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Cuban-Style Roast Pork Shoulder with Mojo

Ingredients

For the Mojo:

8 medium garlic cloves, minced

2 teaspoons (8g) ground cumin

2 teaspoons (8g) freshly ground black pepper

1/4 cup (about 1 small handful) minced fresh oregano leaves

1/2 cup (120ml) fresh orange juice from 1 to 2 oranges (see Note)

1/4 cup (60ml) fresh lime juice from 3 to 4 limes (see Note)

1/4 cup (60ml) extra-virgin olive oil

Kosher salt

For the Pork and to Finish:

1 (6-8 pound; 3-3.5kg) boneless pork shoulder roast, rind removed

1/4 cup (about 1 small handful) finely chopped fresh mint leaves

3 tablespoons (about 3 very large pinches) finely chopped fresh oregano leaves

Lime wedges, for serving

Steamed rice, black beans, and maduros, for serving

Directions

For the Mojo: Combine garlic, cumin, pepper, oregano, orange juice, lime juice, and olive oil in a large bowl and whisk. Season to taste generously with salt. Transfer half of mojo to a sealed container and reserve in refrigerator. Add pork to remaining mojo and turn to coat. If desired, transfer pork and marinade to a gallon-sized zipper-lock bag and refrigerate 2 hours or up to overnight before continuing.

For the Pork and to Finish: Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and preheat oven to 275°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with a double layer of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Place pork and juices on top and fold up foil, crimping to seal loosely but making sure that there is room for air to circulate inside. Place in oven and roast for 3 hours. Fold back foil, increase oven temperature to 325°F, and continue roasting, basting pork with pan juices occasionally, until pork shows almost no resistance when a metal skewer or knife is inserted into it and the surface is crackly and brown, 2 to 3 hours longer. Remove pork from oven and let rest 10 to 15 minutes.

Pour accumulated pork juices into a bowl and discard all except 1 cup. Add reserved mojo to pork drippings, along with fresh chopped mint and oregano. Whisk together and season to taste with salt.

Serve shredded pork, passing mint mojo and lime wedges on the side. Serve rice, beans, and plantains on the side. Reserve any leftovers for sandwiches.

Notes

If you can find sour Seville oranges (naranjas ágrias), use their juice in place of both the orange and the lime juice.

Nutrition

(per serving)
257 Calories 13g Fat 22g Carbs 13g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6 to 10
Amount per serving
Calories 257
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 13g 17%
Saturated Fat 4g 19%
Cholesterol 39mg 13%
Sodium 190mg 8%
Total Carbohydrate 22g 8%
Dietary Fiber 1g 5%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 13g
Vitamin C 16mg 80%
Calcium 42mg 3%
Iron 2mg 9%
Potassium 248mg 5%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.