(42) Beef Carnitas

Back in the kitchen! Last week was a week of sloppy joes, pizza, and tacos! This week, I have real menus planned! YAY!! Tonight I made these carnitas tacos and black bean salad. FANTASTIC! I hope you will try them!

---

Beef Carnitas

This simple recipe, which uses inexpensive beef stew meat, garnered our highest rating for great flavor and versatility. To freeze the carnitas, wrap them tightly in heavy-duty plastic wrap or foil, and place in a zip-top plastic freezer bag; they will keep in the freezer for up to three months.

Yield: 4 cups (serving size: 1/2 cup)
Source: Cooking Light Magazine, September 2006

Cooking spray
1 cup chopped onion
3 garlic cloves, crushed
2 pounds beef stew meat, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 cup less-sodium beef broth
1 teaspoon sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 large unpeeled orange wedge

Heat a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add onion; sauté 4 minutes or until tender. Add garlic; sauté 1 minute. Add beef; sauté 5 minutes or until beef is browned on all sides. Stir in broth, sugar, salt, and pepper; nestle orange section into beef mixture. Bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 1 1/2 hours or until beef is tender. Remove and discard orange. Continue simmering, uncovered, 8 minutes or until liquid almost evaporates, stirring frequently.

Nutritional Information
Calories: 180 (40% from fat), Fat: 8g (sat 3g,mono 3.4g,poly 0.3g), Protein: 22.2g, Carbohydrate: 3.5g, Fiber: 0.4g, Cholesterol: 71mg, Iron: 2.5mg, Sodium: 320mg, Calcium: 16mg