How to Make PUERTO RICAN Pernil | Tender Roast Pork | Cook With Me

pork shoulder

🥗Healthier: chicken thighs

💰Cheaper: pork butt

Chicken thighs are lower in fat, while pork butt is often less expensive than shoulder.

olive oil

🥗Healthier: avocado oil

💰Cheaper: vegetable oil

Avocado oil offers a healthier fat profile, while vegetable oil is budget-friendly.

adobo seasoning

🥗Healthier: homemade spice blend

💰Cheaper: basic spices

A homemade blend can reduce sodium and cost.

vinegar

🥗Healthier: apple cider vinegar

💰Cheaper: white vinegar

Apple cider vinegar adds flavor and is often more nutritious.

Wash and clean the pork shoulder and pat it dry with paper towels.

Trim some of the fat from the pork shoulder, cutting it back but not completely off to keep the roast juicy.

Make slits in the pork shoulder without cutting all the way through to allow the marinade to penetrate.

In a mortar and pestle, add 4 teaspoons of salt and mash in 12-15 cloves of garlic until it forms a paste.

Add 2 teaspoons of oregano, 2 teaspoons of cumin, and 1 teaspoon of black pepper to the garlic paste and mix well.

Stir in 3 tablespoons of olive oil and 3 tablespoons of vinegar to the mixture until it becomes a paste.

Marinate the pork shoulder with the paste, ensuring to push it into the slits and cover the entire surface.

Sprinkle a little adobo seasoning over the pork after marinating.

Cover the pork and let it marinate in the refrigerator overnight, or for up to two days, flipping it occasionally for even distribution of juices.

Remove the pork from the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for about an hour before cooking.

Preheat the oven to 250°F (121°C).

Place the marinated pork shoulder in a roasting dish and slow cook it in the oven for 5 to 6 hours, basting every hour.

In the last hour of cooking, increase the oven temperature to crisp the skin until fork tender.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level: