Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas with Heirloom Tomato Salsa // Shop the farmers market for the heirloom tomatoes and make this delicious salsa to go on crisp pork carnitas.
It is hard to believe, but summer is almost over. I am spending the last few days of summer sitting on the beach with my Kindle finishing up my summer reads.
I have read so many great books this summer. It was indulgent. I had forgotten how much I love to read, and how much I need to. I’ll post some of my favorites later, I need to narrow it down, my list is long!
This summer was not the best for our garden. Our peppers and herbs did great, but the tomatoes got blithe and as you can guess, we had to get rid of our tomato plants.
Thankfully we have a great farmers market here in Alexandria. We like to go on Saturday mornings, grab a pastry and a coffee from one of the vendors, and take a walk around the market before we make our decisions.
I have learned the hard way to make sure to see all of the booths before you buy. I have bought things early on, only to be disappointed when I find it for a better price or something better at a booth near the exit.
Shopping the farmers market is not just shopping, but an experience, so I like to take my time. You get to know the vendors and growers week after week. I learn so much from them. You cannot always do that in a grocery store.
I am not a huge tomato fan, it really disappoints my family – I am from New Jersey after all. Tomato season in NJ is a big deal. I do really like heirloom tomatoes, and I love them in salsa. They are sweeter and have a better texture. I like how many different colors and varieties that you can get at the farmers market.
After buying some gorgeous tomatoes, I put some pork in the slow cooker on Sunday and went about my day. By dinnertime, I had the most tender carnitas.
I used my heirlooms for a quick salsa. and added some sliced radishes that I also bought to finish off these tacos. Not only is this easy and delicious, it is so beautiful from the yellow and red tomatoes.
I can’t wait to see what awaits me next week. Fall produce should start to make an appearance soon. Can you say apple pie?
Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas
Ingredients
Carnitas
- 2 pounds boneless pork loin trimmed of fat
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoons black pepper
- 1 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 2 teaspoons orange zest
- 1 orange halved
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1 onion coarsely chopped
- 4 garlic cloves chopped
Heirloom Tomato Salsa
- 2 heirloom tomatoes diced
- 1/3 cup red onion finely diced
- 1/4 cup cilantro chopped
- juice of one lime
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup shredded cabbage
- 1/4 cup radish thinly sliced
- Old El Paso flour tortillas 10-count for soft tacos and fajitas
Instructions
- Wash and dry pork loin. Rub both sides with salt and pepper. Rub pork with olive oil. Sprinkle both sides with oregano, cumin, and orange zest. Place the pork in a slow cooker and top with onion and garlic. Squeeze orange halves over pork. Cook on LOW for 8 to 10 hours or on HIGH for 4 hours.
- Once the meat is tender, remove from slow cooker and let cool slightly before pulling apart with a fork.
- In a medium bowl, combine tomatoes, onion, cilantro, lime juice, salt and pepper.
- Heat tortillas according to package directions. Add pork, salsa, shredded cabbage, and sliced radish.
