Secrets of Perfect Puerto Rican Pernil: The Ultimate Recipe

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.

Begin by adding 1 cup of white vinegar and 2 cups of water to clean the pork shoulder and remove any bacteria.

Rub the water-vinegar mixture all over the pork and let it soak for a few minutes while preparing the marinade.

In a food processor, add 2 heads of garlic, 2 tablespoons of adobo, 1 tablespoon of salt, 1 packet of salsa, 1 teaspoon of cumin, 1 tablespoon of oregano, 2 teaspoons of thyme, 1 red onion, 1 sopita or chicken bouillon cube, 2 stems of fresh rosemary, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, black pepper to taste, and 1 lemon.

Blend all the ingredients for a couple of minutes to create the marinade.

Drain the water and vinegar from the pork and use a sharp knife to poke holes all over the pork to allow the marinade to penetrate.

Stuff the marinade into every hole and rub it all over the pork, ensuring it is well coated.

Marinate the pork overnight.

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).

Place the marinated pork in the oven with the skin facing up and roast for 4 hours with the lid on.

After 4 hours, remove the lid and continue roasting for another hour to make the skin crispy.

Total cooking time is 5 hours: 4 hours covered and 1 hour uncovered.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level: