I still remember when I tasted this awesomeness for the first time. My world suddenly stopped as I savored its tender goodness. It’s really one-of-a-kind and super addicting. And, of course, I had to learn how to make it. What’s not to love about this family-friendly, super-affordable dish? And it’s effortless to prepare because the oven does most of the work. Aaah! Getting that taste of joy without breaking a sweat is a pretty good deal, right? 😉 Sour orange is the key ingredient in the marinade. However, it’s hard to find sour oranges outside of the Islands. But you can use a mix of lime and orange for a similar effect. A dash of vinegar with orange juice would also do the trick.
Recipe Ingredients
You may wonder why the list is short, but that’s it! As I said, this is easy to make with simple and not too pricy ingredients.
How to Make Pernil
Marinate It
Combine – Pulse ¼ cup onion, garlic, oregano, and parsley in a food processor, drizzling in the oil and scraping down sides as necessary, until the mixture is pasty. A mortar and pestle also work. Add the Spices – Mix in cumin, chili, sazon, and paprika. Set aside. (Photo 1)Prep the Pork – Remove pork from the packaging and gently rinse pork under cold water. (Photo 2)Season – Dry with a paper napkin or towel. Salt and pepper according to your preference – about ½-¾ teaspoon per pound.Rub – Then rub your marinade thoroughly over the pork roast, getting it into every nook and cranny you can. (Photos 3-5)Marinate – Refrigerate the pork shoulder for about 4 hours (up to 2 days) before roasting.
Roast the Pork
Room Temperature – When ready to roast, take the pork out of the fridge and set it on the countertop for about 30 minutes.Prep the Pan – Preheat oven to 275℉/135℃. Line a roasting pan with foil, then layer the sliced onions and sliced orange at the bottom of the pan. Pour about ½ cup of orange juice and ½ cup of stock or water over it.Add Marinade – Add any remaining marinade. You may want to reserve some marinade to add as it cooks so it doesn’t dry out.Add the Pork – Place the pork roast skin-side-up in the pan. Remove any seasoning stuck to the top of the pork skin. (Photo 6)Roast for 3 hours or more, uncovered.Adjust Heat – Remove it from the oven and increase the oven’s heat to 500℉/260℃.Roast Again – Place back in the oven. Let it roast for 15-20 minutes until the skin is crisp and puffy, rotating the pan every 5 minutes for even crispness.Serve – Let the meat rest for 10-15 minutes before cutting it so the meat’s juice reabsorbs into the roast. Serve with lime and sauce from the marinade.
Recipe Variations
Tips and Tricks
Make-Ahead Instructions
If you want to marinate the meat but won’t be serving it immediately, you can roast it first until the pork becomes tender and evenly cooked. Then allow the roasted pork shoulder to cool before storing it in the fridge. When you are ready to serve, roast it again in a preheated 500℉/260℃ oven. To ensure even cooking, you can rotate it four times for 20 minutes (every 5 minutes) until the skin becomes crisp.
Serving and Storage Instructions
Allow the roast to rest for about 10 minutes so the exquisite juices can reabsorb into the meat. Then slice or shred it and spoon the pan juices over it. If you have leftover pernil, you can store it in the fridge for 3-5 days or freezer for three months. Thaw frozen leftovers in the fridge overnight. You can reheat leftovers in the microwave, but reheating them in the oven is even better for crispy skin. Pernil leftovers are fantastic on sandwiches, tacos, casseroles, or burritos.
What to Serve with Pernil
Aside from arroz con gandules, this sumptuous pernil also pairs well with these simple and easy side dishes below.
More Delectable Caribbean Dishes to Try
Conclusion
Pernil is really a family-friendly dish great for holidays. So are you ready to taste that irresistible crispy looking skin? Try it now, and let me know how it turned out in the comments. 😉
Watch How to Make It
[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”FMCqxTqW” upload-date=”Mon Aug 06 2018 20:37:44 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)” name=”Pernil Puerto Rican Roast Pork” description=”Pernil Puerto Rican Roast Pork- Herb and spice marinated pork shoulder slowly roasted in the oven until tender and fall of the bone delicious with an amazing crisp and crackling skin.”] This blog post was originally published in March 2016 and has been updated with additional tips, new photos, and a video.
