Instant Pot Pork Shoulder Roast

Ingredients

  • 1 – 2 pounds pork shoulder/pork butt meat
  • 2 large russet potatoes, cut into large chunks
  • 1 package sliced mushrooms
  • 1/2 bag baby carrots
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons light soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 bay leaves
  • A dash of balsamic vinegar
  • 1 cup unsalted chicken stock
  • Kosher salt & ground black pepper to taste
  • Thickener: 2 tablespoons cornstarch + 2 tablespoons cold water

Preparation

Step 1

Set pot to saute. Add olive oil in the pot. Ensure to coat the oil over the whole bottom of the pot.

Add in the seasoned pork shoulder meat, then let it brown for exactly 5 minutes on each side (don’t need to keep flipping the meat). Remove and set aside to rest for 5 minutes on a chopping board.

Sauté the Mushrooms: Pour 2 tbsp unsalted butter in your pressure cooker. Add in the mushrooms. Season with a pinch of kosher salt and ground black pepper. Stir to evenly coat the mushrooms with butter. Mushrooms will start releasing their moisture. Let the moisture evaporate and stir occasionally until mushrooms are slightly crisp and browned. This step will take roughly 7 – 12 minutes, but it will greatly enhance the flavor of the gravy.

Cut the Pork Shoulder Meat: While the mushrooms are sautéing in the pressure cooker, cut the pork shoulder meat into 0.5” thick slices.
Sauté Garlic & Carrots: Add in the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant (about 20 seconds). Then, add in the carrots and 2 bay leaves, and sauté for another 2 minutes.

Deglaze the Pot: Pour a dash of Balsamic vinegar and fully deglaze the pot with a wooden spoon. Mix in 1 cup of unsalted chicken stock and add 2 tbsp of light soy sauce.

Pressure Cook the Pork Roast: Add the sliced pork shoulder meat with all the meat juice in the pressure cooker. Layer the potato chunks on the top.

Close the lid and cook at High Pressure for 5 minutes + 10 minutes Natural Release. Open the lid carefully.

Make the Gravy: Place pork roast slices, carrots and potatoes on a large serving plate. Taste the sauce and season with more salt if necessary. Mix 2 tbsp of cornstarch with 2 tbsp of water and stir the mixture into the gravy one third at a time until desired thickness.

Pour the pork roast slices, carrots and potatoes back into the gravy and mix gently to coat them with the gravy.