Instant Pot Carnitas (Paleo & AIP)

I’m a sucker for a good taco- so when I started the AIP diet I was traumatized by the idea of not being able to have them in my life. Then I picked myself up out of my despair and said “Katrina you CAN have tacos. We will MAKE IT HAPPEN”. Once I figured out how to perfect grain and egg free tortillas, I moved on to creating delicious recipes to fill them up!

Whenever I make any kind of taco meat I like to make a huge batch. It’s great to be able to freeze half, use some on a salad, cassava and plantain chip nachos or even incorporate into a sweet potato breakfast hash. We all know that AIP requires a lot of prep work, and as a full time working mom I am all about trying to find ways to get food on the table quickly while still staying complaint.

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Servings: 6-8
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Hands on Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

4 lbs boneless pork loin or pork shoulder/butt, cubed
1T coconut oil
1 white onion, roughly chopped
2t dried oregano
4 bay leaves
2t turmeric
2T chopped garlic
2 C orange juice
1.5 C low sodium chicken broth (or bone broth)
1/3 C lime juice
2t salt

Directions:

• Set instant pot to saute mode and melt coconut oil. Brown pork cubes (in batches if necessary) to brown the sides (approximately 10 minutes).
• Add remaining ingredients and mix well.
• Secure lid and cook for 30 minutes on high pressure, then natural release for 20.
• Remove meat and onions and spread evenly on sheet pan, gently shredding the meat with 2 forks. Place in oven and broil for approximately 5 minutes or until the tips of the meat start to brown.
• *If you have a little extra time, remove the pieces of fat, then boil the liquid to half and then hit it with an immersion blender to make a sauce that you can drizzle over the top before you broil the meat.
• Remove and serve!

Crockpot Directions:

This recipe is just as easy if not easier to make in the crockpot! Put full roast or loin in the crockpot with all of the listed ingredients. If the liquids do not cover the meat, add more orange juice and broth in equal parts. Cook on low for 8 hours, then remove, shred and broil until meat starts to brown.

Fun Tip:

What to do with the liquid?

Have you ever tried the liquid after cooking something in the crockpot or instant pot? It’s typically delicious, so you should save it! You can freeze for later use as a soup base (this one would be perfect for a Mexican tortilla soup or veggie soup). You can also cook other meats in it….or simply drink it. Waste not want not my friends!