A deep-hued, rustic brown stew filled with tender chunks of pork, splashes of vibrant salsa, and creamy avocado chunks. A delicate mound of white cauliflower rice stands in stark contrast, garnished with fresh cilantro. The dish sparkles with a light dusting of shredded cheese and a wedge of lime on the side.

Keto Mexican Carnitas Stew with Cauliflower Rice

Name: Keto Mexican Carnitas Stew with Cauliflower Rice
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 120 min
Total time: 140 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 1.5 lbs. Pork Shoulder cut into 2-inch chunks; 1 large head Cauliflower riced; 1 cup Salsa sugar-free; 2 cups Chicken Broth; 1 Avocado diced; 1/4 cup Cilantro chopped; 1 Lime cut into wedges; 1/4 cup Shredded Cheese full-fat; 1 tablespoon Cumin Powder; 1 tablespoon Chili Powder; 1 tablespoon Olive Oil; to taste Salt and Black Pepper

Spicy, comforting and keto-friendly Mexican stew.

Category Main Course

Prep 20 minutes

Cook 120 minutes

Style Mexican

Technique Slow Cooking

Diet Friendly Keto

Daily recipe · December 21, 2024

A little about this dish

This recipe reimagines the festive, spicy flavors of Mexican cuisine in a ketogenic, warm and comforting dish perfect for a cold winter day. The star ingredients are slow-cooked pork and cauliflower which substitute for traditional carb-forward elements, keeping this Mexican-inspired dish keto-friendly.

Ingredients (for 4)

Pork shoulder — 1.5 lbs. — cut into 2-inch chunks
Cauliflower — 1 large head — riced
Salsa — 1 cup — sugar-free
Chicken broth — 2 cups
Avocado — 1 — diced
Cilantro — 1/4 cup — chopped
Lime — 1 — cut into wedges
Shredded cheese — 1/4 cup — full-fat
Cumin powder — 1 tablespoon
Chili powder — 1 tablespoon
Olive oil — 1 tablespoon
Salt and black pepper — to taste

Preparation

Step 1 — 🧂🍖🌶️

Season the pork shoulder chunks with salt, pepper, cumin, and chili powder.
Step 2 — 🍳🔥🍖

Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large pot. Add the seasoned pork to the pot and brown on all sides.
Step 3 — 🍅🥣⌛

Add the salsa and chicken broth to the pot. Cover and simmer on low heat for 2 hours.
Step 4 — 🥦🥣🔪

In a food processor, pulse the cauliflower until it resembles rice. Steam until tender.
Step 5 — 🥘🧀🥑

Serve the pork carnitas stew over the cauliflower rice. Top with diced avocado, a sprinkle of cheese, a squirt of lime, and fresh cilantro.

A final fox tip

This low-carb recipe is flexible for customization. For instance, you can add bell peppers for extra color and boost of vitamin C, or roasted jalapeños for heat. The kids can help with ricing the cauliflower and garnishing the finished dishes, making this a fun family cooking experience!