The Bold Barefoot Contessa Slow Roasted Spiced Pork Recipe

This slow-roasted spiced pork brings warmth and complexity to any dinner.

Bold seasonings soak into the meat, filling each slice with layers of flavor.

A long, low roast ensures it comes out juicy and tender with barely any effort.

The blend of Mediterranean and Latin spices keeps your taste buds guessing with every bite.

It’s the kind of dish that makes your home smell amazing hours before dinner is served.

Each piece is soft, savory, and deeply satisfying.

Relish the Rich Flavor of Slow Roasted Spiced Pork

• Unlock Flavor Explosion: The spice paste combines jalapeño, garlic, cumin, and oregano, creating a bold, complex taste that transforms ordinary pork into a mouth-watering masterpiece.
• Master Slow-Cooking Magic: This recipe teaches the art of low-and-slow roasting, turning tough meat into incredibly tender, melt-in-your-mouth perfection with minimal effort and maximum flavor development.
• Wine-Infused Moisture Miracle: Continuous wine additions during roasting keep the pork supremely juicy, infusing rich depth and preventing any dryness while creating an incredible pan sauce.
• Stress-Free Cooking Adventure: With simple prep and hands-off cooking technique, this recipe allows home cooks to achieve restaurant-quality results without complicated techniques or constant monitoring.

The Must-Have Components for Spiced Pork Perfection

Main Ingredients:

• Pork Shoulder: Premium cut with rich marbling, perfect for slow roasting and developing deep flavors.

• Garlic, Onion, Jalapeño: Fresh aromatics that create a vibrant, complex flavor foundation for the meat.
• Oregano: Classic herb that adds earthy, slightly peppery notes to the spice blend.

• Cumin: Warm, nutty spice that provides authentic southwestern depth to the dish.
• Chile Powder: Adds smoky heat and rich color to the spice paste.
• Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasoning for enhancing overall flavor profile.

• White Wine: Provides moisture and helps tenderize the meat during slow roasting.
• Olive Oil: Helps bind spices and creates smooth, spreadable spice paste.
• Vinegar: Adds tangy brightness and helps break down meat fibers.
• Lime: Fresh citrus for bright, zesty finishing touch when serving.

Your Stepwise Guide to a Juicy Spiced Pork Roast

Step 1: Prepare Cooking Environment

Warm your oven to 300°F (150°C). Confirm exact temperature using an oven thermometer for precision. Create decorative crosshatch patterns on pork’s fat layer and make 12 shallow cuts around the meat’s surface.

Step 2: Craft Aromatic Spice Blend

• Fresh garlic cloves
• Onion
• Jalapeño pepper
• Dried oregano
• Ground cumin
• Chile powder
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• White vinegar
• Extra virgin olive oil

Pulse ingredients in food processor until smooth and well-combined, creating a vibrant, fragrant mixture.

Step 3: Massage Meat With Seasoning

Generously coat entire pork surface with spice blend, ensuring complete coverage. Transfer meat to spacious roasting pan with fat facing upward. Pour white wine around protein to create moisture base.

Step 4: Slow Roast With Care

Cover pan tightly with aluminum foil. Roast for 2.5 hours at steady temperature. Uncover and continue cooking 4-4.5 additional hours. Replenish wine every two hours to maintain moisture. Meat is ready when exceptionally tender and easily pulls apart.

Step 5: Final Touches And Serving

Remove from oven. Tent with foil and allow meat to rest 15-30 minutes. Slice against grain. Sprinkle with extra salt. Garnish with fresh lime wedges for bright, zesty accent.

Pro Techniques for Elevating Spiced Pork

• Maximize Flavor Absorption: Score the fat cap in a crosshatch pattern to help seasonings penetrate deeper into the meat, creating a more flavorful and aromatic dish.
• Overnight Marinating Magic: Give the pork an extra flavor boost by letting it sit in the spice rub overnight, allowing the seasonings to fully infuse and tenderize the meat.
• Temperature Precision Matters: Use a reliable meat thermometer to hit the perfect internal temperature of 95°C (203°F), guaranteeing a tender and juicy result every time.
• Resting Ritual: Let the cooked pork rest for 15-30 minutes after roasting, which allows the juices to redistribute and ensures each bite remains incredibly moist and delicious.
• Serving Flexibility: Transform your roasted pork into either tender pulled meat perfect for sandwiches or beautifully sliced pieces for an elegant main course, adapting to your meal's style.

Keep Your Spiced Pork Tender and Tasty

Seal the roasted pork in vacuum-sealed bags to maximize freshness and prevent freezer burn. Professional chefs recommend this method for preserving meat’s original texture and flavor profile. Vacuum sealing removes air pockets that could compromise the meat’s quality during long-term storage.

Divide leftover pork into individual portion sizes before freezing. Wrap each portion tightly in plastic wrap, then place inside freezer-safe containers to prevent moisture loss and protect against freezer odors. Smaller portions thaw faster and provide convenient meal prep options for quick weeknight dinners.

Label each container with the date and contents using waterproof markers. Track storage duration easily and ensure you consume the pork within its peak quality window. Color-coded stickers or transparent tape can help organize your freezer inventory efficiently.

Innovative Twists on Slow Roasted Pork

• Citrus Herb Infusion: Replace jalapeño with orange zest and add fresh rosemary and thyme to the spice paste for a bright, Mediterranean-inspired flavor profile.
• Caribbean Jerk Style: Swap chile powder with Caribbean jerk seasoning, incorporate allspice and ginger, and use rum instead of wine for a tropical Caribbean-inspired pork roast.
• Smoky Chipotle Version: Substitute regular chile powder with chipotle powder, add smoked paprika, and include a touch of brown sugar to create a rich, smoky-sweet pork experience.
• Asian-Inspired Marinade: Replace oregano with ginger and five-spice powder, use rice wine instead of regular wine, and finish with a drizzle of sesame oil for an authentic Asian-inspired roast.

A Hearty Farewell to Spiced Pork Delicacy

Succulent pork transforms classic dinner expectations with Barefoot Contessa’s masterful slow-roasted recipe.

Rich spices dance across tender meat, creating memorable culinary experiences.

Mediterranean influences shine through robust ingredients like oregano and cumin.

Jalapeño’s subtle heat provides sophisticated complexity beyond standard roast techniques.

Weekend meal preparation becomes an extraordinary celebration of flavor and technique.

Culinary adventurers: dive into this irresistible recipe, share your delicious results, spark conversation with fellow enthusiasts, and spread delectable inspiration across social platforms.

Barefoot Contessa Slow Roasted Spiced Pork Recipe

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4.5 from 16 reviews

• Total Time: 6 hours 50 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Barefoot Contessa slow roasted spiced pork delivers rich, complex flavors that melt in your mouth. Tender meat seasoned with aromatic spices promises a delightful culinary experience you’ll savor from first bite to last.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Protein:

• 1 bone-in pork shoulder (pork butt), 3.2–4 kg (7–8.8 pounds), with fat layer on top

Spices and Herbs:

• 1.5 tablespoons ground cumin
• 1.5 teaspoons chipotle chile powder
• 1.5 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
• 17g sea salt
• 0.25 cup (15g) chopped fresh oregano

Aromatics and Liquid Ingredients:

• 6 garlic cloves
• 1 large yellow onion, chopped
• 1 jalapeño, ribs removed, seeded, and chopped
• 1.5 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 60 milliliters (2 fluid ounces) olive oil
• 750 milliliters (25.4 fluid ounces) dry white wine (Pinot Grigio)

Garnish:

• Lime wedges, for serving

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Instructions

1. Prepare the oven and pork roast by setting the temperature to 150°C (300°F). Verify the accuracy with an oven thermometer. Carefully create a crosshatch pattern on the fat layer and make 12 precise incisions approximately 1.3 centimeters (½-inch) deep around the meat’s surface.
2. Craft the aromatic seasoning blend by combining garlic, onion, jalapeño, and oregano in a food processor. Pulse until finely minced. Incorporate ground cumin, chile powder, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Process for approximately 30 seconds to develop a cohesive mixture.
3. Integrate white vinegar and extra-virgin olive oil into the spice mixture, creating a smooth, vibrant paste. Thoroughly massage the seasoning across every surface of the pork, ensuring complete coverage including sides and bottom.
4. Position the seasoned roast fat-side up in a spacious roasting pan. Pour 480 milliliters () of dry white wine into the pan’s base. Seal the pan completely with aluminum foil to lock in moisture and prevent evaporation.
5. Slow-roast the meat for 2½ hours, maintaining a consistent low temperature. Carefully remove the foil and continue roasting for an additional 4 to 4½ hours. Periodically add 240 milliliters () of wine every two hours to maintain moisture and prevent drying.
6. Assess the pork’s doneness by testing for extreme tenderness. When the meat easily pulls apart and reaches the desired consistency, remove from the oven. Tent with foil and allow to rest for 15-30 minutes, which helps redistribute the internal juices.
7. Slice the roast against the grain, sprinkle with a final touch of sea salt, and serve alongside fresh lime wedges for a bright, citrusy accompaniment.

Notes

• Seal in moisture by creating shallow crosshatch cuts on the fat cap, allowing seasonings to deeply penetrate the meat’s surface.
• Refrigerate overnight to transform basic seasonings into a complex flavor profile that permeates every fiber of the pork.
• Monitor internal temperature precisely with a reliable meat thermometer, targeting exactly 95°C (203°F) for melt-in-your-mouth tenderness.
• Give the cooked meat a generous resting period, typically 15-30 minutes, which helps redistribute juices and ensures maximum succulence.
• Choose your preferred serving style – delicately shred with two forks for pulled pork texture or slice cleanly for an elegant roast presentation.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 6 hours 30 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Roasting
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 210
• Sugar: 7g
• Sodium: 569.8mg
• Fat: 10g
• Saturated Fat: 3.5g
• Fiber: 0g
• Protein: 19g
• Cholesterol: 64.4mg