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Epicurious

Pernil (Slow-Roasted Pork)

Pernil
Photo by Laura Murray, food styling by Yekaterina Boystova

Nearly every family in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba has their own way of roasting pork for the holidays. This Puerto Rican version is almost always served with arroz con gandules (rice with pigeon peas), and the chicharrón (crispy skin) is heartily fought over. If you can’t find Sazón, you can use any other seasoning salt, preferably one with a Latin American flavor profile. And if on the off-chance you have any pork left over, use it to make the best sandwiches you’ve ever tasted.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    8–10 servings

Ingredients

Soffritto

2 ripe plum tomatoes, cored, coarsely chopped (about 1½ cups)
1 medium onion, coarsely chopped (about 1 cup)
2 Cubanelle peppers, seeds removed, coarsely chopped (about 1 cup), or 1 medium green bell pepper, ribs and seeds removed, coarsely chopped
1 medium red bell pepper, ribs and seeds removed, coarsely chopped (about 1 cup)
1 large bunch cilantro, coarsely chopped (about 1 cup)
1 head of garlic, cloves separated, peeled

Pernil and Assembly

1 Tbsp. black peppercorns
2 heads of garlic, cloves separated, peeled
2 1.4-oz. packets Sazón con Culantro y Achiote (such as Goya)
½ cup Diamond Crystal or ¼ cup plus 1½ tsp. Morton kosher salt
2 Tbsp. dried oregano
2 Tbsp. white wine vinegar
2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing
1 8–10-lb. skin-on, bone-in pork shoulder
Arroz con Gandules (for serving)

Special Equipment

A spice mill or mortar and pestle

Preparation

  1. Soffritto

    Step 1

    Purée tomatoes, onion, Cubanelle peppers, bell pepper, cilantro, and garlic in a food processor until smooth. Scoop out ½ cup soffritto and set aside. Reserve remaining soffritto for another use (you can use it for the arroz con gandules).

    Step 2

    Do Ahead: Soffritto can be made 3 days ahead. Transfer to an airtight container, cover, and chill, or freeze up to 3 months.

  2. Pernil and Assembly

    Step 3

    Finely grind peppercorns in spice mill or with mortar and pestle. Transfer to a food processor. Add garlic, Sazón, salt, oregano, vinegar, 2 Tbsp. oil, and reserved ½ cup soffritto and purée until smooth.

    Step 4

    Push a small paring knife (about 3½" long) into pork through the skin, working the blade all the way in; twist knife to make a small hole in the meat. Repeat, making holes spaced about 1½" apart on all sides of pork.

    Step 5

    Rub pork all over with adobo mixture, pushing into holes and covering any exposed meat and skin. Try to get as much adobo mixture into meat and not just on the surface, where it may burn when roasting. Be sure to use all of it! Wrap pork tightly and chill at least 3 hours and up to 3 days.

    Step 6

    Place a rack in lower third of oven; preheat to 300°. Line a large roasting pan with 2 layers of heavy-duty foil. Place a roasting rack on top. Set pork, skin side up, on rack. Scrape any adobo mixture off skin and thoroughly pat dry with paper towels. Liberally brush cleaned skin with oil. Transfer pan to oven and carefully pour 2 cups water into pan. Roast pork until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of shoulder registers 180°, meat is pulling away from bone, and skin is crisp, 5–6 hours.

    Step 7

    Let pork sit, uncovered, at room temperature at least 30 minutes and up to 5 hours.

    Step 8

    Before serving, preheat oven to 500° and reheat roast until skin crisps (don’t let it take on any more color), 5–10 minutes.

    Step 9

    Remove chicharrón (crispy skin) and cut or break into smaller pieces. Slice pork and transfer to a platter. Serve with chicharrón and arroz y gandules alongside.

    Pernil, right before the skin is crisped, next to the arroz con gandules.

    Photo by Laura Murray, food styling by Yekaterina Boystova
TagsPuerto RicanCaribbeanCubanDominicanPork ShoulderPorkMeatMainDairy FreeNut FreeKetoRoastChristmasDinnerBon Appétit

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