
Bright citrus, fresh herbs, and a long braise transform humble pork shoulder into something deeply savory and fall-apart tender. The marinade does the heavy lifting here — orange juice, lime, apple cider vinegar, garlic, scallions, and thyme all work together to tenderize the meat and build layers of flavor before it ever hits the heat. After braising low and slow until the pork practically melts, a quick sear in coconut oil gives each piece those irresistible caramelized edges that make the whole dish sing. Every single ingredient in this recipe is naturally free of tree nuts, so there's no label-reading stress or substitution gymnastics required. The final platter, finished with fresh parsley and a squeeze of lime, looks and tastes like something that took serious culinary skill — but the process is genuinely approachable for a weeknight cook willing to plan ahead. Serve it over rice or with crusty bread to soak up any juices, and don't skip the lime wedges at the table.
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In a large mixing bowl, combine the orange juice, lime juice, apple cider vinegar, garlic, onion, scallions, parsley, thyme, ginger, turmeric, and salt. Add the pork shoulder chunks and toss to coat thoroughly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight for deeper flavor.
Transfer the pork and all of the marinade into a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot. Add the water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and braise for 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes, until the pork is completely tender and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest piece reads at least 195°F (90°C) — the meat should pull apart easily with a fork.
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