Season 11 - Lunch / S11L19
Pernil Arepas with Pickled Onions
Story
Don Luis was humming along to an old salsa record, the smell of slow-roasted pernil drifting through the house like a warm hug. 🎶 His grandson peeked into the kitchen, eyes wide. “Is that pork for sandwiches, Abuelo?” Don Luis chuckled and patted his jean and leather apron, proudly embossed with his name. “Even better, mijo—today we’re stuffing arepas! 🫓💥” As the pickled onions cooled on the counter, their tangy scent mingled with the savory pork, creating a symphony of flavors. Don Luis always said, “An arepa without soul is just a flatbread—but with pernil and love, it becomes a story.” ❤️✨ Time + Nutrition + Cost
Ingredients
- For the Pernil (Slow-Roasted Pork):
- 1½ lbs pork shoulder (pernil), boneless 🐖
- 4 cloves garlic, minced 🧄
- 1 tsp oregano 🌿
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 0.5 tsp smoked paprika 🌶️
- Salt & pepper to taste 🧂
- 2 tbsp olive oil 🫒
- Juice of 1 orange 🍊
- Juice of 1 lime 🍋
- For the Pickled Onions:
- 1 red onion, thinly sliced 🧅
- 0.5 cup apple cider vinegar 🍎
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- For the Arepas:
- 1½ cups pre-cooked white cornmeal (Harina PAN) 🌽
- 2 cups warm water 💧
- 0.5 tsp salt 🧂
- 1 tbsp butter (for cooking) 🧈
Instructions
- 1Marinate the Pernil:
- 2Rub the pork shoulder with garlic, oregano, cumin, paprika, salt, pepper, olive oil, orange juice, and lime juice. Let it marinate for at least 1 hour (overnight for best flavor).
- 3Roast the Pork:
- 4Preheat oven to 325°F (165°C). Place pork in a baking dish, cover with foil, and roast for 2.5–3 hours or until tender and pull-apart ready. Shred with forks and set aside. 🔥
- 5Pickle the Onions:
- 6In a small pot, bring vinegar, sugar, and salt to a simmer. Pour over sliced onions in a jar or bowl. Let cool and refrigerate. Ready in about 30 mins. 💖
- 7Make the Arepas:
- 8In a bowl, combine cornmeal, warm water, and salt. Let rest for 5 mins. Form into flat rounds about ½ inch thick.
- 9Cook on a buttered skillet over medium heat for ~5 mins per side until golden. 🫓✨
- 10Assemble:
- 11Slice arepas open and stuff with shredded pernil and a generous helping of pickled onions. Optional: add avocado slices or a dollop of mayo-ketchup sauce. 🥑💥
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 →