We are wrapping up week 2 today! It is a good feeling to be halfway down the path, I must admit. And although it can still be challenging to figure out meal time while out and about we are definitely not suffering from feeling like we are on a diet. How could we with the endless parade of new and exciting meals coupled with old favorites, like this Instant Pot Carnitas.
I have made carnitas many times over the years, and it used to be an all day affair in my dutch oven. But all that changed when Jason got me an InstantPot for Christmas a few years back. This recipe has all the flavor of a full day of simmering in about 1/4 of the time. Do not skip the optional step of broiling for a minute at the end, it is well worth it. I did not have to modify anything to make this recipe fit the Whole 30 program other than choosing a compliant chicken broth.
We brown the pork shoulder on the stove 
and transfer to the instant pot 
Add seasonings, onion, broth, and citrus juice 
Cook for 20 minutes on high pressure 
Remove with slotted spoon and shred the meat before broiling
Here is where we diverge from our old standby since tortillas, cheese, sour cream and even beans are off limits on the Whole 30. I knew we’d need more than just a bed of lettuce and some hot sauce to truly make this a meal, so I decided to saute some onion, red bell pepper, and zucchini in a little olive oil to liven up our bowls. I also whipped up a quick citrus vinaigrette and tossed the lettuce in the dressing before layering on the carnitas and veggies. Topped with some sliced avocado and cilantro it was a delicious dinner!
Saute peppers and onions first 
The zucchini cook in 2-3 minutes 
Colorful and delicious!
Citrus Vinaigrette
Equipment
- Mason Jar
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp fresh lime juice
- 1 tbsp fresh orange juice
- 1 tbsp white wine vinegar
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- fresh cracked pepper
- pinch kosher or finishing salt
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a small mason jar and shake well.
It’s kind of hard to talk about a whole week of meals after that, but I am already remiss in not getting you this list sooner. I am including six dinners again, but I’m guessing this week I’ll be pulling that leftover Sweet Potato Chili out of the freezer rather than coming up with one more meal on the fly! The Moroccan chicken, carrot pistachio slaw, and mashed potatoes with prosciutto are all from Cooking Whole 30. Links to other recipes I am sampling are included below, and I’ll be sharing a few of my own recipes as well.
*Garlic Butter Steak, Zoodles, Simple Salad
*Glazed Pork Tenderloin, Mashed Potatoes with Crispy Prosciutto, Onions and Pine Nuts, Sauteed Spinach
*Moroccan Chicken, Carrot-Pistachio Slaw, Roast Cauliflower
*Turkey Burgers, Roast Potato Wedges, Salad
*Grilled Shrimp and Vegetables, Simple Salad
Week 3 Grocery List
Ingredients
- 2 lb sirloin steak
- 1 lb pork tenderloin
- 1 whole chicken, cut into eight pieces or 6 chicken thighs
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 1 1/2 lbs boneless chicken breasts
- 1 lb shrimp large
- 4 slices prosciutto
- 4 large russet potatoes
- 2 head garlic
- 1 sweet onion
- 3 yellow onion
- 2 bunches green onion
- 1 piece fresh ginger
- 1 head red leaf lettuce
- 1 head butter leaf lettuce
- 2 bunches spinach
- 1 head cauliflower
- 1 lb carrots
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1 box cherry tomatoes
- 1 fennel bulb
- 6-8 green and yellow zucchini
- 1 avocado
- 2-3 ea lemons and limes
- Italian parsley
- cilantro
- pine nuts
- pistachios raw, unsalted
- dates
- golden raisins
- pitted green olives
- unsweetened apricot jam
- red curry paste
- coconut aminos
- fish sauce Red Boat preferred
- 2 boxes chicken broth
- 2 cans full fat coconut milk
- 1 lb unsalted butter for ghee
- olive oil
- coconut oil
- cumin
- paprika
- ginger
- cinnamon
- coriander
- red pepper flakes
Many of the spices and other staples from last week are repeats, so check your cupboards and cross off anything you already have. And if you are following the Whole 30 make sure any prepared foods you buy, like chicken broth, are compliant with the program rules. I’ll be adding some staples to our list as well, more coffee and nut pods for example! I also have to share the funniest thing that happened last week when I went shopping, I forgot my list. This is nothing new, I do that all the time, but this time my grocery list was on the internet and I just picked it up on my phone! How cool is that?