Pork Lettuce Wraps

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These Pork Lettuce Wraps are perfection. Santa Maria seasoned pork roast is cooked until savory and tender in the Instant Pot, then served inside lettuce wraps, with tangy homemade quick pickled cabbage and creamy avocado.

Instant Pot Pork Lettuce Wrap Recipe

The weather is finally starting to turn here, and we’re seeing signs of Spring! Birds are chirping, tulips are popping up, and I’m suddenly in the mood for bright, exciting flavors. 

This Santa Maria pork totally fits the bill! It’s super savory and lightly spicy, and it’s cooked in the Instant Pot until it’s ultra-tender, then shredded into bite-sized pieces.

To serve the pork, I wrap it up inside a crisp piece of butter lettuce with tangy pickled cabbage to add brightness and texture, then top it all with creamy avocado and cilantro to balance it all out.

Recipe Ingredients

Get your grocery lists ready, because here’s what you’ll need to pick up to make this Instant Pot Santa Maria Pork recipe at home.

Pork Lettuce Wrap Ingredients

• Santa Maria Pork Roast: I recommend using a pre-seasoned Santa Maria pork roast for any local market. I like pork roast from Adaptable that’s seasoned with chili pepper, garlic, and onion.
• Butter Lettuce or Bibb Lettuce: This is the best type of lettuce for lettuce cups. It’s sturdy, crisp, and won’t fall apart! If you can’t find these varieties, try iceberg lettuce or romaine instead.
• Avocado: Adds just the right amount of creaminess to the recipe.
• Cilantro: This adds a fresh, herbal note to the dish.
• Lime: For acidity and brightness.
• Pickled Red Cabbage (keep reading!)

Pickled Cabbage

• Purple Cabbage: Pickling the cabbage takes a bit of the harshness out of the vegetable and gives it a nice acidic punch. For best results, use a very sharp knife or mandolin to thinly shred the cabbage.
• Garlic: Fresh garlic is best for this recipe. If you don’t have it on hand, you can omit it.
• Apple Cider Vinegar: This is a very punchy vinegar, so it will add lots of bold, tangy flavor to the cabbage!
• Lime Juice: I prefer to use freshly squeezed, but if you don’t have fresh limes on hand, you can also use bottled lime juice.
• Salt and Pepper: The classic seasoning duo! The salt helps enhance the flavors of the pickled cabbage while the pepper adds just the right kick.

Step by Step Instructions

Let’s make these easy pork lettuce wraps!

Step 1: Cook the pork. Set the pork roast in the Instant Pot with 1 cup of liquid—either water or broth. Close the lid and turn to High Pressure for 55 minutes. While it’s cooking, move on to the next steps.

Allow for a natural pressure release, which basically means to allow the pressure to dissipate on its own. This process takes 10-20 minutes, depending on your Instant Pot.

Step 2: Shred the pork. Remove the pork and use two forks to shred into bite-sized pieces. Spoon a little bit of the liquid over the pork to keep it moist.

Step 3: Make the pickled cabbage. While the pork is cooking, make the pickled cabbage. Very thinly slice the red cabbage and transfer to a large wide mouth mason jar, pressing the cabbage into the jar to leave as little space as possible.

In a small saucepan, mix together the apple cider vinegar and lime juice, and bring to a simmer. Stir in the seasonings and garlic.

Carefully pour the mixture over the cabbage in the mason jar, using a funnel if necessary. Give it a quick stir and set it on the countertop for 30 minutes to an hour, until cool.

Step 4: Prep the toppings. Slice the limes and avocado and finely chop the cilantro. Wash the lettuce. Serve everything together so your family or guests can assemble their lettuce wraps exactly the way they like them.

FAQs

Storing Leftovers

Leftover pork: To store leftover cooked pork, transfer it to an airtight container or zip-top bag. Set in the refrigerator and use within 3-4 days. Alternatively, you can freeze leftover pork. For best results, use within 2-3 months.

Leftover pickled cabbage: Store the leftover pickled cabbage in an airtight container in the refrigerator and use within 2 weeks.

Leftover avocado: Wrap leftover avocado by pressing plastic wrap directly against the cut edge, wrapping the avocado, and placing it in the fridge. To prevent it from browning, try brushing a little bit of lime juice on the cut side of the avocado before wrapping!

How to Serve

These pork lettuce wraps are a meal all on their own. But they’re also amazing with a side dish! Try these options:

• Rice: Serve with a scoop of Instant Pot Jasmine rice or some easy coconut cauliflower rice for a filling dinner.
• Corn: The sweetness of corn is a great pairing for this meal! Try some chipotle corn salsa for added texture and flavor.
• Potatoes: Air fryer potatoes slices or roasted air fryer baby potatoes are a hearty way to round out your meal.

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