Cachete, Instant Pot

also called cachete · cabeza · taco de cabeza · tacos de cachete · beef cheek · barbacoa de cachete · instant pot beef cheeks · pressure cooker beef cheeks

Also written for Slow Cooker (2 to wash), the plain way (1 to wash).

The table

One cup is the floor: below it the pot will not seal. Every drop of it is still there at the end
3 lb(1.4 kg; trimmed of the tough silverskin)beef cheekstrim the silverskin, seasonbrown 10 min, in two batches45 min high pressure, natural release 15 minshred coarse, salt
1 Tbskosher salt
1 tspcoarse black pepper
1 Tbslard
1(quartered)white onion
6 clovesgarlic
2bay leaves
1 tspdried Mexican oregano
3whole cloves
2 Tbscider vinegar
1 cup(240 mL)water
1 tspkosher salt
Tap anything to cross it off.

What to lay out

Everything the recipe asks for, sitting under the step that eats it. Tick each one as you measure it.14 things to get out.

Pans and tools

Before anything else

2trim the silverskin, season

3brown 10 min, in two batches

goes in with what step 2 made

445 min high pressure, natural release 15 min

goes in with what step 3 made

5shred coarse, salt

goes in with what step 4 made

Cooking it

Tap a step when it is done; the next one lights up.

The clock

Start to finish
at least 1 hr 22 min2 of 4 steps give no time
Needs you
about 10 min
If you get it wrong
Forgiving — the silverskin has to come off before it goes in, because nothing in the pot will render it down
What you'll wash
One thing — the Instant Pot
Does it keep
4 days — the cheeks soften further and the broth sets to a jelly; a sealed pot leaves you more of it

  1. trim the silverskin, season

    not timedfrom the start

  2. brown 10 min, in two batches

    10 minneeds youfrom the start

  3. 45 min high pressure, natural release 15 min

    1 hr 12 minwalk away10 min in

  4. shred coarse, salt

    not timed1 hr 22 min in

You'll need Instant Pot

Goes with

See how it is written
>> title: Cachete, Instant Pot
>> category: Stews & Braises
>> tags: beef, cheek, mexican, braise, tacos, instant pot, pressure cooker
>> counters: Instant Pot
>> dish: cachete
>> kit: Instant Pot
>> aka: cachete, cabeza, taco de cabeza, tacos de cachete, beef cheek, barbacoa de cachete, instant pot beef cheeks, pressure cooker beef cheeks
>> pairs-with: corn-tortillas, salsa-verde
>> servings: 6
>> time: 1 hr 40 min
>> slack: forgiving — the silverskin has to come off before it goes in, because nothing in the pot will render it down
>> washing-up: the Instant Pot
>> capacity: 3 — the Instant Pot's base, brown
>> keeps: 4 days — the cheeks soften further and the broth sets to a jelly; a sealed pot leaves you more of it

One cup is the floor: below it the pot will not seal. Every drop of it is still there at the end.

>> step: trim the silverskin, season
Season @beef cheeks{3%lb}(1.4 kg; trimmed of the tough silverskin) with @kosher salt{1%Tbs}, @coarse black pepper{1%tsp}.

>> step: brown 10 min, in two batches
Brown @&(~1)seasoned cheeks{} in @lard{1%Tbs} on sauté in an #Instant Pot{} for ~brown{10%min}, in two batches, until each face is properly dark.

>> step: 45 min high pressure, natural release 15 min
Pressure cook @&(~1)browned cheeks{} with @white onion{1}(quartered), @garlic{6%cloves}, @bay leaves{2}, @dried Mexican oregano{1%tsp}, @whole cloves{3}, @cider vinegar{2%Tbs}, @water{1%cup}(240 mL), lid on and valve sealed: ~come to pressure{12%min}, then ~pressure cook{45%min} on high and ~natural release{15%min}.

>> step: shred coarse, salt
Shred @&(~1)braised cheeks{} coarsely with two forks, moistening them with their own liquor, and salt with @kosher salt{1%tsp}.