Dining and Cooking
American Recipes

Let’s Make a Pernil (Puerto Rican Roast Pork Shoulder)!



Pernil (Roast Pork Shoulder) is a staple at many Puerto Rican celebrations. Flavored with lots of garlic and herbs and topped with a crunchy skin (cuero or chicharrón).

10 pound pork shoulder bone-in, skin-on
1/4 cup white vinegar
16 cloves garlic (or 2 heads) peeled and mashed to a paste
2 tablespoons Sofrito
2 tablespoons Adobo seasoning
2 tablespoons onion powder (NOT granulated garlic as mentioned in the video)
1 1/2 tablespoons sazón
1 1/2 tablespoons dried oregano leaves
1/2 tablespoon kosher salt plus more for seasoning prior to roasting
1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper

Find the full recipe here:
https://senseandedibility.com/pernil-roast-pork-shoulder/

Equipment used in this video:
Boning knife: https://amzn.to/3GjWfyt
Chef Knife: https://amzn.to/3njRSMd
Pilón: https://amzn.to/3feSAWU
Roaster with Rack: https://amzn.to/3K2IJSc

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.*

Timestamps:
Intro: 00:00
Prepping the Pernil: 01:46
Making the Marinade: 03:21
Marinating the Pernil: 04:54
Types of Pans for Roasting: 06:19
Roasting the Pernil: 07:04
FAQs: 09:16
Outtakes: 22:42

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34 Comments

  2. Gary Suarez

    In the Army amongst Caribbean Latinos and in my youth when my Dad used to play at Spanish mass (he was stationed in SC, that is what it was called) this was the centerpiece of any celebration.

    Please believe me when I say, I could smell this as you cooked it.

    Thank you.

    Gonna make this the center of my holidays again.

    (beats dry a$$ turkey, lemme tell ya…)

  4. terri mcclain

    Thank you so much for this. I made Pernil for the 1st time & am nervous. I made 1 huge mistake that I'm too embarrassed to post 😮 The house smells amazing though & I think it will be just fine. I'm going to keep your page so that next time I'll have perfection! Should have taken the time to watch this 1st 😳 Thanks again.

  7. HECTOR MARRERO

    Good evening just wanted to say thank you so much for your video. For the first time I make two perniles and omg the compliments I got was so awesome. I give you all the credit for it. Thank you and God Bless. ❤

  9. Jerry Callender

    Greetings from Tucson, Arizona USA.
    Food City has fresh shoulders on special for .99 this week.
    I'm gonna try your recipe.

  10. Jus Living

    My daughter & I followed your recipe and instructions in this "Let's make Pernil" video. It was not only a fun Father/Daughter experience we also had a fantastic Pernil to show for it. Our family gobbled it without taking a breath. Thanks so much. Que Dios lo bendiga🙂🙏🏽❤️

  20. Egg

    You had me from the start, smacking that cuerito and with your beautiful voice and energy. My pernil is happy in the fridge soaking up all those flavors right now for my birthday on Monday!🎉 Thank you for explaining everything so well! I made your basic adobo too! ❤😊

  21. james b

    My mother made this every holiday. Its a Arican American thing too. Its just flavored differently. I love it this way though.

  22. james b

    I wanna try the roasting pan with the handles with the grate thingy. Will my pernil still be juicy and tender?

  24. Zenitsu

    This is BY FAR THE BEST pernil i’ve ever made!!

    If you’re greedy like me, then this comment is definitely for you lol.
    I used a 7lb pork shoulder, seasoned it just like the video described (yup, all that seasoning for a 10lb used on a 7lb), then i popped it in the oven for 4hrs. No marinating! The salty (not at all overly salty), garlicky flavor was heaven! The skin was soo crispy!

    I was genuinely, but pleasantly surprised that it came out tasting better than pernil that i’ve marinated for up to TWO days!! This is the only recipe you’ll ever need

  25. Emma Poe

    Oh my goodness that was amazing I love and I wish I was there while you were tearing it apart I would be eating that cuerito I am having my family which is about 17 of us a little bit more for a Puerto Rican feas

    this weekend July 29, so this is going to be one of the top receta pollo guisado carne de res guisada arroz con habichuela Soruyos plátanos frito los Mojito para los plátano y el Mojito para los Sorullo voy a hacer pastelillos de guayaba un flan quería hacer un tembleque pero no sé si la familia le gusta el tembleque😂 bueno si Dios quiere es lo que voy a hacer pues muchas gracias que Dios te bendiga y que lindo que se lo fuiste a llevar para los fireman

  26. james b

    Ok I watched this again, and you had me laughing this time. I'm going to practice. I'm using a gas oven. Will it affect the consistency of the heat? Can I mix the salt with the Sofrito? I absolutely trust your instructions, but why do some people use sour orange juice in their paste?

  27. Braaidude

    I'm probably missing something here but you're adding the garlic paste you what looks like a gremolata , not a soffritto. A soffritto is like a French mire poix or the vegetable trinity generally used as a base for casseroles.

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