Pressure Cooker Carnitas

"I love carnitas and the pressure cooker really makes this a quick, done, deal with all the flavor still sealed in. I will never make it another way! Thanks to my friend Kerry T. for the recipe back in the day!"
 
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photo by DianaEatingRichly photo by DianaEatingRichly
photo by DianaEatingRichly
photo by DianaEatingRichly photo by DianaEatingRichly
photo by deanne.lawder photo by deanne.lawder
photo by DianaEatingRichly photo by DianaEatingRichly
photo by DianaEatingRichly photo by DianaEatingRichly
Ready In:
1hr 5mins
Ingredients:
5
Serves:
10
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ingredients

  • 2 12 lbs pork butt or 2 1/2 lbs pork shoulder, sliced to 3/4 inch cubes
  • 1 large onion, roughly chopped
  • 2 cups low sodium chicken broth (or more to cover meat)
  • 12 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried chipotle powder (ancho for the weak)
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directions

  • Throw all ingredients into the pressure cooker, stir and set it on high (2 bars on mine).
  • Make sure there is extra liquid, you don't want your cooker to dry out!
  • Cook for 35-45 minutes depending on your cooker.
  • Release steam according to your cooker's instructions.
  • The meat should be falling apart by now, and there should be lots of liquid left.
  • Drain and save the liquid, put the meat on a plate and shred it with two forks, or use a potato masher, the onion included.
  • Place meat on a flat roasting pan and put it under the broiler in the oven for about 15 minutes, stirring often, and adding juice from the cooker to make sure it doesn't get too dry.
  • It is done when it is a bit crispy, but not burned.
  • Alternatively, after you shred the meat, you can heat oil in a large skillet and brown it, adding a bit of the meat juice after it is already well crispy.
  • Serve with pico de gallo, tortillas, rice, and any fixin's you have on hand like guacamole, lettuce, cheese, etc.
  • HINT-.
  • For spicier carnitas, blend 3/4 cup of juice from cooking with 4 chipotles en adobo, or a fresh habenero, serrano, or jalapeno. Pour this over the meat before you put it under the broiler.

Questions & Replies

  1. Hi, is it important to have the broth totally cover the meat?
     
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Reviews

  1. I tried this recpie and didn't think it was fantastic. I made a few changes the second time and LOVED IT! Instead of the chipolte powder I added a can of chipolte peppers in adobo sauce. I then added a navel orange cut in thick circular slices, upper cumin to 1 tsp and added 1 tsp mexican chili powder. I also added 1/2 cup brown sugar and about 1 tsp cinnamon. After cooking I discarded the oranges and all but 3 peppers. I chopped them finely and mixed into the shredded meat mixture. I agree with a previous review that you don't need to cut your meat into cubes. It's more work in the beginning and more when shredding!
     
  2. I've been cooking this recipe for about a year and a half now. Its still just as good as ever. I noted that someone said they couldn't find the dried chipolte powder. You can find it at Walmart Super Centers.
     
  3. I've got this on my menu for this week, authentic or not. It sounds absolutely delicious. A good recipe is a good recipe, regardless of what it's titled and whether or not it's the way others would make it.....I'll add to this review after making it, but my mouth is already watering. (Edit)....somehow forgot to update my review. I have a horrible time finding dried chipotle powder, so I've use Tabasco chipotle sauce and it's worked great. I added a bit more cumin, but either way it's well into drool worthy territory. I've made it several times and will make it many more. Every single person who's eaten it has raved and asked for the recipe, so I guess it's a keeper....thanks, TJW
     
  4. The ingredients have changed since I first tried tried recipe. I used 4 lbs. of pork stew meat, 1 tsp. of cumin, and 4 heaping tsps. of chipotle powder. This was some of the best carnitas I've ever made, and believe me, I've tried a lot of them. Don't be afraid of the chipotle powder, the spice was perfect. You also can add 4 7 oz. cans of Embasa green salsa verde after its cooked and make it green chile verde. Really, really great. 5 stars easily.
     
  5. I tried these tonight but added garlic and orange juice for a citrus flavor. They were so easy and we're delicious. Looked very appetizing after they were browned under the broiler. My first time using a pressure cooker definitely not my last,
     
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Tweaks

  1. Could substitute boneless, skinless chicken breast and it would be zero WW FPS other than your tortillas, rice, guacamole, and cheese.
     

RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

I have lived in many exciting places including Hawaii, Nothern and Southern California, Colorado, Oklahoma(ok, not so exciting), Dijon, France, and now reside in Southern Germany with my wife, who is German. I started to grow chiles about 4 years ago because we just can't get jalapenos, serranos, habs, anaheims, and poblanos here. Now my balcony is full of chile plants. I studied French at the Uni, and expected to marry a French gal, but as fate would have it, I met and fell in love with a German gal. So, now I live in Germany, and have picked up a third language, and love living here and am very happy. I am working on an MBA, and teaching English as a Second Language, and selling chiles, homemade ristras, and homemade chile marmalades to help finance the MBA. I am trying to open the German's eyes so they realize there are more than just green and red chiles in the world. I started cooking while serving at a Mexican resataurant in Sacramento, Ca., and have enjoyed it ever since. My love of spicy food goes back twenty years. It started with black pepper, and over the years has worked itself into a passion for chiles, and all that is spicy. You may notice I always give four or five stars. That is because I only bother rating a recipe if it is worth four or five, and if I will be making it again, and or often.
 
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