Carnitas Recipe (instant pot)
Carnitas, meaning ‘little meat,’ originated in Michoacán, Mexico. The pork is slow-cooked in lard until melt-in-your-mouth tender, and using an Instant Pot speeds up cooking while packing in tons of flavor.
Ingredients
For the Pork
- 3 lbs pork belly, skin-on
- 5 lbs pork shoulder boston butt roast, bone-in
- 2 tbsp avocado oil
Seasoning Liquid
- 1/2 medium white onion, roughly diced
- 1 1/2 tsp dried Mexican oregano
- 1/2 tsp whole black peppercorns
- 4 whole cloves
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 1/2 cup orange juice, (2 large oranges)
- 1 cup water
- 2 tbsp kosher salt
- 2 orange, skin halves
- 1 head garlic, slice end off
- 3 bay leaves
For Tacos
- Corn tortillas
- White onion, diced
- Cilantro, chopped
- Limes
- Mexican salsa
Instructions
- The Pork: Start with the pork shoulder, cut into large pieces. You will need to cut around the bone but don’t throw it away, we are using it. Now, with the knife remove the skin part from the pork belly and cut into large squares. Don’t leave them to small. Cut the remainder of the belly, into the same size and shape as the skin. Set aside momentarily.
- Instant pot, 8 qt : First step is to brown the meat, set your instant pot on HIGH SAUTE mode. Ill set it to 15 MINUTES, you can add more time later, if needed. Go ahead and START it. Once done preheating, pour in the avocado oil and brown each side of the meat, starting with the pork shoulder. Don’t over crowd the pot, be patient and do it in batches. Transfer the pork pieces into a large dish as they become ready. Brown the bone as well. Up next, our final batch, the pork belly. We are not browning the pork skin.
- When all the pork is ready, press CANCEL. Place all the pork back into the pot including the skin and pour in the seasoned blended mix. Pour the other 1/2 cup of water into the blender cup, swirl and pour into the pot. Also add the head of garlic, bay leaves and the two leftover orange halves we set aside earlier.
- COVER, secure the lid and cook on HIGH PRESSURE for 40 MINUTES, with a 10 MINUTE NATURAL PRESSURE RELEASE. After the natural pressure release is done, QUICK RELEASE the remaining pressure. Finally, press CANCEL and remove the lid.The carnitas should be super tender.
- Transfer all the carnitas on to a sheet pan and evenly spread them. Don’t shred them at this point to prevent them from drying out. Place the sheet pan inside the oven, use oven mitts because the sheet pan can get really hot. Set the BROILER to HI. Allow them to brown and crisp up a bit, about 5-10 minutes. Be careful if you hear the occasional grease popping, it may happen. TURN OFF the broiler as soon as the carnitas look ready. Remove the sheet pan from the oven, shred them apart and ENJOY in TACOS or as you desire.
- For tacos: Place the shredded carnitas in the middle of a hot corn tortilla, top with chopped white onion, chopped cilantro, Mexican salsa and a squeeze of lime juice.