Pressure Cooker Garlicky Cuban Pork
Published September 24, 2017
- Total Time
- 2 hours 30 minutes, plus 1 hour marinating
- Rating
- Comments
- Read comments
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Ingredients
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)
Preparation
- 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).
- 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).
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Private Notes
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.
I had made this twice before and didn't like how the marinade turned pork turns into one big clump when refrigerating the leftovers. (This is fixable: fry and re-pull the pork before serving.) Plus, the pork presents so well – almost fluffy – when you don't add the marinade first. This time I did this: * Followed step 4, defatting and straining the marinade first and adding the juice of half a grapefruit * Put the marinade into a squeeze bottle for serving
Didn't have grapefruit juice but saw the comment about using oranges so did that and it was great. Made in the instant pot, although I chose to brown the meat in a separate pan. Made more jus than needed as these were for tacos so boiled down a bit. Would also be great for rice, where the extra jus would be welcome. Great recipe.
It’s a version of Cuban pernil (or lechón asado). Put the pork on layers of onions.

