Za’atar is a Middle Eastern spice blend with a nutty flavor from toasted sesame seeds and a delightful tanginess from sumac, the dried and ground vibrantly red berries of a bush native to the region. Za’atar is becoming increasingly available commercially, but if you can’t find it at your regular supermarket, look in a Middle Eastern market or online.
Serves 6
Prep: 20 minutes
Closed Pot: 1 hour 30 minutes
Total: 2 hours
For the Pork
2 tablespoons Whole30-compliant za’atar seasoning
1 pork shoulder (3 to 4 pounds), trimmed
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
1 serrano chile pepper, seeded and finely chopped
4 Roma (plum) tomatoes, cored and chopped
For the Spiced Broccoli-Cauliflower Rice
2 packages (10 ounces each) frozen riced cauliflower and broccoli
1 tablespoon Clarified Butter (page 296) or ghee
½ teaspoon ground turmeric
½ teaspoon ground coriander
½ teaspoon ground cumin
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
Make the pork: Rub the za’atar on all sides of the pork. On a 6-quart Instant Pot, select Sauté and adjust to Normal/Medium. Add the olive oil. When it’s hot, add the roast and cook until browned on all sides, about 10 minutes. Remove the roast from the pot. Add the onion and serrano pepper and cook just until softened, about 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cook just until softened, about 3 minutes. Return the roast to the pot. Spoon some of the tomato mixture over the roast. Lock the lid in place.
Select Manual and cook on high pressure for 60 minutes. Use natural release.
Make the broccoli-cauliflower rice: Prepare the riced broccoli and cauliflower according to the package directions. Stir in the butter, turmeric, coriander, and cumin. Sprinkle with the salt and pepper.
Remove the pork from the pot. Discard any fat and place the pork in a large bowl. Strain the cooking liquid through a fine-mesh sieve; add the solids to the pork and discard the cooking liquid. Use two forks to shred the pork.
Serve the shredded pork over the broccoli-cauliflower rice.