Slow-Braised Pork Shoulder with Mojo Verde Sauce
Tender pork shoulder slowly braised until falling apart, served with a vibrant Cuban mojo verde sauce made from fresh herbs and citrus. This latin american-inspired pork ready in about 200 minutes pairs pork shoulder, olive oil, garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 calories and feeds 6, 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
- 3 lbs, cut into 3-inch chunks pork shoulder
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 6 cloves, minced garlic cloves
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh oregano leaves
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
- 1/4 cup fresh orange juice
- 2 tbsp white vinegar
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1 cup water
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 300°F. In a large Dutch oven, heat 2 tbsp olive oil over medium-high heat. Add 3 lbs pork shoulder chunks and sear for 4-5 minutes per side until deeply browned and caramelized.
- Step 2: Remove pork and lower heat to medium. Add 6 minced garlic cloves, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 1/2 tsp sea salt, and 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper to the pot. Sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Step 3: Return pork to the pot and add 1 cup water. Cover tightly and transfer to the oven. Braise for 3 hours until pork is fork-tender and shreddable.
- Step 4: While pork cooks, prepare mojo verde sauce by blending 2 tbsp chopped fresh oregano, 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro, 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley, 1/4 cup fresh lime juice, 1/4 cup fresh orange juice, and 2 tbsp white vinegar in a food processor until smooth.
- Step 5: Serve shredded pork drizzled generously with mojo verde sauce alongside rice or warm tortillas.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Slow-Braised Pork Shoulder with Mojo Verde Sauce take to make?
Total time is about 200 minutes (20 min prep + 180 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 Slow-Braised Pork Shoulder with Mojo Verde Sauce?
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 Slow-Braised Pork Shoulder with Mojo Verde Sauce?
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 Slow-Braised Pork Shoulder with Mojo Verde Sauce for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 6 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 6). 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 Slow-Braised Pork Shoulder with Mojo Verde Sauce?
Latin American 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.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
This recipe is a keeper! The pork fell off the bone and the mojo verde sauce was perfect with rice and plantains.
- ★★★★★
Loved the tenderness of the pork and the fresh mojo verde. Made for my family and they were amazed!
- ★★★★☆
The pork was delicious but the sauce was a bit too tangy for my taste. Still, it's a great recipe.
