Is it Carnitas?

Zmokin

Is it Carnitas if you smoke the butt, but season it with mexican seasonings, and use it in tacos & burritos?

Or is it still not "Carnitas" because it wasn't braised in lard?

After all, once pulled or chopped, it is "little meats".

If smoking it doesn't qualify as Carnitas, would tossing it in a deep fryer for a minute or so after chopping it make it "carnitas"?

apfroggy0408

Traditional way includes copper pot, but honestly who cares?

Cook it, call it what you want, EAT!

SmokeyPitt

FWIW I used this recipe with leftover smoked pulled pork and I called them carnitas:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/melissa-darabian/pork-carnitas-recipe.html

I used the sauce to reheat the pork, then fried them in vegetable oil as described.  

Phatchris

Fry it!

anton

I sent a plate of pulled pork over to my Spanish neighbors, and they said they loved my Gringo Carnitas!! LOL They have sent me over some of their wonderful cooking as well.

Zmokin

Well, here's my "Carnitas" just before I foiled it for the final cook to 195F (defeat the stall).

Ladeback69

You would need to add some oranges for a citrus flavoring. I've done carnitas in a crock pot.

The Cen-Tex Smoker

I call it that but real carnitas are also fried in their own fat on a comal before serving to brown them up. Yum.