Carnitas (AIP/Paleo) in a white bowl, garnished with orange sections. There are taco makings nearby.

Carnitas (AIP/Paleo)

Shredded Pork Carnitas (AIP/Paleo) make the most delicious tacos, especially when fried to a crisp! Easy to make in your pressure cooker!

Carnitas (AIP/Paleo) in a white bowl, garnished with orange sections. There are taco makings nearby.
Carnitas (AIP/Paleo)

Have you ever had carnitas? It’s basically shredded pork that is so tender it practically melts. It is ever-so-slightly flavored with orange and aromatics. Once you’ve made the shredded meat, it’s easy to use in tacos, enchiladas, taco bowls, etc. Bonus: It freezes well, so you can save some for later!

But first, I must issue credit where it is due. This recipe mostly comes from Hubs. I tweaked it slightly to make it more affordable (swapping boneless pork country ribs for expensive pork butt/shoulder), and compatible with the AIP/Paleo template.

This is a recipe for a pressure cooker. To clarify, my pressure cooker is not an Instant Pot. Instead, I was gifted a beautiful Breville years ago. I hope you can translate my instructions to your particular equipment.

Closeup of Carnitas (AIP/Paleo) shredded pork garnished with an orange section
Makes the most delicious tacos!

Serving suggestions

Once you’ve shredded this tender, juicy meat, what can you do with it?

We like to make tacos with it. As a variation, we will fry the resulting meat in an iron skillet in its own fat to make crispy pork tacos! For taco shells, we like Gordita Tortillas, the jicama shells from Trader Joe’s, or tortillas from Siete. (For AIP elimination phase, use the Burrito Size as it’s the only AIP-friendly kind that Siete has.) Don’t forget to make some Super Guac to go with it!

Hmm. Maybe you could have some Apple Enchiladas for dessert? Just sayin’. 😉

Whatever you decide to do with this recipe, I wish you great love and deep healing.

💗,

Wendi

P.S. Have you reserved your copy of The Autoimmune Protocol Baking Book yet? Let’s bake some stuff together! 😀

Carnitas (AIP/Paleo)

Recipe by Wendi’s AIP Kitchen – http://www.wendisaipkitchen.com Course: MainCuisine: AIP, Paleo, MexicanDifficulty: Easy
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

15

minutes
Cooking time

45

minutes

Shredded Pork Carnitas (AIP/Paleo) make the most delicious tacos, especially when fried to a crisp! Easy to make in your pressure cooker!

Ingredients

  • 1 1 large onion, sliced

  • 3 3 medium oranges

  • 2 tsp 2 sea salt

  • 1/2 tsp 1/2 pepper (omit for elimination phase of AIP)

  • 2.5 lbs. 2.5 boneless pork country-style ribs*

  • 5 5 cloves garlic, smashed

Directions

  • Place onion slices in the bottom of a pressure cooker such as an Instant Pot. Cut oranges in half. Squeeze the juice over the onions. Nestle the rinds in amongst the onions.
  • Sprinkle salt and pepper (if using) all over the meat. Place meat on top of the onions and oranges. Add in the garlic. Close pressure cooker. Cook on high pressure (12 psi), auto release steam for 45 minutes. Once the pot has de-pressurized, remove the meat and shred it. Serve in tacos, taco salad, enchiladas, etc.

Notes

  • My pressure cooker is not an Instant Pot. Instead, I was gifted a beautiful Breville years ago. I hope you can translate my instructions to your particular equipment…
  • *You can also use pork butt/shoulder, but do not substitute any other cut of meat. We are counting on the fat content of this pork.
  • The remaining liquid after cooking may be strained and de-fatted for a delicious broth!

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2 Comments

  1. This sounds delicious. How would I cook this on the stove or oven?

    • Hi, Monica! I haven’t tried it either of those ways, but if I were to try it… I’d use a Dutch oven or heavy pot. I’d cook it low and slow for a looooong time, covered. Hours! I’m betting that’s how people did it before pressure cookers. 😁 Good luck!

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