Pasteles and pernil are how I define Puerto Rican Christmas. And although pork is a fixture on the Puerto Rican table, it is just not Christmas without pernil. When I was growing up, we’d ...

1 10 lb pork shoulder, bone in, and skin on; 10 cloves of garlic; ¼ cup olive oil; ¼ cup fresh sofrito; ¼ cup sea salt; 3 tablespoons white vinegar or fresh orange juice ...

In fall 1985, with Thanksgiving looming, my mother prepared for her 20 guests as if Jesus and his disciples were coming over. She bought dishware, glassware, linens, gold-plated cutlery and even a ...

The mix imparts a versatile complexity to a huge variety of Puerto Rican dishes, from soups to seafood, and it's the cornerstone that makes this version of pernil special. Read more: 13 Underrated ...