Pulled Pork with Onion Cut Eighths

Serves 5 in about 1 hour. A pressure cooker recipe built around smoked paprika and cayenne powder heat.

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 ½ tablespoons smoked paprika
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• 3 teaspoons chili powder
• 2 teaspoons cumin
• ¼ teaspoon cayenne powder (optional), for heat
• 3-4 lbs pork shoulder roast (pork butt) fat trimmed off, and cut in 1lb chunks
• 1 onion, cut in eighths
• 1 (12 oz) can dr. pepper or cola (or 1 ½ cups chicken stock or water)
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar (or more to taste)
• ½ teaspoon salt (or more to taste)

Method

1. Stir the spices together for the rub. Lift out 2 Tablespoons of the mix and keep it nearby for later.
2. Rub all sides of the pork roast chunks generously with the spice rub. Set meat aside.
3. Cut the onion into 8 pieces (cut in half, then cut each half into 4 pieces). Put the onion into the inner cooking pot of the pressure cooker.
4. Tip in the can of pop (or water/broth) into the pot over the onion*.
5. Set the pork chunks on top of the onions. Scatter the brown sugar over the pork.
6. Set the lid on and lock into place. Set the steam release knob to the sealing position.
7. Press the Pressure Cook/Manual Button (or use dial) and then the +/- button (or dial) to choose 65 minutes. High Pressure.
8. After the cooking time has finished, let the pot sit undisturbed for 15 minutes. Then turn the steam release knob to the Venting position (or push button) to manually Quick Release the remaining pressure/steam.
9. When the pin in the lid drops down, open it and remove the meat to a large bowl. Use a slotted spoon to get the onions out and add to the meat. Use two forks to shred the meat.
10. Scatter the reserved spice rub and ½ tsp salt into the meat. Stir well. Taste and add more salt and/or brown sugar, if you want it.
11. Use a large spoon (or a fat separator) to skim off the fat from the cooking liquid that is still in the pot. Then add ½ - 1 cup of the liquid to the meat and mix in. You can add more of the liquid to the meat if you like it more moist.
12. Plate on buns, or over rice or potatoes, or in tortillas.

More instant pot ideas are in the instant pot collection.