Spanish Roasted Pork Shoulder with Garlic and Bay Leaves
Succulent pork shoulder slow-roasted with garlic cloves and aromatic bay leaves, delivering tender meat with classic Spanish flavors. This spanish-inspired pork ready in about 230 minutes pairs pork shoulder, bone-in, garlic cloves, sliced thin, leaves dried bay leaves 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 pork shoulder, bone-in
- 6 cloves garlic cloves, sliced thin
- 3 leaves dried bay leaves
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tsp smoked Spanish paprika
- 1 tbsp sea salt
- 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- 1/2 cup water
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C). Rub 3 lbs bone-in pork shoulder all over with 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, 2 tsp smoked Spanish paprika, 1 tbsp sea salt, and 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper.
- Step 2: Using a sharp knife, make small slits all over the pork shoulder and insert thin slices from 6 garlic cloves and tuck 3 dried bay leaves between the meat.
- Step 3: Place the pork shoulder fat side up in a roasting pan. Pour 1/2 cup dry white wine and 1/2 cup water into the pan around the pork.
- Step 4: Roast uncovered for about 3 to 3.5 hours, basting every 45 minutes with pan juices, until the pork is fork-tender and the crust is golden and slightly crisp.
- Step 5: Remove from oven and let rest for 15 minutes before slicing and serving with pan juices spooned over.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Spanish Roasted Pork Shoulder with Garlic and Bay Leaves take to make?
Total time is about 230 minutes (20 min prep + 210 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 Spanish Roasted Pork Shoulder with Garlic and Bay Leaves?
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, bone-in from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Spanish Roasted Pork Shoulder with Garlic and Bay Leaves?
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 Spanish Roasted Pork Shoulder with Garlic and Bay Leaves 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 Spanish Roasted Pork Shoulder with Garlic and Bay Leaves?
Spanish 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.
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