Instant Pot Pork with Orange, Fennel and Lentils

Name: Instant Pot Pork with Orange, Fennel and Lentils
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Fusión mediterránea
Ingredients: 1.3 lb pork loin, cubed; 1 cup dry brown lentils; 1 medium bulb fennel bulb; 1 cup carrot; 1 cup yellow onion; 4 cloves garlic; 1 tbsp orange zest; 1/2 cup orange juice; 3 cups chicken broth; 3/4 cup crushed tomatoes; 1 tbsp olive oil; 1 tsp ground cumin; 1 tsp sweet paprika; 1/2 tsp dried thyme; 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes; 1 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp black pepper; 1/4 cup fresh parsley

An original Instant Pot dish featuring tender pork pieces pressure-cooked with lentils, fennel, carrot, and a bright touch of orange. The result is an aromatic, comforting, and balanced one-pot meal.

20 minPrep

30 minCook

50 minTotal

4Servings

Dairy-FreeHigh Protein

Ingredients

Adjust servings

600 g pork loin, cubed (cut into 1.2-inch cubes)
180 g dry brown lentils (rinsed)
250 g fennel bulb (thinly sliced)
150 g carrot (sliced)
150 g yellow onion (chopped)
12 g garlic (minced)
1 cda orange zest (from a fresh orange)
120 ml orange juice (freshly squeezed)
720 ml chicken broth (low sodium if preferred)
200 g crushed tomatoes (canned or homemade)
15 ml olive oil (for sautéing)
2 g ground cumin
2 g sweet paprika
1 g dried thyme
0.5 g red pepper flakes (optional)
6 g salt (or to taste)
1 g black pepper (freshly ground)
15 g fresh parsley (chopped)

Nutrition facts

per serving

465 kcal

Calories

38 g

Protein

29 g

Carbs

18 g

Fat

8 g

Fiber

21 g

Net carbs

Approximate nutritional information. Estimated from the recipe’s ingredients and amounts, using standard reference nutrition values. It may vary with brands, sizes and cooking method. For guidance only; not a substitute for medical or dietary advice.

Allergens

Celery

Instructions

1
1. Season the pork loin with 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, black pepper, cumin, and sweet paprika.
2
2. Turn the Instant Pot to Sauté mode on high. Once hot, add the olive oil and brown the pork for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring to sear several sides. Transfer the pork temporarily to a plate.
3
3. Add the onion, carrot, and fennel to the pot. Sauté for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they start to soften. Stir in the garlic, dried thyme, and red pepper flakes, and cook for 30 seconds more.
4
4. Pour in the orange juice and scrape the bottom of the pot well with a wooden spoon to release any browned bits. Add the crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, lentils, orange zest, browned pork, and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt.
5
5. Lock the lid, set the valve to sealing, and cook on high pressure for 18 minutes. The pressure-cooking temperature inside the pot is approximately 239°F/115°C.
6
6. When the cooking time ends, allow a natural pressure release for 10 minutes, then carefully release any remaining pressure. Open the lid and stir well.
7
7. Taste and adjust salt if needed. For a thicker texture, turn Sauté mode back on and cook for 2 additional minutes, stirring gently.
8
8. Turn off the pot, add the fresh parsley, and serve hot.

Chef tips

For deeper flavor, brown the pork in two batches so it does not release too much moisture. The fennel adds a gentle anise note that pairs beautifully with the orange.

Substitutions

You can substitute pork loin with trimmed pork shoulder. Parsley can be replaced with fennel fronds or cilantro. If you do not have crushed tomatoes, use tomato passata in the same amount.

What I used to make it

Generic kitchen tools that work for this recipe. You don’t need to buy anything to make it.

Illustrative image
Ninja Professional BL610 Blender
Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Easy-to-wash jar
- Check the power and jar size
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Illustrative image
TempPro TP19H Digital Thermometer
Checking doneness of meat and chicken
- Checks doneness of meat and chicken
- Quick reading
- Clean the probe after each use
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Illustrative image
T-fal Ultimate Hard Anodized 12" Non-Stick Pan
Eggs, omelets and stir-fries
- Eggs and omelets that don’t stick
- Comfortable, sturdy handle
- Use wooden or silicone utensils
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