Cuban Grilled Pork (Lechon Asado)

Ingredients for Cuban Grilled Pork (Lechon Asado)

• 950ml (0.9L ) seville orange juice or 650ml lime juice and 325ml orange juice

• 1 tablespoon ground cumin

• 2 tablespoons dried oregano

• 2 heads garlic, roughly chopped

• 3 tablespoons salt

• 1 tablespoon black pepper

• 2 onions, cut into rings

• 6 to 3.6kg boneless pork shoulder butt (blade roast)

• Sel

How to make Cuban Grilled Pork (Lechon Asado)

Mix all marinade ingredients in a bowl and let sit for 10 minutes.

If using a flavour injector (see cooking notes), strain half the marinade into a bowl, adding the strained-out garlic to the other half of the marinade. Use the injector to take in some strained marinade, pierce the pork with the tip of the needle, and inject it into the flesh. Do this all over the meat until the strained marinade has been used up.

If you are not using a flavour injector, use a long, thin knife to create deep gashes all over the flesh and pour the marinade over the pork.

Place the marinated pork in a deep bowl or container. Generously season the outside of the pork with salt and pour the remaining marinade all over it, spreading the onion rings all over the top.

Cover well with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours.

Remove the pork from the marinade and place it on a platter. Transfer the marinade to a saucepan, add the onions, and bring to a boil for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow to cool. Place the boiled marinade and onions in a blender and puree until smooth. The marinade is now ready to use as a basting liquid.

Before heating your grill, remove the pork from the refrigerator and bring to room temperature.

Heat your grill to 288°C and close the lid. Wait at least 15 minutes before lowering the temperature to 149°C. Oil the grill grates with a vegetable oil-soaked paper towel held with a long pair of tongs.

If your cut has the skin still attached, begin the cooking process with the skin side up (away from the direct heat).

Grill your meat about 2 1/2 hours total. Turn the meat over once when you are one quarter through with the cooking time, again when you are halfway through, and once more when three-quarters of the cooking time has elapsed. The pork is ready when it reaches an internal temperature of 66°C on the grill (it will continue to cook when it's off the heat, raising the internal temperature to the desired 71°C).

Clause de non-responsabilité

While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, individual needs may vary and dietary requirements can differ based on personal health conditions. Always check food labels and allergen information before preparing or consuming any recipe. If you have specific health concerns, allergies, intolerances, or are following a medically prescribed diet, seek advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.