Pressure Cooker Garlicky Cuban Pork

Published September 24, 2017

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Total Time
2 hours 30 minutes, plus 1 hour marinating
Rating
5(2,513)
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This cumin-scented, garlic-laced pork is marinated with grapefruit, lime, and fresh oregano for a flavor that’s earthy and garlicky, yet bright from the citrus. The meat itself is as tender as can be, falling to shreds with the touch of a fork. Serve it over rice, or tuck it into tortillas along with some salsa and avocado to create tacos. This is one of 10 recipes from Melissa Clark’s “Dinner in an Instant: 75 Modern Recipes for Your Pressure Cooker, Multicooker, and Instant Pot” (Clarkson Potter, 2017). Melissa Clark’s “Dinner in an Instant” is available everywhere books are sold. Order your copy today.

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Ingredients

Yield:8 to 10 servings
  • 8 garlic cloves

  • Juice of 1 grapefruit (about ⅔ cup)

  • Finely grated zest and juice of 1 lime

  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

  • 2 tablespoons light brown sugar

  • 1 tablespoon fresh oregano leaves

  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin

  • 1 ½ tablespoons kosher salt, plus more to taste

  • 1 4- to 5-pound boneless pork shoulder, cut into 4 pieces

  • 1 bay leaf

  • Chopped fresh cilantro leaves, for serving

  • Lime wedges, for serving

  • Hot Sauce, for serving

  • Tortillas, for serving (optional)

  • Fresh tomato salsa, for serving (optional)

Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (8 to 10 servings)

7 grams carbs; 145 milligrams cholesterol; 546 calories; 19 grams monounsaturated fat; 4 grams polyunsaturated fat; 13 grams saturated fat; 41 grams fat; 1 gram fiber; 629 milligrams sodium; 36 grams protein; 3 grams sugar

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    In a blender or mini food processor, combine the garlic, grapefruit juice, lime zest and juice, 2 tablespoons of the oil, brown sugar, oregano, cumin, and salt; process until blended. Transfer to a large bowl and add the pork and bay leaf; toss to combine. Marinate, covered, at room temperature for 1 hour (or refrigerate for up to 6 hours).

  2. Step 2

    Using the sauté function set on high if available, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in the pressure cooker (or use a large skillet). Remove the pork from the marinade, reserving the marinade, and shake the meat to remove any excess liquid. Cook until it is browned on all sides, about 12 minutes (you will need to do this in batches, transferring the browned pork pieces to a plate as you go).

  3. Step 3

    When all the pork is browned, return the pieces to the pot along with any juices from the plate. (If you used a skillet, add 1 tablespoon water and use a wooden spoon to scrape the skillet well to include all the browned bits stuck to the bottom.) Add the reserved marinade to the pot. Cover and cook on high pressure for 80 minutes. Let the pressure release naturally.

  4. Step 4

    Remove the pork from the cooking liquid (jus). Taste the jus, and if it seems bland or too thin, boil it down either in the pressure cooker on the sauté setting or in a separate pot on the stove until it thickens slightly and intensifies in flavor, 7 to 15 minutes. Remove the bay leaf and add a bit of salt if necessary. If you’d like to degrease the jus, use a fat separator to do so, or just let the jus settle and spoon the fat off the top.

  5. Step 5

    Shred the meat, using your hands or two forks. Toss the meat with the jus to taste (be generous—1 ½ to 2 cups should do it), and serve with cilantro, lime wedges, and hot sauce.

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Ratings

5 out of 5
2,513 user ratings
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Comments

Can you prepare this recipe in a slow cooker?

Using a blend of orange and lime is more authentic - closer to the sour orange that would be used in the real deal.

This was excellent. I made the following rice recipe and it ended up being a perfect accompaniment (either as a side for tacos or as the base for the pork):

1 1/2 c chicken broth
3/4 c long grain white rice
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 c minced cilantro

Bring broth, rice, garlic, and salt to boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and wait for rice to absorb all liquid, about 20 minutes. Remove rice from heat and let sit, covered, for 10 minutes. Add cilantro, fluff rice with fork.

This is one of the best NYT recipes EVER. Pro tips: 1. Double the amount of garlic ( I used 16 large cloves). 2. I do not have a blender/food processer. I chopped the garlic finely and mixed the ingredients together for the marinade (sat 1 hour at room temp). It was perfectly fine. 3. The saute function on the pressure cooker did not get hot enough to sear properly. Usually I am a stickler about searing meat but it was still amazing. 4. Fresh oregano is a must - I threw a few extra stalks in.

Excellent result. The marinade scorched during the browning stage, so next time I would brown the pork in a separate skillet and deglaze with a little water after each batch, adding the fond to the pressure cooker. The pork browned nicely, but after three batches the pan had become quite black. Fortunately, the finished dish was still delicious without those pan juices. I used 3 pounds of pork for four people while keeping all the other quantities the same, which worked well.

@J. Clarke made this the other night and turned out great!! I used brown instead of white and spooned a little inside the tortilla and topped with carnitas. Delicious!!

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