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Pork Carnitas tacos on a tray with fixings near by.
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Pork Carnitas
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
55 mins
Pressure Release Time
20 mins
Total Time
1 hr 30 mins
 
Carnitas is Mexico's version of pulled pork. This version uses a pressure cooker to cook the pork and then crisps up the meat in a skillet before loading it into tortillas for the perfect taco, but you can adapt it for your slow cooker too.
Course: Entrées, Sandwiches
Cuisine: mexican, Tex-Mex
Keyword: Pork, Sandwiches
Servings: 10 people
Calories: 400 kcal
Ingredients
  • 3 pounds boneless pork shoulder
  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • ½ teaspoon ground coriander
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 onions cut into wedges
  • 2 cloves garlic smashed
  • 2 Jalapeño peppers seeded and sliced
  • 1 cup beef stock
  • 2 oranges
For Serving (optional):
  • Flour tortillas or taco shells
  • Cheddar cheese
  • Guacamole
  • Salsa
  • Sour cream
  • Lime wedges
  • Fresh cilantro leaves
Instructions
  1. Cut the pork shoulder into chunks that will fit into your pressure cooker.
  2. In a small bowl combine the oregano, cumin, cayenne, coriander, cinnamon, and salt. Rub the spice mix over the chunks of pork and set aside.
  3. Pre-heat the pressure cooker using the BROWN/SAUTE setting. Add the oil to the pressure cooker and sauté the onions, garlic, and Jalapeño peppers for a few minutes.
  4. Place the pork chunks in the cooker and pour in the beef stock. Cut the oranges in half and squeeze the juice into the cooker and toss the squeezed orange halves into the cooker as well.
  5. Pressure-cook on HIGH for 55 minutes.
  6. Let the pressure drop NATURALLY and carefully remove the lid. Remove the pork to a resting plate and let it rest for 10 minutes. Using two forks, shred the pork chunks completely.
  7. Remove the orange halves from the cooker and skim the fat off the liquid in the pot. Reset the cooker to the BROWN/SAUTE setting and let the sauce reduce to about 1¼ cups.
  8. To serve the carnitas, heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add a little oil to the skillet and fry the shredded pork in batches until it has a few crispy parts. Pour some of the sauce over the crispy pork to moisten to taste.
  9. Serve the pork in taco shells or flour tortillas with your favorite toppings. Drizzle some additional sauce on top if desired.
Nutrition Facts
Pork Carnitas
Amount Per Serving (1 of 10 servings)
Calories 400 Calories from Fat 153
% Daily Value*
Fat 17g26%
Saturated Fat 6g30%
Trans Fat 0.02g
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g
Monounsaturated Fat 6g
Cholesterol 100mg33%
Sodium 1002mg42%
Potassium 808mg23%
Carbohydrates 24g8%
Fiber 4g16%
Sugar 6g7%
Protein 38g76%
Vitamin A 376IU8%
Vitamin C 19mg23%
Calcium 179mg18%
Iron 3mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.