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Pernil Recipe (Puerto Rican Roast Pork)
Pernil is a mouthwatering dish of marinated pork shoulder or leg slow roasted until fall-apart tender and delicious crispy skin, a holiday favorite. This is the best roasted pulled pork you'll ever have.
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
5 hrs
Total Time
5 hrs 15 mins
Servings: 8
Calories: 353 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
American , Puerto Rican
Ingredients
FOR THE MARINADE
- 3 tablespoons sofrito
- 2 tablespoons dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- salt and pepper to taste
- ½ cup olive oil
FOR THE PERNIL (Roast Pork)
- 4-6 pound pork shoulder bone-in, skin on – Or you can use boneless – see recipe notes
- 8 cloves garlic sliced
- 1 cup sour orange juice (or use an equal mix of orange juice and lime juice)
- 1 cup water (or more as needed)
FOR SERVING
- 2 tablespoons vinegar
- 1/2 cup cilantro chopped
Instructions
PREPARE THE MARINADE
- Combine the sofrito, oregano, garlic powder, coriander, onion powder, cumin and salt and pepper in a large bowl. Stir in the olive oil and mix well. Set aside for now.
Cup of Yum
FOR THE PERNIL
- Cut various slits into the pork and stuff the garlic slices into them. I like to make long slices along every side, making this part easier.
- Rub down the pork shoulder with the prepared marinade. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour. Overnight is better for more flavor penetration.
- Heat oven to 300 degrees F.
- Transfer the pork shoulder to the bottom of a roasting pan or large baking dish, skin side up. Wipe the skin clean of any marinade and excess moisture. This will help with the crispy skin.
- Pour 1 cup water and 1 cup sour orange juice into the bottom of the roasting pan, then cover the pan with foil, leaving no gaps.
- Bake the pork shoulder for 3 hours.
- Raise the oven temperature to 400 degrees F. Rotate the roasting pan around for even cooking and remove the foil. Pat the skin dry with a paper towel. Add 1-2 cups additional water/sour orange if the bottom is too dry.
- Bake for 1-2 hours or longer, until the internal temperature of the pork reaches 210 degrees F when measured with a meat thermometer, or when a a skewer can pierce the meat easily.
- If cooking with skin-on, the skin should be nice and crispy, but if it is not, turn up the oven temperature to 500 degrees F and bake an additional 10 minutes, or until the skin is browned and crispy.
- Remove from heat and rest 20 minutes. Carve and serve.
- For Serving. Drain the drippings from the roasting pan into a bowl and skim the fat. Stir in vinegar and chopped cilantro. Add salt to taste. Serve with the finished pork as a dipping sauce or gravy.
Nutrition Information
Calories
353kcal
(18%)
Carbohydrates
7g
(2%)
Protein
28g
(56%)
Fat
24g
(37%)
Saturated Fat
5g
(25%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
3g
Monounsaturated Fat
14g
Cholesterol
93mg
(31%)
Sodium
110mg
(5%)
Potassium
592mg
(17%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
3g
(6%)
Vitamin A
163IU
(3%)
Vitamin C
18mg
(20%)
Calcium
55mg
(6%)
Iron
3mg
(17%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 8Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 353
% Daily Value*
Calories | 353kcal | 18% |
Carbohydrates | 7g | 2% |
Protein | 28g | 56% |
Fat | 24g | 37% |
Saturated Fat | 5g | 25% |
Polyunsaturated Fat | 3g | 18% |
Monounsaturated Fat | 14g | 70% |
Cholesterol | 93mg | 31% |
Sodium | 110mg | 5% |
Potassium | 592mg | 13% |
Fiber | 1g | 4% |
Sugar | 3g | 6% |
Vitamin A | 163IU | 3% |
Vitamin C | 18mg | 20% |
Calcium | 55mg | 6% |
Iron | 3mg | 17% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.