Embark on a culinary adventure with Pernil, a mouthwatering Puerto Rican pork shoulder dish that promises to tantalize your taste buds. This traditional recipe, expertly curated by renowned chef Tyler Florence, takes you on a journey of flavors, combining the richness of slow-cooked pork with a vibrant blend of spices and citrus. Pernil is not just a dish; it's a celebration, a gathering of friends and family around a table laden with succulent pork, crispy skin, and an array of delectable sides. This article presents you with not just one but three variations of Pernil, each showcasing unique flavor profiles that will leave you craving for more. From the classic Pernil with Cilantro-Citrus Adobo to the aromatic Pernil with Chipotle-Orange Adobo and the tangy Pernil with Guava-Habanero Adobo, these recipes are a testament to the culinary diversity and richness of Puerto Rican cuisine. So, prepare your taste buds for an explosion of flavors as we delve into the secrets of creating the perfect Pernil, accompanied by an assortment of tantalizing sides that will elevate your dining experience to new heights.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
ROASTED PORK SHOULDER (PERNIL AL HORNO)
Slow-cook Tyler Florence's Roasted Pork Shoulder (Pernil Al Horno) recipe from Food 911 on Food Network for flavorful, pull-apart meat for a special occasion.
Provided by Tyler Florence
Categories main-dish
Time 7h
Yield 10 to 12 servings
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Place the pork, fat-side up, in a roasting pan fitted with a rack insert, and using a sharp knife, score the surface of the meat with small slits. Mash the garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper into a paste on a cutting board with the flat side of a knife; place the adobo in a bowl and stir in the oil and vinegar. Rub the garlic paste all over the pork, being sure to get into the incisions so the salt can penetrate the meat and pull out the moisture - this will help form a crust on the outside when cooked. Cover the pork with plastic wrap and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours or up to overnight.
- Allow the meat to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before cooking. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Roast the pork for 3 hours, uncovered, until the skin is crispy-brown. Let the meat rest on a cutting board for 10 minutes before slicing.
CUBAN ROASTED PORK LEG: PERNIL
Provided by Ingrid Hoffmann
Categories main-dish
Time 6h45m
Yield 10 servings
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- 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.
- 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.
DADDY EDDIE'S ROAST PORK (PERNIL), PUERTO RICAN-STYLE
Pernil is roasted pork shoulder, seasoned to the max. It is served with rice and beans, salad, or sweet plantains.
Provided by Daddy Eddie
Categories World Cuisine Recipes Latin American Caribbean
Time 13h15m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Combine olive oil, vinegar, garlic, oregano, salt, and black pepper in a mortar and pestle; mash into a paste.
- Make deep slits into the pork with a small knife. Stuff slits with the paste; rub any remaining paste over the pork.
- Place pork in a plastic roasting bag and put in a roasting pan with a rack. Let marinate in the refrigerator, 8 to 48 hours.
- Take pork out of the refrigerator, uncover, and bring to room temperature, 1 to 2 hours.
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
- Roast pork skin-side down in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 2 hours. Flip pork and continue roasting, skin-side up, until juices run clear and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center reads at least 145 degrees F (63 degrees C), 2 to 4 hours more.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 355 calories, Carbohydrate 2.2 g, Cholesterol 111.6 mg, Fat 23.7 g, Fiber 0.7 g, Protein 31.8 g, SaturatedFat 6.9 g, Sodium 966.2 mg, Sugar 0.1 g
PORK SHOULDER "PERNIL" WITH CILANTRO-CITRUS ADOBO
Make and share this Pork Shoulder "pernil" With Cilantro-Citrus Adobo recipe from Food.com.
Provided by Robyn
Categories Pork
Time 3h15m
Yield 10-12 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Place the pork, fat side up, in a roasting pan fitted with a rack insert, and using a sharp knife, score the surface of the meat with small slits.
- Prepare the adobo: In a food processor, add the garlic, oregano, cilantro, cumin, salt, and pepper. Add lime juice and orange juice. Drizzle in olive oil and pulse until you have a nice puree.
- Rub the marinade all over the pork, being sure to get into the incisions so the salt can penetrate the meat and pull out the moisture - this will help form a crust on the outside when cooked.
- Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
- Roast the pork for 3 hours, uncovered, until the skin is crispy-brown.
- Let the meat rest on a cutting board for 10 minutes before slicing, covered lightly with aluminum foil.
- Drizzle with lime juice and garnish with cilantro.
PERNIL
Perhaps the best known and most coveted dish from Puerto Rico, pernil is a positively sumptuous preparation for pork shoulder. It's marinated (ideally overnight) in garlic, citrus and herbs, then slow-roasted on high heat to achieve a crisp chicharrón, or skin. Traditionally, it's prepared for Thanksgiving or Christmas, but for those of us in the diaspora, it's made for most special occasions. Shoulder is also a relatively inexpensive cut of meat, and it yields a lot of servings, leading to exciting leftovers. This recipe is deeply indebted to the chef Maricel Presilla and her recipe in "Gran Cocina Latina," her cookbook published in 2012. Her method is a foolproof way to get that chicharrón as well as tender meat that falls off the bone. It's blessed by her brilliance. (Watch the video of Von Diaz making pernil here.)
Provided by Von Diaz
Categories dinner, meat, main course
Time 4h
Yield 8 to 10 servings
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Prepare the adobo by combining all the ingredients and grinding in a large pilón or mortar and pestle, or simply mixing together well in a small bowl.
- Prepare the pork: Rinse and dry meat well with a clean towel. Place pork skin-side down on a large rimmed sheet pan and poke deep, 1-inch holes throughout the meat and in the fatty layer with a paring knife, being careful not to pierce the skin. You can't have too many holes.
- Pour over adobo in batches, using your fingers to push adobo deep into the meat. If you're worried about your hands smelling like garlic - which they will! - wear gloves.
- Set out a long sheet of plastic wrap, layering with subsequent sheets as needed to ensure you can securely wrap the entire pork shoulder. Transfer pork to plastic wrap and wrap tightly, adding sheets of plastic as needed to ensure pork is completely airtight and juices are contained. Let marinate in the fridge overnight if possible, or at least least 2 to 3 hours. Set on a rimmed baking sheet or disposable aluminum foil pan in case it leaks.
- Once the pork has marinated, heat oven to 400 degrees. Working over the sink, carefully remove pork from plastic wrap, discarding any remaining adobo. Place the marinated pork shoulder skin-side up in a deep roasting pan, and wipe the skin with a clean cloth. Rub skin with 1 teaspoon salt.
- Loosely tent foil over the pork shoulder, spraying the foil with cooking spray or brushing with oil in any areas that may touch the skin, as it will stick. Transfer to the center of the oven.
- Roast in the oven for 1 hour, then carefully remove the foil and rotate the pan. Continue roasting for another 2 to 3 hours, rotating every hour or so, and watching closely. Add water to the pan as needed when juices evaporate. The meat is done cooking when the juices run clear and the thickest part of the leg registers 160 degrees with a meat thermometer. The skin may take more time to crisp, but watch closely so that it does not burn. Tap the top of the skin with the back of a knife or metal spatula, and listen for a decidedly hollow sound.
- Remove from the oven and let rest for 10 to 15 minutes, then transfer to a large cutting board. (For cleaning instructions for the pan, see Notes.) If desired, remove the skin from the roast by slicing it along the underside of the bone with a long, sharp, slender knife. Run the knife underneath the skin starting from the bottom until loosened, then lift the skin from the meat. Use kitchen shears to cut into serving pieces, and let them rest in the warm oven until ready to eat. Trim excess fat from the meat if desired, and slice as desired, in large chunks or slices, to serve.
Tips:
- Choose the right cut of pork: Pork shoulder is the ideal cut for pernil due to its rich flavor and marbling. It's also budget-friendly and easily available.
- Use a flavorful marinade: The adobo marinade is key to infusing the pork with a delicious blend of citrus, herbs, and spices. Be sure to let the pork marinate for at least 8 hours, or even overnight.
- Slow-cook the pork: Pernil is traditionally slow-cooked to ensure tenderness and allow the flavors to develop fully. Braising is a great method, as it keeps the pork moist and juicy. You can also roast the pork in the oven on low heat.
- Don't skimp on the crispy skin: The crispy skin is one of the best parts of pernil. To achieve perfect crispiness, score the skin before cooking and rub it with oil or butter. You can also increase the oven temperature towards the end of cooking to help the skin brown and crisp up.
- Serve with traditional sides: Pernil is often served with traditional Puerto Rican sides such as rice and beans, tostones (fried plantains), and mofongo (mashed plantains). It can also be served with a fresh salad or your favorite roasted vegetables.
Conclusion:
Pork shoulder pernil with cilantro-citrus adobo is a flavorful and succulent dish that is sure to impress your friends and family. With its tender meat, crispy skin, and vibrant flavors, it's a perfect choice for a special occasion meal or a casual family dinner. Whether you serve it with traditional Puerto Rican sides or your own favorite accompaniments, this dish is sure to be a hit.
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