Pernil Puertorriqueno

Name: Pernil Puertorriqueno
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 480 min
Total time: 510 min
Yield: 12 servings
Cuisine: Puerto Rican
Ingredients: 12 lb pork leg (skin-on, 12-15 lbs); 16 garlic cloves, peeled; 6 tbsp olive oil; 4 tbsp salt; 2 tsp black pepper; 2 tbsp dried oregano; 6 tbsp sofrito (frozen or jarred); 4 bay leaves; 2 cups water

A magnificent garlic-studded roasted pork leg with crispy skin and tender meat, the centerpiece of Puerto Rican celebrations and holidays. The skin crackles and sizzles while the meat inside stays succulent.

510 minMediumServes 12520 cal/serving

Puerto RicanDinnerOvenStandard

Ingredients

12 lb pork leg (skin-on, 12-15 lbs)
16 garlic cloves, peeled
6 tbsp olive oil
4 tbsp salt
2 tsp black pepper
2 tbsp dried oregano
6 tbsp sofrito (frozen or jarred)
4 bay leaves
2 cups water

Instructions

1

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Pat 12 lb pork leg (skin-on, 12-15 lbs) skin dry with paper towels.
2

Make slits in the pork leg (skin-on, 12-15 lbs) skin and insert 16 peeled garlic cloves into cuts throughout the meat.
3

In a small bowl, mix 6 tbsp olive oil, 4 tbsp salt, 2 tsp black pepper, 2 tbsp dried oregano, and 6 tbsp sofrito (frozen or jarred) to form a paste.
4

Rub the paste all over the pork leg (skin-on, 12-15 lbs), working it into the skin and meat thoroughly.
5

Place pork leg (skin-on, 12-15 lbs) skin-side up on a roasting pan. Pour 2 cups water into the bottom of the pan. Arrange 4 bay leaves around the meat.
6

Cover tightly with foil and roast for 4 hours, basting every hour.
7

Remove foil and increase oven temperature to 425 degrees F. Roast uncovered for 30-45 minutes until skin is golden and crispy.
8

Check that internal temperature reaches 180 degrees F at the thickest part (not touching bone).
9

Let rest 20 minutes before carving. Serve with the pan drippings as a gravy.

Questions

How long does Pernil Puertorriqueno keep?

Refrigerate leftovers within two hours and eat them within three days. Reheat uncovered in a 400 F oven (or an air fryer) for a few minutes to bring the crust back; the microwave softens it.

Can I halve or double Pernil Puertorriqueno?

Yes. As written it serves 12. Every ingredient in this entry carries precomputed half and double quantities, and the app's batch dial rewrites them inside each step. Doubled, split it across two pans and rotate them halfway; one crowded pan bakes unevenly.

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