Cuban Instant Pot Recipes

INSTANT POT CUBAN ROPA VIEJA

Steps:

• In a large bowl season steak with oregano, salt, and pepper. Set to the side.
• In the Instant Pot, set the saute setting for 7 minutes. Add oil into the insert. Once oil is hot, add in onions, garlic, peppers, olives, and bay leaf in. Saute for about 4 minutes, stirring often. Next, add in white wine and tomato sauce. Keep stirring until the timer goes off, about another minute. Next, add in water, mix and then drop in steak, being sure to flip a few times to make sure that the sauce covers the steak.
• Set the Instant Pot on a high pressure setting for 38 minutes, then do a natural release when the times goes off. (Be sure to hit the cancel button when the 38 minute timer goes off.)
• When the Instant Pot has depressurized, remove the beef and shred it in a separate bowl. Remove the excess fat and return the beef to the Instant Pot. Mix the ingredients together. At this point taste and add additional salt to your liking. At this point, add in lime juice to your liking as well.
• Serve over white rice.

INSTANT POT CUBAN MOJO PORK

Steps:

• For the mojo: Combine the orange juice, lime juice, onion, garlic, olive oil, oregano, cumin, 3 teaspoons kosher salt and a few grinds pepper in a blender. Blend until smooth and the mojo is emulsified. Set aside.
• For the pork: Pierce some small slashes in the pork with a sharp paring knife to allow the mojo marinade to penetrate. Place the pork in a large bowl. Add the mojo, cover and let marinate in the refrigerator for 2 to 8 hours.
• When ready to cook, remove the pork from the bowl and dab off the excess marinade. Reserve the marinade in the bowl for cooking.
• Set a 6- to 8-quart Instant Pot® to saute and add the canola oil (see Cook's Note). Cook each piece of pork until golden brown, about 5 minutes per side. Depending on the size of your pork and Instant Pot, you may need to do this in batches. Combine all the pork with the reserved marinade in the pot. Follow the manufacturer's guide for locking the lid and preparing to cook. Set to pressure cook on high for 1 hour. (It will take 8 to 10 minutes to come up to pressure.)
• After the pressure-cook cycle is complete, follow the manufacturer's guide for natural release. After 20 minutes, being careful to release any remaining steam, unlock and remove the lid.
• Remove the pork to a medium bowl. Strain the liquid from the Instant Pot through a fine-mesh sieve, then remove and discard the grease and solids. Return the liquid to the pot, set to saute and simmer until the sauce is reduced by half, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, shred the pork with 2 forks. Once the sauce is reduced, toss with the shredded pork and serve.

INSTANT POT® CUBAN-STYLE BLACK BEANS

Steps:

• Turn on a multi-functional pressure cooker (such as Instant Pot®) and select Saute function. Add chopped bacon and cook until browned, 5 to 8 minutes. Add onion and jalapeno and cook until tender, about 5 minutes more. Add garlic and saute another 30 seconds.
• Add water, chicken broth, dried beans, vinegar, sazon, cumin, oregano, bay leaf, salt, and pepper to the pot and stir. Close and lock the lid, select Manual function, and set timer for 40 minutes. Allow 10 to 15 minutes for pressure to build.
• Release pressure using the natural-release method according to manufacturer's instructions for 15 minutes. Unlock and remove the lid. Stir beans and remove bay leaf. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve beans with a wedge of fresh lime and garnish with cilantro.

INSTANT POT CUBAN BLACK BEANS

Steps:

• Combine the bell pepper, yellow onion and garlic in a food processor or mini food processor and pulse until finely chopped, working in batches if necessary (see Cook's Note).
• Set a 6- to 8-quart Instant Pot® to saute and add the olive oil (see Cook's Note).
• Transfer the green pepper mixture to the pot. Add the oregano, 1 tablespoon salt and season with black pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the peppers are soft and the onions are translucent, about 5 minutes.
• Add the beans, vinegar, vino seco, bay leaves, sugar and 5 cups water to the pot. Follow the manufacturer's guide for locking the lid and preparing to cook. Set to pressure cook on high for 30 minutes. (It will take about 10 minutes to come up to pressure.)
• After the pressure-cook cycle is complete, follow the manufacturer's guide for natural release. After 20 minutes, being careful to release any remaining steam, unlock and remove the lid. Remove and discard the bay leaves. Scoop out 1 cup of the black beans into the food processor and pulse until almost smooth (see Cook's Note). If using a mini processor, be careful of any steam.
• Return the beans to the pot and stir. Set the pot to saute and continue to simmer until thickened, about 10 minutes. Serve over white rice.

INSTANT POT® CUBAN PORK TENDERLOIN WITH RICE AND BEANS

Steps:

• On 6-quart Instant Pot®, select SAUTE; adjust to normal. Heat oil in insert. Add pork; cook 4 to 6 minutes or until pork releases easily from bottom of insert. Stir. Select CANCEL.
• Stir in broth, orange juice, taco seasoning mix, garlic and cumin. Stir in beans and rice.
• Secure lid; set pressure valve to SEALING. Select MANUAL; cook on high pressure 12 minutes. Select CANCEL. Set pressure valve to VENTING to quick-release pressure.
• Stir in lime juice. Top with cilantro. Serve with salsa.

PRESSURE COOKER GARLICKY CUBAN PORK

Steps:

• 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).
• 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).
• 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.
• 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.
• Shred the meat, using your hands or two forks. Toss the meat with the jus to taste (be generous-1 1/2 to 2 cups should do it), and serve with cilantro, lime wedges, and hot sauce.

INSTANT POT CUBAN CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place chicken and broth in a 6-qt. electric pressure cooker. Lock lid; close pressure-release valve. Adjust to pressure-cook on high for 6 minutes. Quick-release pressure. A thermometer inserted in chicken should read at least 165°. , Remove chicken; shred with 2 forks. Drain cooking juices. Return chicken to pressure cooker. Add remaining ingredients. Select sauté setting and adjust for low heat; simmer uncovered, until heated through, 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Press cancel. If desired, serve with rice.