Pernil style roasted pork is a typical dish in Ecuador and many parts of Latin America. The pork is marinated in a sauce of bitter orange juice, onion, garlic, achiote, cloves, cinnamon, cumin and panela and slow roasted in the oven for several hours. The whole process for cooking pernil is close to hornado de chancho, however the marinade and spices are different. Pernil style pork adds clove and cinnamon which give the meat a very special flavor, also while the hornado meat should be very moist, the pernil meat is very dry, but both should be extremely tender. The roasted pork can be served as part of a meal, but many times is used to make sandwiches. Just like with hornado, a pork leg is usually used to make pernil, however a pork loin makes it easier to cut the roasted meat. Pork loin is also more readily available and is smaller than a pork leg (7 lbs vs. 20 lbs).
Pernil is pork marinated in a sauce of bitter orange juice, onion, garlic, achiote, cloves, cinnamon, cumin and panela and slow roasted in the oven for several hours.
Ingredients
- 6-7 lbs pork loin
- 1 tbs ground achiote or annatto seed
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 2 garlic heads, peeled
- 1 red onion, cut in large chunks
- 2 tbs grated panela or piloncillo (see more info on panela in this post)
- Juice from 3 bitter oranges (replace with 2 oranges and 1 lemon)
- Salt (about 2 tbs) and pepper (about 1/2 tbs), adjust to taste
- Whole potatoes sauteed in butter, pickled onions, fried ripe plantains and tree tomato hot sauce.
Instructions
- Blend the onions, garlic and bitter orange juice to obtain a puree.
- Mix the puree with the achiote, cloves, cinnamon, cumin, panela, salt and pepper. (Warning - this marinade is so strong will make you cry – even if you’re wearing contacts)
- Make several cuts or incisions in the pork loin and add the onion marinade, rub the pork loin with the marinade trying to get it in to the incisions.
- Let the meat marinate for at least 1 day (2-3 days is ideal), turn it over every 6-8 hours. This is a dry roast and the marinade on the roasting pan can leave stains - to avoid this I recommend lining your pan with foil.
- Pre-heat the oven to 275 F, bake for 3 hours, turning the roast every hour.
- Increase the oven temperature to 350F, bake for another 2 ½ hours, turning the roast every 30 minutes.
- Slice the meat finely and serve with whole potatoes sautéed in butter, fried ripe plantains, tomato slices, lettuce, radishes, pickled onions and tree tomato hot sauce.
Another difference between hornado and pernil is that for pernil the skin and as much fat as possible should be removed from the meat, and while the hornado needs to be constantly kept moist by “bathing” it with beer or chicha while roasting. Both roasted pork dishes are delicious with very different flavors and textures. I recommend trying both (well, not making both at the same time) to taste the difference. Also, several Latin American countries have different versions of pernil, which are very different than Ecuadorian pernil. For example, what is known as “pernil” in Puerto Rico is much more similar to Ecuadorian hornado de chancho.
Recommended side dishes:
Whole potatoes sauteed in butter
Step by step preparation photos for pernil roasted pork
Kimberly L. says
January 23, 2014 at 12:02 pmOh my goodness, the marinate is seriously unbelievable. It’s now going to be a hard wait until it’s ready. Thank you!
Carmen says
June 18, 2011 at 9:18 amI made this because I wanted to make pernil sandwiches for a “cafecito” with Ecuadorian friends. Everybody loved the pernil sandwiches -I also made the pickled onions.
The only problem that I had is that the marinade completely dried during the cooking process so my cooking pan got ruined and I had to put it in the trash afterwards. I will make sure that the marinade doesn’t dry next time.
Hi Carmen – Sorry to hear about your cooking pan, you can also line your pan with foil to prevent this from happening.
Gio says
March 6, 2011 at 12:31 pmThat’s what I was looking for. Today is sunday and I’m cooking it. Thank You.
amy says
February 12, 2011 at 9:46 pmLaylita, I adore your recipes. I am so excited about trying all the different things that you have here! I’m Cuban, and love making my family’s traditional recipes. The similarities and differences between Cuban and Ecuadorian food are so interesting to see! Cubans LOVE Lechon Asado, and our marinade and method of making it have many things in common with the recipe you posted here. Latin food is the BEST! Thanks so much for sharing
Victor says
June 8, 2010 at 1:36 pmHi, I am also from Ecuador living in the USA. I was curious about finding a good recipe for Pernil. As a kid, I remember eating a sandwich made out of this delicious meat every once in a while when I would go to the ‘Centro de Quito’ with mom and grandpa. It was a treat I will never forget.
I have been fortunate to have married a ‘Great Cook’, as well, that also enjoys making diferent types of dishes from all over the world (France included :) ). My son and I reap the benefits (and sometimes the failures :) ) of these ‘excursions’ but we enjoy every minute of them.
I will try to bake the Pernil in my brick oven that I built a couple of years ago and so far cooks pork real tender and in the old rustic fashion…. can’t wait!
Thanks for your website.
Talía Loaiza says
February 26, 2009 at 10:06 pmI just found your blog; I never though I would find such a treasure! I am also from Loja, have the same memories of: “las papas del soda,” “la feria,” “los cuentos de fantasmas,” “los castillos”… And, as you can imagine, with all those wonderful recipies: “se me hace agua la boca.” I have the flavor of your dishes in my mouth. I want to prepare them all and cannot wait to get started. :)
Thanks a lot for all your work, and keep surprising us with your creations.
Talía Loaiza
Austin, TX
Joe says
August 13, 2008 at 11:24 pmHey guys, love the site and the pork looks great. The pictures are wonderful as well. I just did a Pork Tenderloin myself with a Romesco sauce. If you have the time please come by and take a look and let me know what you think. http://cookingquest.wordpress.com
Thanks so much, I’ll be back for sure!!!
Joe
iris says
August 1, 2008 at 6:04 amlooks very delicious…i love to explore the taste of food by using herbs & spices..the plate presentation is good but i guess if it will be base on a standard presentation of ingredients, specially the side dishes it must not go beyond the plate’s border line.
Migdalia says
July 18, 2008 at 11:06 amWhen I googled pernil, I never thought I would find something this beautiful. The presentation that you used is simple, but yet enough to enhance the mind about all the delicious flavors that this plate has. Your images make my mind water and turn on my appetite.
baby says
March 19, 2008 at 3:48 pmNice website!!
Off the (meat) hook says
March 14, 2008 at 6:08 pmThis looks great! I can’t wait to try it.
Chuck says
March 13, 2008 at 10:43 amMy God! that roasted pork loin looks good with those roasted potatoes too. To die for!
Gretchen Noelle says
March 12, 2008 at 8:42 pmThis looks delicious. The word “panela” caught my eye on tastespotting. I don’t see that very often, yet I know exactly what it is. I have lived in Peru for 5 years and love the cuisine of latin america. This pork looks delicious and will be bookmarked for a later date. Thanks!
MrsDocChuck says
March 12, 2008 at 8:39 amLaylita:
As I explained earlier, my husband’s disability prevents us from traveling anymore. Being a “shut in” is certainly trying for him :(
But we have discovered the enchanting world of Ecuadorian cuisine through your website!
And now you treat us to the recipes for an entire traditional dinner with all the trimmings! I can practically smell that delicious-looking pork roast.
This will be my Sunday project. Keep your fingers crossed that my husband’s mental health cooperates, as the man simply adores pork roast when he’s well.
THANKS!!!