Carnitas are always so delicious, but I really had no idea how they cooked them until recently. No wonder they are so delicious. They boil the pork in lard, then fry it. Well I don’t think I’ll be ordering Carnitas when I go out anytime soon. But I have made Carnitas this easy and dare I say healthier way a few times now and I’m hooked.
Ok my easy method uses an old favorite….the pressure cooker.
I can’t tell enough how I love my pressure cooker. I don’t use it all the time, or every week. But when I get it out, I can’t believe I don’t use it every week. It’s amazing how quick it cooks.
I bought 4.22 lbs of “pork shoulder shoulder blade country style strips” which it easy terms is pork spare ribs on the bone. I’ve done on the bone and off the bone, and both are delicious.
- 4-5 lbs pork ribs
- 1 cup water
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 tablespoon oil
- Place 4-5 lbs pork ribs in pressure cooker
- Add two cups water
- salt top of meat
- Heat meat in pressure cooker, when it comes to temperature (when the toggle on top rocks in a steady rhythm) turn on medium heat and cook 50 minutes.
- Remove from pressure cooker, shred pork with forks.
- Heat oil in skillet ( I used my cast iron skillet, but any skillet would work) and cook until crispy.
I love how crispy this is!
I serve the Carnitas with
Mexican Rice without the chicken and beans.
Another Mexican favorite of mine is
Cornbread Tamale Bites with Bacon
And for Dessert….
Laura @ hip pressure cooking says
April 23, 2012 at 2:47 amDiane, looks great! But I have to ask… what kind of pressure cooker do you have?
My pressure cooker carnitas recipe takes about an hour!
Ciao,
L
Diane says
April 23, 2012 at 11:40 amHi Laura, I made a mistake in the recipe and adjusted it, they took 50 minutes with 2 cups of water. 20 minutes would be NICE, but that would be chicken not pork. So sorry. I will hopefully be a better proofreader from now on.
Hopping over to see yours now 🙂
I have a Presto pressure cooker.
Laura @ hip pressure cooking says
April 23, 2012 at 11:50 amAhh.. the perils of self-publishing! ; ) Don’t worry, it happens to all of us. I was just wondering if you had some kind of super-duper fast pressure cooker that I had not heard of, yet!
Ciao and thanks for the visit!
L
Paula says
April 23, 2012 at 11:59 amPressure cooking the pork certainly makes it fork tender and your carnitas look wonderful.
JulieD says
April 23, 2012 at 1:09 pmDiane, this looks amazing! My husband would love this!!
Cookin' Canuck says
April 23, 2012 at 2:51 pmThat does it – I have to get a pressure cooker. I really like this healthier version of pork carnitas.
BusyWorkingMama says
April 23, 2012 at 3:12 pmI’ve never cooked with a pressure cooker…but these look awesome. Maybe it is going on my wish list 🙂
alison @ Ingredients, Inc. says
April 23, 2012 at 6:42 pmI will have to try these! These are my favorite, but I have honestly never made them at home
Kathy - Panini Happy says
April 23, 2012 at 11:01 pmMMM…I love carnitas! I’ve never used a pressure cooker before (too scared), but I find the speed rather appealing. 🙂
Diane says
April 24, 2012 at 9:31 amI was scared too the first time (17 years ago 🙂 because of all the stories from my grandmother. I haven’t heard any burn stories since the newer pressure cookers lock well. I love mine and really LOVE how fast it cooks, meat comes out so tender! I cooked 10 pounds of corned beef in two batches for St. Patty’s and it was all done in 4 hours!!!
Russell at Chasing Delicious says
April 24, 2012 at 6:15 amWhat a spread! And I love pork carnitas. A place down the street from me does killer carnitas but I haven’t tried ’em on my own yet. I need to change that!
Amanda says
April 25, 2012 at 7:24 amYou rock! This looks amazing!!!
Diane says
April 25, 2012 at 11:05 amThanks Amanda 🙂
Brenda @ a farmgirl's dabbles says
April 28, 2012 at 4:43 pmMmmm…carnitas is one of my favorite things. I’ll have to try your version!