Ingredients:

  • 1.5 cups sour orange juice
  • 20 cloves garlic, minced into a paste
  • 1 tbsp dried oregano
  • 1 tbsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
  • 2 tsp kosher salt
  • 6 lbs bone-in pork shoulder (Pernil), skin-on or fat cap intact
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 large white onions, sliced into thick rings

Instructions:

  1. Prep the meat. Using a sharp paring knife, stab 1 inch deep slits all over the pork shoulder. Note: This creates channels for the marinade to reach the center of the roast.
  2. Create the paste. In a mortar and pestle, mash the 20 cloves of garlic with 2 tsp salt until a smooth, fragrant paste forms.
  3. Whisk the marinade. Add 1.5 cups sour orange juice, 1 tbsp oregano, 1 tbsp cumin, and 1 tsp black pepper to the garlic paste.
  4. Marinate the roast. Pour the mixture over the pork, aggressively pushing the garlic paste into the slits you made earlier. Cover and chill for 8 to 24 hours.
  5. Set the base. Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C). Lay the 2 large sliced onions in the bottom of your roasting pan and place the pork on a rack above them, fat side up.
  6. The long roast. Cover the pan tightly with heavy duty foil and roast for 5 hours. Until the meat is tender and the kitchen smells like a Havana dream.
  7. Ignite the crust. Remove the foil and crank the oven up to 425°F (220°C). Baste the pork with the accumulated pan juices.
  8. Final browning. Roast uncovered for 45 to 60 minutes. Until the skin is blistered, mahogany colored, and makes a hollow thwack sound when tapped.
  9. Rest the masterpiece. Transfer the pork to a board and let it rest for at least 20 minutes. Note: This is critical for the fibers to reabsorb the juices.
  10. Serve. Carve into thick slabs or pull into large, succulent chunks, making sure everyone gets a piece of that glorious skin. Perfectly Roasted Beef Tenderloin: A Home Cook's Guide to Succulent Glory — Looking for the ultimate way of cooking beef tenderloin? Try my easy herb but...Leftover Brisket Recipe with Barbecue Sauce: Juicy & Tender — Transform leftover brisket into a juicy masterpiece with this easy barbecue s...Hearty Simmered Beef Tripe Traditional Menudo: A Family Favorite — Looking for a comforting recipe? My Grandma's Simmered Beef Tripe Traditional... $img_2$