Traditional Puerto Rican Pernil Recipe

closeup of a cooked pok shoulder

Pernil (pernil asado, pernil al horno, roast pork) is a slow-roasted marinated pork leg or pork shoulder common in Latin American cuisine, including that of Puerto Rico. Pernil is typically accompanied by rice and beans. It is commonly shared during Christmas.

Ingredients

Cooking Steps

a plate of shredded pork shoulder
  1. Score the fat on the pork shoulder in a criss-cross hatch fashion. Then, cut deeply once in each direction across the pork, like you are going to cut it into four quarters, but then leave them attached at the bottom. Use a sharp knife to make about 20 slits, about 1 inch deep, all over the meat. Place the meat in a 13 x 9 baking pan or another shallow baking pan large enough to comfortably hold the meat with some space around it.
  2. Combine the oil, garlic, fresh and dried oregano, Adobo, paprika, salt and pepper. Rub the mixture all over the meat, working it all over the surface and into the slits. Cover the pork with foil and refrigerate overnight.
  3. Bring the pork to room temperature, about 1 hour. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 300 F. Bake the pork, covered for 3 hours, then remove the foil and bake for another 3 to 4 hours at the same temperature, until the pork is fall-apart tender.
  4. The internal temperature should be at least 165 F, but it may be higher, which is fine — it’s most important that the meat is super tender. If you would like a crustier exterior, turn the heat to 375 F and bake for another 20 to 30 minutes, until the outside of the pork has a nice browned crust.
  5. Let the pernil sit for at least 20 minutes, then use your fingers (if it’s not too hot; some people like to wear kitchen gloves to protect their fingers from the heat) or two forks to pull the meat into chunks. Sprinkle the meat with the lemon and orange juice, season with additional salt and pepper, and serve hot or warm.