SOY MARINATED PORK CARNITAS

Soy Marinated Pork Carnitas image

Provided by Food Network

Time 3h45m

Yield 12 to 18 servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

8 cups soy sauce
8 cups sugar
4 cups mirin
4 cups oyster sauce
2 cups mushroom soy sauce
2 cups chopped green onions
1/3 cup whole star anise
1/4 cup whole cloves
1/4 cup peppercorn blend
10 medium cinnamon sticks
1 ginger root, sliced with skin on
12 liters water
6 pounds pork butt
12 pieces dried black mushrooms
10 bay leaves

Steps:

Combine the soy sauce, sugar, mirin, oyster sauce, mushroom soy, green onions, star anise, cloves, peppercorn blend, cinnamon sticks and ginger slices in an 18-quart container. With a large whisk, mix the ingredients together. Make sure all the sugar at the bottom is properly stirred into the liquid. Gradually pour the water into the container and continue to stir.
Cut the pork butt in 2-inch square pieces. Trim all the hard fat off and leave about a quarter of the soft fat on the meat. Set the pork in a deep cooking pan, and, using a ladle, pour the soy marinade mix over the meat, make sure all the meat is covered in the liquid. (Any extra soy-ginger marinade can be put away and used again on a later date.) Add the dried black mushroom and bay leaves to the liquid, spreading them evenly throughout the pan. Tightly wrap the pan with heavy-duty foil and refrigerate overnight.
The next day, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Make sure the foil is tightly sealed around the pan and cook until the pork is fork tender, about 3 hours. Take the pan out of the oven and remove the foil. With a fork and tongs pull at the pork. It should easily tear off to assure it's fully cooked.