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    Home » Dinner Recipes » Paleta de Cerdo

    Published: Jun 1, 2023 Modified: Jun 1, 2023 by Catherine Arena Leave a Comment

    Paleta de Cerdo

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    Paleta de Cerdo (Boston Butt) Pinterest image.
    Paleta de Cerdo (Boston Butt) Pinterest image.

    This Paleta de Cerdo (Boston Pork Butt Roast) recipe is savory, tender and the perfect one pan meal. Loaded with potatoes, onions, mini cobs, carrots and lots of flavor. Perfect any day of the week and great for special occasions.

    Paleta de Cerdo (Boston Butt) served on a white platter with potatoes, corn cobs, onions and carrots.

    Just like our Lomo Relleno (Stuffed Pork Loin) recipe, this Paleta de Cerdo Asada (Boston Pork Butt Roast), is one of my absolute favorite pork dishes to prepare.

    It always turns out perfectly caramelized on the outside and fantastically moist and tender on the inside.

    Seasoned simply, this pork roast takes care of itself in the oven.

    It’s excellent on sandwiches, used in tamales, birria quesadillas or pork enchiladas and even cut up and added to a soup.

    Or cook it with a side of potatoes, carrots and corn cobs and you would have created the perfect one dish meal that is guaranteed to make the whole family happy!

    Jump to:
    • Reasons to Love this Roast
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions for Paleta de Cerdo al Horno
    • SUBSTITUTIONS AND VARIATIONS
    • How to Store the Leftovers?
    • How to Reheat?
    • Can I Freeze the Leftovers?
    • Other Pork Dishes You Will Love
    • 📖 Recipe
    • Other Side Dishes that Pair with This Dish
    Paleta de Cerdo Asada (Boston Butt Roast) fully cooked in a roasting pan surrounded by potatoes, corn cobs, onions and carrots.

    Reasons to Love this Roast

    • Simply Seasoned– add basic spices and this roast does the rest! Unlike other large cuts of meat that need at least 24 hours to marinate, this roast just needs 3 hours.
    • Not Just a Roast– have leftovers? This roast is excellent in a multitude of dishes! One of my favorites is Cuban Sandwiches!
    • One Roasting Pan Dish– cook the potatoes, carrots, onions and corn cobs with the pork for a one pan dish. Feeds the whole family!
    • Leftovers– get a large roast and have leftovers you can freeze and use in another dish like loaded fries.

    Here’s a Loaded Fries Recipe by The Recipe Critic

    Ingredients

    Paleta de Cerdo list of ingredients
    • Boston Butt – is the perfect roast to use when you’re short on marinating time and still produces the most flavorful roast.
    • Potatoes, Carrots, Onions and Corn Cobs – these three vegetables are perfect for a one pot dish!
    • Adobo – sprinkled all over the pork.
    • Seasoning – fresh garlic mashed in a mortar and pestle and mixed with oregano, pepper and oil to form a paste that is then spread all over the pork butt.
    • Apple Cider Vinegar and Fresh Lime Juice – when the pork is almost fully done, the vinegar and lime juice is poured over the pork adding amazing flavor and helps to tenderize the pork even more.

    See my recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.

    Paleta de Cerdo (Boston Butt) served on a white platter with potatoes, corn cobs, onions and carrots.

    Instructions for Paleta de Cerdo al Horno

    Garlic added to a mortar and pestle and mashed.
    Oregano added to the mortar and pestle.
    1. Using a mortar and pestle, add the garlic and mash.
    1. Once the garlic is fully mashed, add the oregano and pepper and mash again.
    1. Add the oil and mix the ingredients together. Set aside until ready to use.
    Slits have been made to the pork roast and layed in a white casserole.
    The boston butt has been seasoned with the adobo and garlic, oregano mixture.
    1. Rinse the pork butt under cool water and set on a cutting board.
    1. Using a sharp knife, cut large slits all over and around the pork. Each slit should be about an inch and a half deep.
    1. Rub the garlic, oregano rub all over the pork as well as into the cuts.
    1. Sprinkle adobo all over the pork to season.
    1. Place the pork in a large casserole, cover and refrigerate. Marinate the pork for 3-5 hours or overnight.
    The boston butt is placed on top of the roasting rack to bake.
    Paleta de Cerdo taken out of the oven to add the potatoes, onions, carrots and corn cobs.
    1. Remove the pork butt and set for 20 minutes on the counter.
    1. Preheat the oven to 400° degrees.
    1. Add 4 peeled garlic cloves, sliced onion, chicken bouillon and 1½ cups of water to the bottom of a roasting pan. Place roast on top of roasting rack and cook for one hour uncovered.
    1. After one hour, remove the roast from the oven and carefully remove the roasting rack allowing the roast to rest on top of the liquid.
    1. Surround the roast with the potatoes, corn, onions and carrots. Cook for another hour.

    Note: Add more water to the pan if needed.

    The roast has been taken out of the oven and topped with the vinegar and lime juice.
    The paleta de cerdo (Boston Butt) is fully cooked and sitting in the roasting pan.
    1. Remove roast from the oven and pour the vinegar and lime juice over the top of the roast. Cook for an additional 30-40 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 160° degrees.
    1. Once the roast is fully cooked, remove it from the oven and allow it to rest for 20 minutes before slicing.
    1. Slice it into desired thickness, serve with the veggies and pour some of the juices over the meat and veggies. Enjoy!

    SUBSTITUTIONS AND VARIATIONS

    What Other Vegetables Can I Add?

    • Brussel spouts are delicious with this roast too!

    Can I Use Sweet Potatoes Instead?

    • Absolutely! Or use a combination of both!

    Must I Use Adobo as Part of the Seasoning?

    • No, if you do not have adobo, simply add salt, pepper and paprika all over the roast.

    What if I Don’t have a Rack to Lay the Roast?

    • You can lay the roast directly on top of the onions, bouillon and water.

    How to Store the Leftovers?

    Add the leftovers to a container and place in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

    If roast has not been eaten by the fifth day, discard it.

    How to Reheat?

    To reheat, simply add the roast to a preheated oven or microwave it for a few minutes until heated through.

    Paleta de Cerdo (Boston Butt) served on a white platter with potatoes, corn cobs, onions and carrots.

    Can I Freeze the Leftovers?

    Absolutely! You either leave the roast whole, slice it, cut up into chunks or cut it whatever way you like and place it in a freezer safe plastic bag.

    Store it up to 2 months.

    Other Pork Dishes You Will Love

    • Puerto Rican Pernil served on a white platter.
      Pernil Asado (Roast Pork Shoulder)
    • Jamon Glaseado (Glazed Ham) fully cooked and topped with pineapple slices served inside a casserole dish.
      Jamón Glaseado (Glazed Ham)
    • Cooked tamales served on a white platter with salsa verde and hot sauce.
      Tamales Rojos de Puerco
    • Chuletas con Salsa de Hongos (Pork Chops with Creamy Mushroom Sauce) served in a cast iron skillet.
      Chuletas con Salsa de Hongos

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    Did you try this recipe? Please leave a ⭐ review below!

    📖 Recipe

    Paleta de Cerdo (Boston Butt) served on a white platter with potatoes, corn cobs, onions and carrots.

    Paleta de Cerdo

    This Paleta de Cerdo (Boston Pork Butt Roast) recipe is savory, tender and the perfect one pan meal. Loaded with potatoes, onions, mini cobs, carrots and lots of flavor. Perfect any day of the week and great for special occasions.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dinner
    Cuisine: American, Puerto Rican
    Prep Time: 3 hours hours
    Cook Time: 2 hours hours 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 5 hours hours 30 minutes minutes
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 919kcal
    Author: Catherine Arena

    Equipment

    • mortar and pestle, mini food chopper or blender
    • large roasting pan or oven resistant casserole

    Ingredients

    • 8 pound Boston butt rinsed

    Marinade

    • 8 cloves garlic peeled
    • 1 tablespoon oregano
    • 1 teaspoon ground pepper
    • 2 tablespoon vegetable oil

    Seasoning

    • adobo sprinkled
    • 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
    • 2 limes juiced

    Veggies

    • 2 onions quartered
    • 4 potatoes peeled and cut into large chunks
    • 1½ cups carrots
    • 2 ears fresh corn dehusked, rinsed and cut into 6-8 pieces

    For Roasting Pan

    • 1 onion sliced thick
    • 1 chicken bouillon
    • 4 cloves garlic peeled

    Instructions

    Marinade

    • Using a mortar and pestle, add the garlic and mash.
    • Once the garlic is fully mashed, add the oregano and pepper and mash again.
    • Add the oil and mix the ingredients together. Set aside until ready to use.

    Seasoning

    • Rinse the pork butt under cool water and set on a cutting board.
    • Using a sharp knife, cut large slits all over and around the pork. Each slit should be about an inch and a half deep.
    • Rub the garlic, oregano rub all over the pork as well as into the cuts.
    • Sprinkle adobo all over the pork to season.
    • Place the pork in a large casserole, cover and refrigerate. Marinate the pork for 3-5 hours or overnight.
    • Remove the pork butt and set for 20 minutes on the counter.
    • Preheat the oven to 400° degrees.
    • Add 4 peeled garlic cloves, sliced onion, chicken bouillon and 1½ cups of water to the bottom of a roasting pan. Place roast on top of roasting rack and cook for one hour uncovered.
    • After one hour, remove the roast from the oven and carefully remove the roasting rack allowing the roast to rest on top of the liquid.
    • Surround the roast with the potatoes, corn, onions and carrots. Cook for another hour.
      Note: Add more water to the pan if needed.
    • Remove roast from the oven and pour the vinegar and lime juice over the top of the roast. Cook for an additional 30-40 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 160° degrees.
    • Once the roast is fully cooked, remove it from the oven and allow it to rest for 20 minutes before slicing.
    • Slice it into desired thickness, serve with the veggies and pour some of the pan juices over the meat and veggies. Enjoy!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 6 | Calories: 919kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 116g | Fat: 40g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 16g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 363mg | Sodium: 425mg | Potassium: 2379mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 5431IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 142mg | Iron: 8mg
    Tried this recipe?Click the stars above or below to rate or leave a comment down below!

    Other Side Dishes that Pair with This Dish

    • Ensalada de Frijoles Negros (Black Bean Salad) served in a white platter with a mixing bowl filled with the rest of the salad.
      Ensalada de Frijoles
    • Coles de Bruselas (Brussels Sprouts with Bacon) served in cast iron dishes.
      Coles de Bruselas con Tocino
    • Arroz con Gandules Apastelado cooked in a caldero with a side serving on a white plate.
      Arroz con Gandules Apastelado
    • Yuca Frita (Fried Yuca) served on a white plate with a cilantro garlic sauce and lime wedges.
      Yuca Frita (Fried Yuca)

    More Mexican & Puerto Rican Dinner Recipes

    • Cordero asado served on a white platter with a side of roast potatoes, glazed carrots, peas and a side of gravy.
      Cordero Asado al Horno
    • A fully cooked Bourbon Maple Glazed Ham served on a large white platter with a side of green beans.
      Bourbon Maple Glazed Ham
    • Macarrones con Queso (macaroni and cheese) baked in a casserole with a small serving on the side.
      Macarrones con Queso
    • Alambres de Res (Beef Kabobs) served on a white platter with a side of corn on the cob.
      Alambres de Res

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