Ingredients (14)
For the marinade:
- 1/2 cup peeled and coarsely chopped garlic (from about 1 medium head)
- 1/2 bunch fresh cilantro
- 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (from about 2 to 3 medium)
- 1/4 cup freshly squeezed sour orange juice (from about 2 medium)
- 1/4 cup packed fresh oregano leaves
- 1/4 cup water
- 3/4 cup olive oil
- 3/4 cup vegetable oil
For the pork:
- 3 tablespoons kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
- 1 (4-pound) bone-in pork shoulder (also known as pork butt)
- 1 large banana leaf, about 4 feet long and defrosted in the refrigerator if frozen
- 3/4 cup water
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A long soak in a citrus-, garlic-, cilantro-, and oregano-infused marinade gives this Puerto Rican pork dish from Sofrito restaurant in New York a mellow herby flavor. Cooking it slowly wrapped in banana leaves ensures a juicy, moist roast. Serve it up with some rice, black beans, and sweet plantains.
What to buy: Banana leaves are often kept in the frozen foods section of the grocery store. Thaw in the refrigerator before using.
If you can’t find sour oranges (also known as bitter oranges), use a mixture of half lemon juice and half grapefruit juice.
Game plan: Be sure to start making this a day before you want to serve it, as it needs 12 to 24 hours to marinate.
Tips for Pork
Tip
How to Freeze Pork
Pork fares best in the freezer if packaged with freezer-friendly materials like waxed paper, aluminum foil, or heavy-duty plastic bags.
Wrap any meat tightly so that air does not escape and freeze at 0°F. Generally, fresh cuts of pork can last up to six months, while ground pork can last up to three.
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Next: How to Thaw Pork
Tip
How to Thaw Pork
Pork is easiest to thaw when placed in the refrigerator in its original wrapping. Small roasts will take three to five hours per pound, while larger roasts can take up to seven hours per pound. Thawing ground pork depends entirely on the thickness of its packaging.
It is safe to cook frozen or partially-frozen pork, but its cooking time may take 50 percent longer. Frozen pork should not be cooked in a slow cooker.
It is safe to cook frozen or partially-frozen pork, but its cooking time may take 50 percent longer. Frozen pork should not be cooked in a slow cooker.
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2 of 3
Next: How to Store Pork
Tip
How to Store Pork
Sealed pork products can typically last in the fridge for two to four days, with ground pork having a slightly shorter shelf life at one to three. Ham or other smoked pork products like bacon can be stored for up to a week, though this only applies to products that aren’t vacuum sealed or prepared with preservatives. The latter can obviously last a lot longer.
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Next: How to Freeze Pork
Instructions
For the marinade:
- 1Place all ingredients except the oils in a blender and process until smooth. With the motor running, add the oils in a slow, steady stream until evenly incorporated; set aside.
For the pork:
- 1Combine the salt, oregano, and pepper in a small bowl.
- 2Rinse the pork with cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Make 3 to 4 horizontal incisions through the fat, cutting until you hit the flesh. Rub the pork all over with the salt mixture. Place in a large resealable plastic bag, add the marinade, and turn the pork to coat. Seal the bag and refrigerate, turning occasionally, for 12 to 24 hours.
- 3Heat the oven to 350°F and arrange a rack in the middle.
- 4Cut the banana leaf in half horizontally and overlap the two pieces of leaf so that they roughly form a rectangle about 2 feet long and 1 foot wide. Remove the pork from the marinade and place it on the banana leaves so that the short and long ends of the pork and the leaves match. Fold in the left and right sides of the leaves and roll up the pork like a burrito to completely encase the meat.
- 5Place the wrapped pork seam-side down in a Dutch oven or other large, heavy-bottomed pot with a tightfitting lid. Add the water, cover, and bake until the meat is fork tender, about 2 to 3 hours.
- 6Unwrap the pork, place it in a bowl, and, using two forks, shred it into bite-size pieces. If the meat is dry, add pan juices as needed and stir to combine. Serve with rice and beans.
