Best Burrito Bowls Ever

Make ahead meals where you can do the prep work the night make for an easy time the next day. Pull together a fast and fresh meal together with ease, Julie Miguel’s secret weapons : burrito bowls.  The great thing about Burrito bowls is that they are versatile so you can use a variety of proteins such as chicken, beef or pork and any of your favourite toppings.

Pulled Pork Burrito Bowls

INGREDIENTS

Pulled pork:

1 2-3 lb pork shoulder or pork butt

1 cup brown sugar

¼ cup sweet smoked paprika

¼ cup chipotle powder

¼ mustard powder

1 Tsp Cayenne pepper (Cayenne is very spicy so eliminate this if you don’t like spice)

3 Tbsp garlic powder

¼ cup Tbsp Olive Oil

1 bottle of beer

Burrito Rice

1 cup white rice

2 cups water

1 tablespoon butter

1/2 sweet yellow onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon butter

1 tablespoon chili powder, or more to taste

1 tablespoon paprika

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper

1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce

Guacamole

2 Avocados

1 Lime

Salt & pepper to taste

Other toppings

Fresh Cilantro

Shredded cheese

Lime juice

Jalapenos

Sour cream

Chopped tomatoes

DIRECTIONS:

Make the Pulled Pork: mix all of the spices and the oil in a bowl and incorporate into a paste with your hands. Rub the mixture into your meat very well, massaging it to make sure the spices penetrate the meat. Put the meat into an oven safe dish. Pour in a bottle of beer. Seal your dish well with foil paper.

Roast for 3-4 hours at 325 degrees Fahrenheit.

Remove the dish from the oven at the 3 hour mark and check to see if the meat is coming apart from the bone easily. If it is not, roast it for a little longer. Once it is cooked and easily comes apart, let cool to a temperature that you can handle the meat with your hands. Take the pork with your hands and shred it using your fingers. Discard extra cartilage, bone and fat. Add the shredded pork back into the dish with the drippings. Reheat your meat, if needed, in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10-15 minutes. Keep warm until you are ready to use it or store in your refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Make the Burrito rice: Bring rice and water to a boil in a saucepan over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the rice is tender and the liquid has been absorbed, 15 to 20 minutes.

Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir onion and garlic in hot butter until onion is translucent, 5 to 6 minutes. Melt 1 more tablespoon butter with onions and garlic; stir chili powder, paprika, cumin, black pepper and cayenne pepper into mixture. Cook, stirring often, for 2 minutes.

Stir black beans and tomato sauce into contents of skillet; bring to a simmer, reduce heat to low, and cook until flavors blend, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Mix your plain cooked rice with your bean mixture until combined.

Make the tortilla bowls: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Heat the tortillas in the microwave for 30 seconds. Rub each tortilla with a little oil and gently press the tortilla around the outside of an oven safe bowl. Place the bowl on a baking sheet and put in the oven. Bake for about 10 12 minutes or until the tortilla appears browned and crisp.

Make your guacamole: Cut the avocados in half, remove the pit and spoon out the fruit into a bowl. Mash the avocados, add lime juice and stir. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Assemble your burrito bowls: Add rice, pulled pork, guacamole, sour cream, tomatoes, cheese and cilantro to each tortilla bowl. Serve and enjoy!

Julie Miguel is an iRun food contributor, where you’ll find a selection of weekly recipes and food ideas. She is a home cook, and food influencer and has worked with a national television, print and online media outlets. You can also follow her food discoveries and travel adventures at Daily Tiramisu.