for topping.
My go-to with the ingredients you mention on hand would be an encilada-ish layered casserole. I like a green chile/sour cream style, kinda like this, and that'd be fine with your cheddar cheese.
posted by Lyn Never at 11:44 AM on April 6, 2020
My go-to with the ingredients you mention on hand would be an encilada-ish layered casserole. I like a green chile/sour cream style, kinda like this, and that'd be fine with your cheddar cheese.
posted by Lyn Never at 11:44 AM on April 6, 2020
Are you steaming the tortillas? They need to lock in moisture after thawing. Wrapping in a damp paper towel and microwaving to defrost works great. Otherwise use a steamer basket. Just dont overdo it or you'll end up with soggy masa.
posted by ananci at 11:53 AM on April 6, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by ananci at 11:53 AM on April 6, 2020 [1 favorite]
Add BBQ sauce. Put on buns with a little slaw. Pulled-pork sandwiches.
posted by Thorzdad at 12:00 PM on April 6, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Thorzdad at 12:00 PM on April 6, 2020 [1 favorite]
chilaquiles? red or green?
can add the meat on top or in the sauce.
or make chili verde and add your meat.
posted by domino at 12:03 PM on April 6, 2020 [2 favorites]
can add the meat on top or in the sauce.
or make chili verde and add your meat.
posted by domino at 12:03 PM on April 6, 2020 [2 favorites]
or a torta - bun (bolillo if you can find it or a crusty roll) toast roll, add mayo, jalapeno, avocado, lettuce, tomato - green salsa if you have it.
Oooh. how i miss my favorite taqueria being open.
posted by domino at 12:04 PM on April 6, 2020 [1 favorite]
Oooh. how i miss my favorite taqueria being open.
posted by domino at 12:04 PM on April 6, 2020 [1 favorite]
Soup! I like to make this Alton Brown Veggie Soup and add different meats to it.
posted by humboldt32 at 12:34 PM on April 6, 2020
posted by humboldt32 at 12:34 PM on April 6, 2020
I would make pork and noodles.
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 1:46 PM on April 6, 2020
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 1:46 PM on April 6, 2020
Top mashed potatoes with them.
posted by Ms Vegetable at 2:00 PM on April 6, 2020
posted by Ms Vegetable at 2:00 PM on April 6, 2020
Hash with potatoes and onions and a lot of black pepper is a nice thing to do with leftover meat.
posted by nebulawindphone at 4:06 PM on April 6, 2020
posted by nebulawindphone at 4:06 PM on April 6, 2020
I've put them in "bahn mi" sandwiches, a baguette with pickled carrots, cilantro, and jalapenos.
posted by counterfeitfake at 6:04 PM on April 6, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by counterfeitfake at 6:04 PM on April 6, 2020 [1 favorite]
I filled up enchiladas with pulled pork and they were awwwwwesome. I am sure you could do the same here.
posted by wenestvedt at 7:40 PM on April 6, 2020
posted by wenestvedt at 7:40 PM on April 6, 2020
defrosting/reheating them doesn’t go well (they just fall apart)
I always keep corn tortillas in the freezer. I also discovered that they tear if you just let them defrost in a bunch sitting on the counter. So the handling process I devised that works well for them is this: take them out of the freezer, use a butter knife to pry the number you want off the stack and get them loose from one another. Then, loosely stack, wrap in a damp clean kitchen towel or napkin, and microwave 30 sec. They're pliable at that point, so you can then prepare them however you want - toast them in a skillet for tacos, layer for chilaquiles, roll for enchiladas, etc.
posted by Miko at 6:38 AM on April 7, 2020
I always keep corn tortillas in the freezer. I also discovered that they tear if you just let them defrost in a bunch sitting on the counter. So the handling process I devised that works well for them is this: take them out of the freezer, use a butter knife to pry the number you want off the stack and get them loose from one another. Then, loosely stack, wrap in a damp clean kitchen towel or napkin, and microwave 30 sec. They're pliable at that point, so you can then prepare them however you want - toast them in a skillet for tacos, layer for chilaquiles, roll for enchiladas, etc.
posted by Miko at 6:38 AM on April 7, 2020
Oh also, if you're just tired of the Mexican flavor profile, then know that carnitas is just pulled pork with some spices. You can douse it in BBQ sauce and have BBQ sandwiches, or serve alongside collard greens and cornbread, etc.
posted by Miko at 6:40 AM on April 7, 2020
posted by Miko at 6:40 AM on April 7, 2020
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by the thorn bushes have roses at 10:59 AM on April 6, 2020