Lechón asado tierno (receta de cerdo asado cubano)

Disfruta de la rica tradición de la Nochebuena cubana con este apetitoso lechón asado. La paletilla de cerdo se marina en una marinada casera de ajo y cítricos al mojo y luego se asa lentamente en el horno hasta alcanzar la perfección. El resultado es un cerdo desmenuzado tierno y jugoso con esa codiciada piel crujiente, lo que lo convierte en una deliciosa tradición que recuerda a las reuniones navideñas que querrás saborear todo el año.

📝 Ingredients

• 1 head garlic (peeled)
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 cups mojo marinade
• 8-10 lbs pork shoulder
• Arroz Congri

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1In a mortar and pestle, mash the garlic cloves, salt, peppercorns, onion, oregano, cumin, and olive oil until you get a paste. You're going to use this paste along with the mojo marinade for the pork. Set aside.
2. 2Place the pork shoulder in a roasting pan. You can use a roasting pan with a rack but it is optional, not mandatory for this recipe.
3. 3Grab the thick pork skin that is on top of the pork. Using a sharp knife, gently separate the skin from the pork enough for it to flap over backward. Do not cut it off completely.
4. 4Using the same knife, pierce the now uncovered pork a few times and pour the mojo marinade all over it. Leave the skin flap flipped back the whole time.
5. 5Next, generously rub the garlic paste, evenly, over the pork then flip the skin back down to cover the garlic paste. The skin must remain dry.
6. 6Cover the entire pork roast with aluminum foil and place in the fridge to marinate for 2-3 hours or overnight. The longer, the better.
7. 7When you're ready to roast the pork, preheat the oven to 375ºF.
8. 8Remove the pork from the fridge and allow it to come to room temperature.
9. 9Pat the skin of the pork with a paper towel before roasting. Remember the dryer the skin, the crispier it will be. This is the best part of Cuban roast pork! Leave the marinade in the roasting pan and the garlic paste on the pork. You will cook the pork with both of them.
10. 10Lightly spray aluminum foil with nonstick cooking spray. Cover the pork and the entire roasting pan with the oiled foil. This will help the foil not get stuck to the pork skin while it is roasting in the oven.
11. 11Place the pork shoulder in the oven and roast for 4 hours until the internal temp is 180ºF. (A good rule of thumb is to roast the pork for 30 minutes for every pound. Example: An 8-pound pork roast would cook for 4 hours.)
12. 12After 4 hours, remove the roasting pan from the oven. Increase the oven temperature to 450ºF. Remove the aluminum foil from the pork and roasting pan. Drain all the marinating liquid from the roasting but do not discard it.
13. 13Bake for another 30 minutes, uncovered, to crisp up the pork skin. Keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn’t burn!
14. 14Remove the roasting pan from the oven and allow the pork to rest for 20 minutes before shredding it with two forks.
15. 15Feel free to pour the leftover marinating liquid that you drained from the roasting pan over the now shredded pork so it stays juicy, moist, and delicious. Serve the roast pork with yuca and congri/moros. Enjoy!