Description
Barefoot Contessa’s slow roasted spiced pork delivers rich, complex flavors from carefully selected Mediterranean ingredients. Succulent meat promises a delightful culinary experience you can savor with friends and family.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 bone-in pork shoulder (pork butt), 3.2–4 kg (7–8.8 lbs), with fat layer on top
- 17g sea salt
- 1.5 tbsps ground cumin
- 1.5 tsps chipotle chile powder
- 1.5 tsps freshly ground black pepper
- 0.25 cup (15g) chopped fresh oregano
- 6 garlic cloves
- 1 large yellow onion, chopped
- 1 jalapeño, ribs removed, seeded, and chopped
- 1.5 tbsps apple cider vinegar
- 60 ml (2 fl oz) olive oil
- 750 ml (25.4 fl oz) dry white wine (Pinot Grigio)
- Lime wedges, for serving
Instructions
- Pork Preparation: Create a crosshatch pattern on the fat layer and make 12 precise incisions around the meat’s surface. Preheat oven to 150°C (300°F), verifying temperature with an oven thermometer.
- Seasoning Crafting: Combine garlic, onion, jalapeño, and oregano in a food processor. Pulse with ground cumin, chile powder, kosher salt, and black pepper to create a cohesive spice blend. Incorporate white vinegar and extra-virgin olive oil to form a vibrant paste.
- Roasting Setup: Massage the seasoning thoroughly across the entire pork surface. Place the roast fat-side up in a spacious roasting pan. Pour dry white wine into the pan’s base and seal completely with aluminum foil to preserve moisture.
- Slow Cooking Process: Roast for 2½ hours at a consistent low temperature. Remove foil and continue cooking for an additional 4 to 4½ hours. Replenish wine periodically to maintain moisture and prevent drying.
- Resting and Serving: Check pork for ultimate tenderness, ensuring meat pulls apart easily. Remove from oven and tent with foil for 15-30 minutes to redistribute internal juices. Slice against the grain, garnish with sea salt, and serve with fresh lime wedges for a zesty finish.
Notes
- Optimize Meat Preparation: Score fat layer in crosshatch pattern to help seasoning penetrate and create crispy exterior.
- Master Spice Blend Technique: Process herbs and spices thoroughly to develop maximum flavor complexity and even distribution.
- Control Moisture Retention: Use aluminum foil and periodic wine additions to prevent meat from drying during extended slow-roasting process.
- Perfect Resting Strategy: Allow meat to rest after cooking for 15-30 minutes to ensure juices redistribute, guaranteeing tender, succulent results.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 5 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg