Cuban-Style Roast Pork
Roast pork is a signature dish of Cuban cuisine. This recipe, passed down from generation to generation, stands out for its marinade with Cuban mojo, its crispy skin, and its tender, juicy meat. It is perfect for festive occasions and family gatherings.
🐖 Ingredients needed:
- 1 small whole pig (50 to 60 lbs)
- ¾ cup garlic cloves
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 4 tablespoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 4 tablespoons salt
- 1½ cups sour orange juice (preferably fresh)
🧄 Preparing the marinade:
Blend the garlic, oregano, pepper, cumin, sour orange juice, and salt until you get a smooth mixture to form an intense and aromatic Cuban mojo.
🧴 Marinating and preparing the pig:
With the pig cleaned, dried, and drained, place it on a large tray. Carefully pierce the skin with a fine object to help release all its moisture. Then, sprinkle salt over the skin to enhance drying.
Use a large syringe to inject the marinade into different points of the pig, starting with the front and back legs, passing through the ribs, and finishing at the abdomen. The skin should not receive any marinade to keep it dry.
Cover the pig well and let it rest in a cool place for at least 8 to 10 hours.
🔥 Cooking method in a roasting box:
Place hot coals at the base of the box. Then, put the pig with the skin facing down on the upper grill without closing the lid for the first 15 minutes.
After that time, turn the pig with the skin facing up and close the box. Cook slowly for 3 to 4 hours.
Finally, turn the pig again with the skin facing down and let it brown for 1 additional hour. After this process, turn the pig again and brush water with salt on the skin to achieve that characteristic crispy touch. Let it rest for 10 minutes.
Other traditional Cuban methods can also be used, such as on a spit, barbecue, in a pit over a grill, or in an oven on a tray, with similar results.
ℹ️ Additional information:
- Serves: Up to 15 portions
- Preparation time: 1 hour
- Marination: 8 to 10 hours
- Cooking: 5 hours
- Resting: 10 minutes
- Category: Meats
- Cuisine: Cuban
💡 Chef's suggestion:
Serve this roast pork with yuca with mojo, congrí, and a mixed salad. A Cuban feast that will delight all your guests!
Have you prepared this recipe? Share your experience and tell us how it turned out. We would love to read your variations and tips.
🏷️ Tags: cuban roast pork, roasting box, traditional recipes, whole pig, Cuban mojo, festive dishes, Creole cuisine
For the Spanish version, visit: Lechón Asado Cubano: Piel Crujiente y Carne Jugosa.
0 Comentarios