Authentic spicy Mexican Carnitas served for a meal.
Image Credit: lyulka/iStock/Getty Images Carnitas are a Mexican dish consisting of small pieces of pork that are cooked in their own fat, salt, and sometimes oranges. They’re typically considered a special occasion food, served often at celebrations within the Mexican culture and at most Mexican restaurants.
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Calories and Macronutrients
According to the website My Fitness Pal, carnitas contain approximately 102 calories per 2 oz. One serving can provide your body with 16 g of protein, 1 g of carbohydrates and 3 g of fat.
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Vitamins and minerals
Carnitas contain only two vitamins: vitamins A and C. In a 2-oz. serving, there are 100 IU of vitamin A and 1.8 mg of vitamin C. Carnitas also contain essential minerals such as calcium, iron, sodium and potassium. Each serving contains about 10 mg of calcium, approximately 1 mg of iron, 91 mg of sodium and 255 mg of potassium.
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Ingredients and types
Typical ingredients in carnitas are chicken broth, pork, cilantro, cumin, bay leaves, onion and chili sauce. Other ingredient options include tortillas and salsa, which would constitute an a la carte order of carnitas, which is the most popular order.
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Considerations
Due to the many different techniques and ingredients used to prepare carnitas, calories and macronutrients will vary depending on the preparer.
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references
My Fitness Pal: Nutrition facts for carnitas
Rachel Laudan: Carnitas (Little bits of meat)
Batista: Carnitas
references
My Fitness Pal: Nutrition facts for carnitas
Rachel Laudan: Carnitas (Little bits of meat)
Batista: Carnitas
Authentic spicy Mexican Carnitas served for a meal.
Image Credit: lyulka/iStock/Getty Images
Image Credit: lyulka/iStock/Getty Images
My Fitness Pal: Nutrition facts for carnitas
Rachel Laudan: Carnitas (Little bits of meat)
Batista: Carnitas
