Rice Bowl with Carnitas, Avocado, and Black Beans

Recipe Submitted By Milagros Cruz

Looking for a hearty dish bursting with flavor and perfect for Sunday meal prep? Look no further than this Rice Bowl with Carnitas, Avocado, and Black Beans! Homemade carnitas top a lemon-lime cilantro rice with black beans, tomato, and avocado for a filling bowl you can enjoy all week long.

Ingredients

2 pounds pork shoulder, cut into 1-inch pieces
salt to taste
pepper to taste
1 tablespoon garlic powder
2 bay leaves
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 teaspoon oregano
juice from 1 orange
2 6-ounce cans tomato paste
4 tablespoons Olive Oil
1 cup short grain white rice
2 cups water or chicken stock
juice from 1/2 lemon
juice from 1 lime
¼ cup cilantro, chopped plus more for garnish
4 garlic cloves, minced
½ yellow onion, minced
1 12-ounce can black beans
¼ avocado, sliced
lime wedge for garnish

Directions

Make the pork: Season your pork with salt, pepper, garlic powder, bay leaves, onion powder, oregano, and juice of 1 orange. Bake pork at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 15 minutes. When the pork reaches the 30 minute mark add in 2 cups of water and 1 6-ounce can of tomato sauce. Stir to combine and let the pork finish cooking, until fork tender. Set aside.

Make rice: Rinse rice with cold water. In a large pot over high heat add in 2 tablespoons of olive oil, rinsed rice, water or stock, and salt to taste. Mix until the salt is well combined and let the rice come to a rolling boil. Once the rice is at a boil, reduce to a simmer, cover with a lid, and let it simmer for 40 minutes. Turn off heat and let the rice sit for 15 extra minutes. In a bowl add 1 cup of rice, lemon juice, lime juice, and cilantro; stir to combine and set aside.

Make beans: Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil into a pot over high heat. Add in minced garlic cloves and onions. Cook for 2 minutes until the onions have softened. Add in black beans, 1 cup of water, and 1 6-ounce can of tomato paste. Stir to combine and cook beans on high for 7-10 minutes until the beans are tender and the sauce has thickened.

Make the bowl: Add lemon-lime rice to the bottom of the bowl, top with black beans, avocado, carnitas; garnish with more cilantro and a lime wedge.

Source: LatinKitchen