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Instant Pot Mojo Pork (Cuban Pork Roast Recipe)

Flavorful and succulent Instant Pot Mojo Pork recipe is infused with a citrusy, garlicky, mojo marinade, guaranteeing that this Cuban-style roast pork delivers a mouthwatering explosion of flavors in every tender, juicy bite. 

A platter filled with shredded roast mojo pork - Hostess At Heart
Instant Pot Mojo Pork Recipe

With just a few simple ingredients and minutes of prep, you can have incredibly moist and delicious mojo pork ready in an hour thanks to the magic of the Instant Pot pressure cooking. Follow these simple, step-by-step instructions and make enough pork for dinner tonight and a whole new meal tomorrow.

Why We Love Cuban Mojo Pork

Our recipe is so easy to make! Using a simple marinade and the Instant Pot, our recipe is incredibly easy. It’s as simple as cutting up the meat, marinating it in some juice, and then cooking it on high pressure until it falls apart. This mojo pork recipe is so full of flavor and is one of the best ways to make tender juicy pork you will ever find.

There are so many ways to serve it. Just keep reading.

What is Mojo Pork?

A Cuban-style pork roast which has been marinated in a classic mojo sauce made with sour orange juice, spices (garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper), and oil. Also referred to as lechon asado.

What is Sour Orange Juice?

Bitter orange juice comes from a specific type of orange known as a bitter, bigarade, or Seville orange. An easy substitute for this specific type of juice can be made using our instructions below with lime and lemon juice.

Mojo Pork Ingredients you’ll need for this recipe

Ingredients for Cuban Mojo Pork Recipe: pork shoulder, oil, orange juice, lime juice, lemon juice, onion, garlic cloves, salt, pepper, and oregano.
Mojo Pork Ingredients

Sour Orange Juice

  • Orange Juice. Do not use orange juice from concentrate.
  • Fresh Limes.
  • Fresh Lemons.

Cuban Mojo Marinade Ingredients

  • Garlic Cloves.
  • Salt.
  • Black Peppercorns.
  • Sour Orange Juice.
  • Minced Onion.
  • Dried Oregano.
  • Sour Orange Juice.
  • Olive Oil

Pork Roast

  • Pork Shoulder. You only need one pound of meat to make four sandwiches, but generally, you will find the shoulder in four pounds or larger. You can fix it all and save some for later.

How To Make Mojo Pork

Please note, that the printable recipe card has ingredient quantities, complete instructions, and nutritional information. The following is a quick overview of the recipe.

Step One. Make the Mojo Pork Marinade.

A bowl filled with fresh citrus juice, garlic, peppercorns and oregano for a mojo marinade. Hostess At Heart
Mojo Pork Marinade

Combine fresh lemon, orange, and fresh lime juice in a large bowl. Mash the garlic, salt, and peppercorns into a paste. Stir in the sour orange juice, onion, and oregano. Let it sit for 30 minutes.

Note: I tried making this paste in a small food processor and it was difficult to get the peppercorns ground. The pestle worked the best.

Heat the olive oil in a saucepan and quickly whisk it into the garlic-orange juice mixture until well blended. Let cool before using it as a marinade.

Step Two. Cut up the pork and Marinate.

Cube the pork roast into large pieces using a sharp knife and pierce it several times with a fork. Add the pork to the Marinade. Marinate for 2 to 12 hours or overnight.

A mixing bowl containing chunks of pork in a Cuban mojo marinade. - Hostess At Heart
Marinate pork

Step Three. Cook the Mojo Pork in Your Instant Pot.

An instant pot filled with chunks of pork in a mojo marinade - Hostess At Heart
Add marinated pork

Add the pork and the marinade to the instant pot. Cook it on high pressure for 60 minutes and allow a natural release.

Closeup view of cooked Mojo Pork in an the Instant Pot - Hostess At Heart
Cooked Mojo Pork

Step 4: Shred and Serve

Remove the pork to a platter or cutting board and shred it with a fork.

Note: Pork is easier to shred while it’s still warm. You can pull it until completely shredded but we like to semi-shred it leaving delicious tender chunks.

Hostess Tips

  • Use the right cut of meat. We used a bone-in pork shoulder roast and removed the meat from the bone for even cooking. A pork butt also known as a Boston butt which is also part of the shoulder would work as well. For tender pork, don’t use a lean cut such as a tenderloin. 
  • We cooked the meat and the bone together in the instant pot for additional flavor. We’ve used these same instructions for a 7 lb bone-in pork shoulder.
  • Cut the pork into large chunks for easy shredding later. Pieces around 3-4 inches are ideal.
  • Sometimes recipes call for crispy shredded pork. You can put the shredded pork on a rimmed baking sheet and place it under the broiler for 5 to 10 minutes.
Shredded Cuban Roast Pork on a plate next to a serving of Red Beans and Rice garnished with parsley - Hostess At Heart
Mojo Pork with Red Beans and Rice.

How to Serve Cuban Roast Pork Recipe

  • Cuban mojo pork forms the foundation of several excellent Cuban sandwiches such as a Cubano Sandwich and a Medianoche Sandwich
  • Another traditional way to serve this meat is alongside Red Beans and Rice (pictured above), or a side of Cuban Black Beans. Fried plantains followed by Rum Cake is a must in our opinion too!
  • Tacos – Soft corn tortillas stuffed with shredded mojo pork, diced onions, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime make delicious Cuban-inspired tacos.
  • Salad – Chunks of mojo pork tossed with lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, and a tangy citrus vinaigrette dressing make a refreshing salad.
  • Soup – Cubans also use leftover mojo pork in hearty bean or vegetable soups. The rich, citrusy flavor infuses the broth.

Is this Cuban Pork Recipe Taste Like? Is It Spicy?

You would think that the fresh citrus juice marinade would make the meat bitter or very citrusy. However, it has a mild savory flavor with garlic overtones.

The traditional recipe for mojo pork is not spicy. While some may argue that the peppercorns in the marinade add a little bit of heat, it is barely discernable if at all. We prefer to serve hot sauce on the side for those who like the heat.

Mojo Pork Slow Cooker Recipe

Add the marinade and the cubed pork to the slow cooker. Set the slow cooker to high heat. Cook time is approximately six hours to become fork tender. I recommend using a disposable slow cooker bag to make cleanup a breeze.

How To Reheat & Store Mojo Pork

The Best way to store Cuban-style Pulled Pork

Place your leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate it for up to four days.

Can I Freeze It?

Yes, Mojo Pork freezes fantastically. If you make more than you will need, simply freeze it in portions that work for your family, and you will have an easy weeknight meal for busy times.

How To Reheat Cuban-Style Roast Pork

Leftover mojo pork can be reheated in a microwave or saucepan with a little cooking liquid.

An angled view of pulled Mojo Pork roast on a platter for serving - Hostess At Heart.com

Ever since our son moved to Florida, we’ve fallen in love with Cuban food! One of my first recipes was this Medianoche Roll and it’s still one of our favorites. More recently we made a Cuban Bread recipe and a to die for Cuban Rum Cake! I hope you’ll give them a try.

I hope you enjoyed this delicious recipe as much as we do. Drop me a comment below, and don’t forget to give it a star rating. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. Your comments and ratings help others decide if this recipe is for them too.

A platter filled with shredded roast mojo pork - Hostess At Heart

Instant Pot Mojo Pork (Cuban Pork Roast Recipe)

Author: Julie Menghini
Create a delicious, tender, juicy Cuban-style Mojo pork recipe in a citrusy, garlicky marinade in no time using our easy Instant Pot Recipe.
4.84 from 6 votes
Cook Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Marinate 2 hours
Total Time 3 hours 20 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American, Cuban
Keyword: Pork Roast

Equipment

Ingredients
 
 

Sour Orange Juice

  • cup orange juice (not from concentrate)
  • 2 fresh limes juiced
  • 1 fresh lemon juiced

Mojo Marinade

  • 8 garlic cloves
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp black peppercorns
  • 1 cup sour orange juice above
  • 1 cup minced onion
  • 2 tsp dried oregano
  • ½ cup olive oil Spanish or Italian

Pork Roast

  • 4 pound Pork shoulder roast also known as a pork butt (see notes for options)

Instructions
 

Sour Orange Juice

  • Combine the sour orange juice, lime juice, and lemon juice together.

Marinade

  • Mash the garlic, salt and peppercorns into a paste, using a mortar and pestle or a food processor. Stir in sour orange juice, onion and oregano. Let mixture sit for 30 minutes.
  • Heat olive oil in a 2 quart saucepan until hot but not frying hot. You'll see some movement in the oil. Remove the oil from the heat and quickly AND CAREFULLY whisk the garlic-orange juice mixture until well blended. Let cool before using as a marinade.
  • Cube the pork roast into large 3 to 4-inch pieces using a sharp knife. Place it in a large bowl and pour the marinade over the pork. Cover and refrigerate for two to twelve hours or overnight.
  • Place the pork with the marinade in the instant pot. Set the Instant Pot to high for 60 minutes. Allow the instant pot to naturally release for 20 minutes.
  • Remove lid from the instant pot and shred using 2 forks.

Notes

  • We used a bone-in pork shoulder roast and removed the meat from the bone for even cooking. We cooked the meat and the bone together in the instant pot for additional flavor.
    • We’ve used these same instructions for a 7 lb bone-in pork shoulder.
  • Number of servings is dependent on the size of the pork roast.
Recipes courtesy of the Three Guys From Miami from their book: “Three Guys From Miami Cook Cuban.” Copyright ©2004 All Rights Reserved. Check out their website at: https://icuban.com/food

Nutritional Disclaimer

This recipe was calculated using the exact brands and measurements I used to make this recipe. If you are following a strict diet please note changing anything will cause the nutritional info to change. My calculations are intended as a guide only.

Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!

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Pulled Cuban Mojo Pork on a platter - Hostess At Heart
The Best Instant Pot Mojo Pork Recipe
4.84 from 6 votes (6 ratings without comment)
Recipe Rating




mindy d

Monday 8th of April 2024

This came out fork tender and flavorful. I love using my Instant Pot to make meats that need a long time to cook, and am adding this recipe into my dinner rotation.

Julie Menghini

Tuesday 9th of April 2024

I'm so glad that you enjoyed it! Thank you.

Janelle

Tuesday 9th of January 2024

This was so tender and flavorful. Delicious!

Julie Menghini

Friday 12th of January 2024

Thanks, Janelle!

Kathleen

Tuesday 9th of January 2024

Delicious! I love the citrus infusion and what it does for pork! Will be on our regular menu!

Julie Menghini

Friday 12th of January 2024

Thank you, Kathleen. It's a regular here.

Jennifer

Tuesday 9th of January 2024

I love whipping up a batch of this for our weekend grazing! So many ways to enjoy it. We have made sliders, quesadillas, and even mixed it with our eggs on sunday am! I am putting this on my menu for the big game!

Julie Menghini

Friday 12th of January 2024

That's a great idea to mix it with eggs! Thanks, Jennifer, I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Lynn

Tuesday 9th of January 2024

Really tasty and we used it in so many ways until it was all gone! Thanks for the recipe!

Julie Menghini

Friday 12th of January 2024

It really is versatile and makes our favorite sandwiches. Thanks, Lynn.

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