Cuban Roasted Pork Leg: Pernil

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Picture of Cuban Roasted Pork Leg: Pernil Recipe Photo: Cuban Roasted Pork Leg: Pernil Recipe
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Total Time:
6 hr 45 min
Prep
25 min
Inactive
50 min
Cook
5 hr 30 min
Yield:
10 servings
Level:
Intermediate
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Ingredients

  • 12 garlic cloves
  • 1 tablespoon coarse salt
  • 6 sprigs fresh oregano leaves
  • 1/2 cup Delicioso Adobo, recipe follows
  • 1 cup store-bought Mojo sauce
  • 2 cups orange juice
  • 4 limes, juiced
  • 1 (14 to 16-pound) bone-in whole fresh pork leg

Directions

Place the garlic cloves on a cutting board. Slice the cloves in half lengthwise and then smash with the side of a chef's knife. Sprinkle the salt over the garlic and chop and smear the garlic against the cutting board until it makes a paste. (This can also be done using a mortar pestle; smash the garlic halves before placing them in the mortar.) Add the oregano, chop it into the garlic paste and mix together. Put the garlic paste in a large bowl. Add the Adobo, Mojo, the orange and lime juices. Mix well to combine.

Place the pork in a roasting pan and using a sharp knife, score the surface of the meat in a crosshatch pattern. Pour the marinade over the pork, being sure it gets into the incisions and penetrates the meat. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or up to 1 day in the refrigerator, covered and turning it once or twice.

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

Uncover the pork and allow the meat to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes before cooking.

Roast the pork for 30 minutes. Lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees F. and continue to roast until the meat is falling apart and an instant-read thermometer reaches 160 degrees F when inserted into the thickest part of the pork. Baste with the marinade every 30 minutes. Total roasting time will be approximately 5 to 5 1/2 hours.

Remove from oven and let it stand at room temperature 20 to 30 minutes, covered loosely with a foil, before cutting it in slices.

Delicioso Adobo:

  • 1 tablespoon lemon pepper
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder or flakes
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes
  • 1 tablespoon achiote powder
  • 1/2 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 tablespoon salt

Note: This recipe for adobo is a staple seasoning for many of my Latin recipes. You can make a large batch, store it in an airtight container and use it as a flavor enhancer in your favorite dishes.

Combine all measured ingredients in a small glass jar with an airtight lid and shake to blend. Store in a cool, dry place for up to 2 weeks.

Yield: about 1/2 cup

Print Recipe

Wine Suggestion for This Recipe

Pinot Grigio

Pinot Grigio

Citrusy, light white wine

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Newest Ratings and Reviews

Read all 17 reviews

  • on January 15, 2012

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    WOW! A four pound bone-in pork roast ROCKED-THE-HOUSE with this recipe! Of course I reduce the proportions a bit to accommodate the poundage difference but in the end this was fabulous (and really easy so don't tell your relatives that fact!

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  • on January 02, 2012

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    Absolutely easy and so delicious!

    people found this review Helpful.
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  • on December 21, 2011

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    I could not find achiote powder so I used 1 T or so of achiote paste which was readily available at my local Mexican grocery store. I used a 5 1/2 pound bone-in pork shoulder, (aka: "pork butt" scored the fat side in a crisscross manner and marinated overnight - about 12 hours - in a big zip-top bag assuring that the entire roast was in contact with the marinade. When I took the roast out of the marinade, I put the marinade through a strainer leaving a paste of the seasoning. I rubbed this paste into the cuts in the fatty side of the roast and on the sides of the meat. I then roasted the meat "low and slow".... 10 hours total at 215 degree F... the first 5 hours uncovered in the roasting pan and then the remaining 5 hours completely wrapped in a single layer of heavy duty aluminum foil. When I opened it the meat was fall-apart tender like a pulled pork but it has the distinct flavor and aroma of authentic pernil.

    people found this review Helpful.
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