Barbacoa vs. Carnitas: What's the Difference?

Humans have been experimenting with various techniques of cooking meat since the dawn of civilization to provide them with nutrient-dense nourishment. We’ve been experimenting with numerous ways to make our meals taste better and healthier in recent years. In this article, we’ll examine two of the most well-known dishes and compare them to one another.

What Exactly Is Barbacoa?

Let’s look at what the two foods are before we compare them. Barbacoa is a Caribbean meal where beef is cooked slowly (typically for 8 hours) and shredded. It’s commonly made with goat or beef and served as the main course, seasoned with spicy sauces.

Onion, garlic, cumin, oregano, thyme, jalapeno peppers, and various herbs/spices are typical barbacoa sauce ingredients. The dish is frequently slathered in sauce (with cheese added by some), wrapped in banana or plantain leaves, then grilled.

What exactly is Carnitas?

Then there’s Carnitas, a traditional Mexican meat dish. They’re frequently cooked with pig belly (usually from fresh tenderloins). To prepare these tenderloins for the grill or smoker, they are immersed in boiling water for around 10 minutes. Before serving, they can be added to a marinade. They’re frequently grilled once they’re done, till crispy but not burnt.

Some residual marinades are usually rubbed on the meat to taste. Cooked rice is added to some recipes to make them more full, although typically served. Other Mexican recipes ask for the addition of limes or lime juice before serving.

Carnitas vs. Barbacoa

Let’s compare the dishes now that we know what they are and can discern a clear winner. Both recipes have a lot in common in terms of flavour. Both are spicy and can be served with various sides to cater to the meal. The fundamental distinction is that Barbacoa is rarely eaten with rice, but Carnitas is.

On the other hand, Barbacoa is usually cooked with goat or beef. This meal, however, can also be made using chicken. When it comes to cooking time, both take a long time to prepare - don’t expect to have a meal ready in under an hour. Finally, Barbacoa is slow-cooked in foil, whereas Carnitas is frequently grilled over an open fire.

Barbacoa vs. Carnitas: What’s the Difference?

Carnitas is frequently served as a main course (with rice and tortillas), whereas Barbacoa is typically served as a side dish (unless you want to use it as a filling for tacos). Barbacoa is usually made with goat and simmered for several days in a moist environment (with onions, spices, and limes). Pork belly is used to make Carnitas, then grilled over an open flame until crispy.

What similarities do Barbacoa and Carnitas have?

• Both are pork-based meat dishes with onions as a significant element in the marinade.
• Both are slow-cooked, with the meat taking 3-4 days to prepare (although Barbacoa is usually served as a main dish)
• Both are tasty (but Barbacoa’s spices and herbs make it more flavorful than Carnitas alone).
• Both are hot, while Carnitas, in certain cases, includes rice.
• Both can be served with rice and tortillas.

Summary of Barbacoa vs. Carnitas.

Even though Barbacoa and Carnitas have a lot in common, they are very different. One difference is that Barbacoa is made using goat meat, whereas Carnitas are made with pork. Aside from that, there’s a lot of similarity between the two recipes. This means you may choose which one to serve the next time you go out for dinner or a BBQ.

How to Make a Barbacoa at Home

Barbacoa may be created at home in a matter of minutes. It’s significantly easier to prepare than beef brisket or pork ribs. Marinade the meat in a mixture of oregano, cumin, salt, garlic, and vinegar, then cook it gently over an open fire or on the grill. The meat does not become rough or stringy due to the lengthy cooking technique.

Using high-quality fresh ingredients is the key to preparing outstanding Barbacoa. This is especially true when it comes to meat. You’ll need a decent cut of lamb, which you can get from a trusted butcher or supermarket. More essential, when prepping the meat for cooking, ensure there are no signs of pinkness. The meat needs to be fully cooked and tender. If you’re unsure about preparing the meat for this recipe, ask your butcher for advice.

After you’ve purchased your lamb, marinate it in a blend of fresh spices and herbs for a few hours. Garlic is the most vital component in any barbacoa recipe. As a result, make sure there’s plenty of minced garlic in the mix.

The garlic will give the meat a distinct flavour, but it will help keep it from turning tough. You can use any spice and seasoning blend you choose for the spices and seasonings. However, at the very least, salt and cumin should be included in the mix. This will give your Barbacoa a lot of flavour depth.

You can use any vinegar for this. However, only use white vinegar to get the greatest flavour during the cooking phase.

You’re ready to marinate your lamb for about an hour after you’ve made your seasoning mixture. The idea here is to let it marinate on a plate or in a dish without covering it.

After that, cover the meat with plastic wrap or aluminium foil and set it aside to allow all of the flavours to penetrate. As a result, the finished Barbacoa will be moist and tasty.

Even though you can make a huge batch of Barbacoa at once, you can divide the meat into multiple smaller batches throughout the preparation process. This makes the marinade preparation and cooking process a lot easier. If you allow enough time to prepare before your meal, this should not be a problem.

Prepare for this supper by combining all fresh marinade ingredients and having everything ready to go. Wrap the meat in foil and lay it on a rack over a pan of water when you’re ready. Cover it and cook for 3-4 hours, checking halfway through to ensure there is always enough water in the pan.

Once the lamb is cooked, the key to making outstanding Barbacoa is to combine it with decent bread.

How to Make Carnitas at Home.

This is how you can create your pig carnitas at home. To begin, you’ll need some high-quality beef. Pork butt or tenderloin can be used for this recipe. The shoulder cut of beef is crucial since it adds flavour and fat to your dish. Remove all excess fat and fat caps from the meat before putting it in the crockpot to ensure that it cooks evenly.

Because each region has its specialty in recipes, the spice combination for creating Carnitas at home is highly dependent on where you are from. Many spices used in Mexican cooking may be found in California, whereas Latin American and Caribbean spices are heavily influenced in South Texas. We’ll go with the latter for this recipe because I grew up eating pork carnitas served atop fried corn tortillas and topped with pico de gallo.

To sum it up.

Barbacoa and Carnitas have a lot in common. Both recipes are fiery and flavorful. Barbacoa, on the other hand, is your best bet if you’re searching for a flavorful, quick-to-prepare dish. On the other hand, Carnitas are suitable for large parties and may be produced while you wait, albeit they take longer to create.