Roasted Pork Leg

Published: Dec 30, 2010 · Updated: Aug 15, 2019 by Mely Martínez

New year’s eve dinner beside the Christmas eve is one that gets the family together in México. Depending on their economic possibilities, some families will say goodbye to the old year with one of the must well Kwon main dishes in these days: a Stuffed Turkey, Tamales, Roasted Pork loin or Baked pork of leg. Usually, the main dish will be accompanied by a salad, mash potatoes, and pasta.

Roasted Pork Leg Recipe | Pierna de Puerco al Horno

Roasted Pork Leg Recipe | step by step instructions with photos of the process.

I know that it doesn’t sound very Mexican to some, but in my family and many the families I had met in all the different places I have lived in México, that is what they will cook. Besides, this blog gives me an opportunity to share a few samples of the many different ways that food is cooked and enjoyed in my home country, and hopefully, this humble effort will help dissipate some misconceptions about our rich, authentic Mexican food.

I like this pork leg recipe because it is very easy to cook and the end result is a delectable dish that will impress your guests, even the most demanding connoisseurs. The leftovers, if any, will be great in a taco, sandwich or Panini the next morning. In my family, everyone wants to take some meat home to prepare warm and toasty sandwiches the next day.

Will you cook anything for New year’s eve or New year’s day? Do you have any traditions on this date? I know some people like to carry suitcases around the block at midnight believing they will travel a lot the new coming year. In some states of southern México, like Chiapas, Tabasco, and Veracruz, people burn the “old year man” believing that by doing so they are burning all the “bad things” or memories that happened to them in the dying year and will enter the new year with a “fresh start”. The “old year man” is made up of rags and straw-like a scarecrow and its size is like a human being. You can see a picture here and a video of the burning here.

People “sit” their old year man outside their house several days before December 31st. Just waiting for the end of the year to come and to scare the bad spirits. They stuff firecrackers inside the old man and at midnight it will burn in the middle of the street or in an empty lot. People will gather to watch the lively spectacle and then everyone will hug each other wishing the best for the new year to everyone.

Now to the recipe, which by the way is adapted from the book “Y la comida se hizo para celebrar”. (And the dinner was made to celebrate) ISBN968-24-1875-5, dated 1984. I know, this has been with me for 28 years. It’s an excellent book that is part of a collection of 9 cookbooks in the Spanish language.

How to make Roasted Pork Leg Recipe

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Instructions:

In your blender place the garlic, chopped onion, salt and pepper with 1 cup of the wine or cider. Blend until it forms a paste and set aside. Using a sharp paring knife make incisions on the meat. Introduce almonds and prunes inside the incisions you made to the meat. (Please check the ingredients list below)

Roasted Pork Leg Recipe | Mexican Recipes

With the help of a kitchen, syringe injects the meat (in 4 or 5 points) with ¼ cup of the wine. Spread the 2 tablespoons of lard on the meat.

Roasted Pork Leg Recipe | Authentic Mexican Recipes

Place the pork leg inside the oven bag and then in a large baking pan. Mix the pineapple juice with the paste you prepare in the blender and cover the meat.
Bake in a preheated oven at 350 for 3 hours. After this time open the bag being careful when opening to avoid a steam burn. Place the pineapple rings and cherries, sprinkle the brown sugar over the meat. Return to the oven and keep cooking for ½ hour more basting the meat with its own juices until it is golden brown.
With the juices left in the pan, you can prepare a gravy to go along with your mash potatoes.

¡Buen provecho!
Mely,

I hope you make them... If you do, please come back to let me know your experience.

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