Roasted Puerto Rican Pork Shoulder with Sofrito
A slow-roasted pork shoulder infused with a traditional Puerto Rican sofrito, delivering deep, aromatic flavors and tender meat. This caribbean-inspired pork ready in about 280 minutes pairs pork shoulder, olive oil, minced garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 calories and feeds 8, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 4 lbs pork shoulder
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 6, minced garlic cloves
- 1 medium, diced green bell pepper
- 1 medium, diced red bell pepper
- 1 large, diced onion
- 1/2 cup, chopped cilantro
- 2, seeded and chopped ajicito chili
- 1/2 cup tomato sauce
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 cup water
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 325°F. In a blender, combine 6 minced garlic cloves, 1 diced green bell pepper, 1 diced red bell pepper, 1 diced large onion, 1/2 cup chopped cilantro, and 2 chopped ajicito chilies; blend until finely chopped into a sofrito.
- Step 2: Rub 4 lbs pork shoulder with 3 tbsp olive oil, then season with 2 tsp salt, 1 tsp black pepper, 2 tsp dried oregano, and 1 tsp ground cumin evenly over the surface.
- Step 3: Place the pork shoulder in a roasting pan and pour 1 cup water, 1/2 cup tomato sauce, 1/4 cup orange juice, and 2 tbsp lime juice over and around the pork.
- Step 4: Spread the sofrito evenly over the pork shoulder, covering all sides.
- Step 5: Cover the roasting pan tightly with foil and roast for 3.5 to 4 hours, basting every hour with the pan juices until the pork is fork-tender and pulls apart easily.
- Step 6: Remove foil and roast uncovered for an additional 20 minutes to crisp the edges, then let rest for 15 minutes before shredding and serving.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Roasted Puerto Rican Pork Shoulder with Sofrito take to make?
Total time is about 280 minutes (20 min prep + 260 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Roasted Puerto Rican Pork Shoulder with Sofrito?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep pork shoulder from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Roasted Puerto Rican Pork Shoulder with Sofrito?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Roasted Puerto Rican Pork Shoulder with Sofrito for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 8 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 8). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Roasted Puerto Rican Pork Shoulder with Sofrito?
Caribbean pork like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
