Carnitas is a dish that is always in heavy rotation in our home. I make it in the Instant pot almost weekly. Nate loves eating it with his salad and I love making it into a fusion rice bowl: some kimchi, avocado, brown rice, sauteed kale, and maybe salsa if I have some handy. I'm good to go!
I also love making this dish for parties and get togethers. I made this for our aunt's birthday last year and more recently, our gender reveal party. It took almost no time or effort to make! This recipe is so easy, I just throw everything into my Instant Pot and I let the machine do the work for about an hour. Once it's done, I just cook it off in the oven to be extra crispy - and people will think I slaved all day in the kitchen for this! Shhhh! It's our little secret though. :)
Pickled Red Onions
½ Red Onions
2 tsps sugar
1 tsp kosher salt
¼ cup rice wine vinegar
¼ cup water
1 bay leaf
1 crushed garlic clove
1 tsp peppercorn
Slice red onions into thin half moons. Pour hot water and let sit 1 minute to par blanch. Drain and set aside.
In another bowl, combine sugar, salt, rice wine vinegar and mix well. Add water, bay leaf, peppercorns, and garlic clove.
Add sliced red onions and additional water just until onion is submerged in water.
Let sit for at least 30 minutes or longer to pickle. Enjoy!
Instant Pot Carnitas:
Set on saute mode, let it get hot
add 2 tbsp olive oil and brown the pork, 3 min on each side in batches.
Add the onions (1/2 of the chopped bunch) and minced garlic
1 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp Mexican oregano
1 Bay Leaf
1/2 lemon's juice (throw in the peel)
1/2 orange's juice, throw in peel
chopped cilantro
1 cup chicken broth
pepper
Meat/Stew setting for 35 minutes on High pressure. Natural release for 15 min. Transfer the meat into a pan, mash it up, season with salt, broil 10 min to get crispy.
Tortillas:
1 cup White Masa Harina
1 tsp Kosher salt
1/2 cup water
Mix and form into a dough. Cover and rest 5 min.
Roll into golf-ball sizes and flatten with press. Fry each side 1 min
