Ina Garten’s Aromatic Slow Roasted Spiced Pork Recipe

Slow roasted spiced pork transforms ordinary meals into extraordinary culinary experiences that tantalize taste buds and warm hungry hearts.

Family gatherings shine brighter when this aromatic dish arrives at the table, filling rooms with irresistible fragrance and promise.

Tender meat infused with complex spices becomes a centerpiece that sparks conversation and creates lasting memories.

Each carefully selected ingredient contributes depth and character to a recipe that feels both comforting and adventurous.

Careful preparation rewards you with melt-in-your-mouth textures and layers of robust flavors that dance across palates.

The harmonious blend of herbs and seasonings elevates this classic protein into a truly memorable meal.

Cooking low and slow allows magical transformation, releasing rich flavors and ensuring succulent, fall-apart tenderness that impresses even discerning food lovers: Get ready to savor every delicious bite.

Flavor Boosters for Pork Lovers

• Citrus Herb Infusion: Replace jalapeño with orange zest and add fresh rosemary and thyme to create a brighter, more aromatic marinade that complements the rich pork flavor.
• Caribbean Jerk Style: Swap chile powder with authentic Jamaican jerk seasoning, adding allspice and nutmeg for a spicy, tropical profile that transforms the traditional recipe.
• Mediterranean Garlic Blast: Incorporate roasted garlic cloves, sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh basil into the spice paste for a Mediterranean-inspired version with deeper, more complex undertones.
• Smoky Chipotle Version: Replace jalapeño with chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, adding a deep, smoky heat that intensifies the pork's richness and creates a more robust flavor profile.

Wrapping the Spiced Pork Recipe

Culinary magic emerges from Ina Garten’s slow-roasted spiced pork, showcasing profound flavors and tender textures.

Mediterranean-inspired seasonings dance across succulent meat, creating an irresistible dining experience.

Wine-infused roasting techniques guarantee mouthwatering results that elevate home cooking.

Complex spice blends transform simple ingredients into restaurant-quality masterpieces.

Passionate cooks discover new horizons through this remarkable recipe.

You’ll want to dive deep into this delectable journey, sharing each delicious moment with friends and family – so snap that perfect photo, spread the love across social media, and watch as your culinary skills spark conversation and connection.

Why You’ll Love This Spiced Pork Roast

• Unleash Incredible Flavor Depth: The recipe builds layers of taste through a vibrant spice paste blending garlic, jalapeno, cumin, and chile powder, creating a bold and complex flavor profile that penetrates every inch of the pork.
• Master Slow-Cooking Magic: This method transforms a tough cut of meat into meltingly tender, succulent pork by roasting at a low temperature for nearly 7 hours, allowing the meat to become incredibly soft and infused with rich, deep flavors.
• Effortless Crowd-Pleasing Technique: Despite the long cooking time, the recipe requires minimal hands-on preparation, making it perfect for weekend gatherings or when you want to impress guests with minimal kitchen effort and maximum delicious results.
• Versatile Serving Superstar: The slow-roasted pork can be served in multiple ways – as a main dish, shredded for tacos, tucked into sandwiches, or even used in salads, offering incredible flexibility for different meal styles and preferences.

Ingredients That Bring the Pork to Life

Main Ingredients:

• Pork Shoulder: Tender and flavorful cut perfect for slow roasting, best with good marbling and fat cap.
• Pork Fat: Natural seasoning and moisture preservation, helps create crispy exterior.

• Garlic, Onion: Aromatic base that provides deep, complex flavor profile.
• Jalapeno: Adds subtle heat and bright pepper notes, choose fresh and firm.
• Oregano: Classic herb bringing earthy and slightly peppery undertones.
• Cumin: Warm, smoky spice characteristic of Latin American cuisine.
• Chile Powder: Provides rich, deep spicy dimension to the meat.

• White Wine: Adds moisture and helps tenderize the meat, use dry variety.
• Olive Oil: Helps bind spices and creates smooth marinade paste.
• Vinegar: Helps tenderize meat and balance overall flavor profile.
• Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasoning for enhancing meat's natural taste.
• Lime Wedges: Fresh citrus garnish for bright, zesty finishing touch.

Slow Roasting Spiced Pork the Right Way

Step 1: Prepare the Oven and Pork

Warm up your oven to 300°F, verifying the temperature with an oven thermometer. Carefully create a crosshatch pattern on the pork’s fat layer. Make 12 small strategic cuts across the top and sides of the meat.

Step 2: Create Flavor-Packed Spice Paste

• Garlic cloves
• Onion
• Jalapeno
• Fresh oregano
• Cumin
• Chile powder
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Vinegar
• Olive oil

Blend all ingredients in a food processor until they form a smooth, aromatic paste.

Step 3: Season and Position the Pork

Massage the spice paste generously all over the pork, ensuring complete coverage. Transfer the meat to a roasting pan, positioning it fat side up. Pour 2 cups of white wine into the pan’s bottom.

Step 4: Slow Roast with Precision

Cover the roasting pan tightly with aluminum foil. Roast for 2 1/2 hours. Remove the foil and continue roasting for an additional 4 to 4 1/2 hours. Every 2 hours, add 1 cup of wine to maintain moisture.

Step 5: Rest and Serve

Remove the pork from the oven and tent with foil. Let it rest for 15-30 minutes to redistribute juices. Slice the meat, sprinkle with a touch of salt, and serve alongside fresh lime wedges for a bright, zesty finish.

Tips for Perfectly Juicy Pork

• Boost Flavor Depth: Overnight marinating allows spices to deeply infuse into the pork, creating a more complex and rich taste profile.
• Perfect Fat Rendering: Scoring the fat cap helps excess fat melt evenly, creating a crispy exterior and tender, succulent meat underneath.
• Temperature Precision Matters: An oven thermometer ensures consistent heat, preventing uneven cooking and guaranteeing a perfectly roasted pork shoulder.
• Resting is Crucial: Let the meat rest for 15-20 minutes after roasting to redistribute juices, ensuring each slice remains incredibly moist and flavorful.
• Spice Paste Power: Freshly ground spices in the paste intensify the overall flavor, transforming a simple roast into a memorable culinary experience.

Storage Guidelines for Spiced Pork

• Vacuum Seal Method: Extract all air from the container before sealing to prevent freezer burn and maintain maximum flavor intensity. This technique locks in moisture and prevents oxidation, keeping pork tender and delicious for extended periods.
• Portion Control Method: Divide leftover pork into individual serving sizes before storing. Wrap each portion tightly in plastic wrap, then place in freezer bags, making future meal prep quick and convenient. Smaller portions thaw faster and reduce food waste.
• Flavor Preservation Method: Allow cooked pork to cool completely before refrigerating or freezing. Place in shallow, wide containers to help rapid cooling and prevent bacterial growth. Label containers with date and contents to track freshness and ensure optimal taste when reheating.

Ina Garten Slow Roasted Spiced Pork Recipe

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4.7 from 36 reviews

• Total Time: 7 hours 30 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s slow roasted spiced pork brings Mediterranean warmth to classic comfort cooking. Fragrant herbs and rich spices meld together to create a tender, mouthwatering centerpiece that invites you to savor each succulent bite.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Protein:

• 1 (7- to 9-pound) bone-in pork butt with a layer of fat on top

Herbs and Spices:

• ¼ cup chopped fresh oregano leaves
• 1 ½ tablespoons ground cumin
• 1 ½ teaspoons chipotle chile powder
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper

Additional Ingredients:

• 6 garlic cloves
• 1 large yellow onion, chopped
• 1 jalapeno pepper, ribs removed, seeded, and chopped
• 1 ½ tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• ¼ cup good olive oil
• 1 (750 milliliters/25.4 fluid ounces) bottle dry white wine, such as Pinot Grigio
• Lime wedges, for serving

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Instructions

1. Calibrate the oven temperature to 300°F (150°C) using an oven thermometer for precision. Carefully create a crosshatch pattern on the pork’s fat layer, making 12 strategic incisions across the top and sides to enhance flavor penetration and rendering.
2. Transform garlic, onion, jalapeño, and oregano into a fine mince using a food processor. Incorporate cumin, chile powder, salt, black pepper, vinegar, and olive oil, blending until a smooth, aromatic paste forms.
3. Thoroughly massage the spice paste into every surface of the pork, ensuring complete and even coverage. Transfer the seasoned meat to a roasting pan with the fat side facing upward, then pour of wine into the pan’s base. Seal the pan completely with aluminum foil.
4. Slow-roast the pork for 2½ hours while fully covered. After this initial period, remove the foil and continue roasting for an additional 4 to 4½ hours. Periodically replenish the liquid by adding of wine every 2 hours to maintain moisture.
5. Extract the pork from the oven and immediately tent with fresh foil, allowing the meat to rest and redistribute its juices for 15-30 minutes. Slice against the grain, sprinkle with a final whisper of salt, and present alongside zesty lime wedges for a bright, citrusy contrast.

Notes

• Elevate taste by letting the meat absorb spices deeply through an overnight marinade in the refrigerator.
• Create strategic fat scoring to help seasonings penetrate and ensure crispy, succulent results during roasting.
• Guarantee precision cooking with a reliable oven thermometer for consistent temperature control.
• Pat meat dry before applying spice paste to maximize adherence and develop a perfect exterior crust.
• Let the roasted meat rest for 15-20 minutes after cooking to redistribute juices and maintain tenderness.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 7 hours
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Roasting
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 455 kcal
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 200 mg
• Fat: 30 g
• Saturated Fat: 8 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 22 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 5 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 38 g
• Cholesterol: 105 mg