Pernil with Roasted Garlic Sweet Potatoes

Name: Pernil with Roasted Garlic Sweet Potatoes
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 4 h
Ingredients: For the pernil:; 4–5 lb pork shoulder (bone-in, skin-on) 🐖; 2 tbsp adobo seasoning 🧂; 1 tbsp sazón 🌶️; 6 garlic cloves 🧄; 1 tbsp oregano 🌿; 2 tsp black pepper; 1/4 cup olive oil 🫒; 2 tbsp white vinegar; Juice of 1 orange or 1/4 cup sour orange juice 🍊; For the sweet potatoes:; 3 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed 🍠; 2 tbsp olive oil 🫒; 1/2 tsp salt 🧂; 1/2 tsp smoked paprika 🌶️ (optional); 5–6 cloves garlic, roasted or minced 🧄

Prep: 15 min + overnight marinate ⏱️Cook: , Calories, and CostTotal: ~4 hours active

Story

For Don Luis, *pernil* wasn’t just a meal—it was a ritual. The marinade started the night before, and the slow roast meant the house smelled like celebration all day. But one day, instead of arroz con gandules, he paired it with roasted sweet potatoes and garlic. Everyone at the table looked surprised. One bite later, they were hooked. *“A veces el cambio trae bendición,”* he said, raising his fork. Y qué bendición más sabrosa! Prep & Cook Time, Calories, and Cost

Ingredients

For the pernil:
4–5 lb pork shoulder (bone-in, skin-on) 🐖
2 tbsp adobo seasoning 🧂
1 tbsp sazón 🌶️
6 garlic cloves 🧄
1 tbsp oregano 🌿
2 tsp black pepper
0.25 cup olive oil 🫒
2 tbsp white vinegar
Juice of 1 orange or 1/4 cup sour orange juice 🍊
For the sweet potatoes:
3 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed 🍠
2 tbsp olive oil 🫒
0.5 tsp salt 🧂
0.5 tsp smoked paprika 🌶️ (optional)
5–6 cloves garlic, roasted or minced 🧄

Instructions

1For the pernil:
2Mash garlic with seasonings, oil, and vinegar to make a paste.
3Pierce pork and rub marinade all over. Cover and refrigerate overnight ❄️
4Roast uncovered at 325°F (160°C) for 3.5 to 4 hours until fork-tender and skin is crispy. Let rest before slicing 🔪
5For the sweet potatoes:
6Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) 🔥
7Toss sweet potato cubes with oil, salt, paprika, and garlic.
8Roast for 30–35 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and soft.

About the narrator

Don Luis · A character for three generations

Don Luis is the brand character and narrator for this catalog: a warm voice for Puerto Rican family recipes tested by the real creator behind the brand. The project carries three generations of flavor and writes each recipe step by step so any kid can follow it.

Read our mission →