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Masitas de Puerco (Fried Pork Chunks)

Name: Masitas de Puerco (Fried Pork Chunks)
Prep time: 28 min
Total time: 2 h 28 min
Cuisine: Cuban
Ingredients: 2 lbs pork shoulder, cut into chunks; 1/2 cup sour orange juice; 4 cloves garlic, minced; 1 tsp ground cumin; 1 tsp dried oregano; salt to taste; 1/4 tsp black pepper; 3 tbsp oil for frying; 1 onion, sliced for garnish

Masitas de Puerco (Fried Pork Chunks) reads richness 7.1, umami 7.0 and citrus 6.9 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Cuban main, about 2 hr 28 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.

The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10

Umami & Savory — 7.4 / 10
Sweet & Fruity — 7.8 / 10
Sour & Bright — 7.8 / 10
Bitter & Earthy — 2.3 / 10
Rich & Fat — 7.3 / 10
Aromatic & Spice — 4.9 / 10

The measured notes (of 18)

Richness 7.1 · Umami 7.0 · Citrus 6.9 · Fruity 6.3 · Sweetness 5.1 · Allium 4.4 · Salinity 3.7 · Sourness 3.2 · Warm Spice 2.3 · Earthy 2.2 · Floral 2.1 · Herbaceous 1.8 · Bitterness 1.2 · Heat 0.8 · Nutty 0.7

What's in it (9)

2 lbs pork shoulder, cut into chunks
1/2 cup sour orange juice
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp dried oregano
salt to taste
1/4 tsp black pepper
3 tbsp oil for frying
1 onion, sliced for garnish

Time & effort: about 2 hr 28 min (28 min active) · effort: medium

Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 235.6 kcal, 13.8 g protein, 18.5 g fat, 2.8 g carbs

Dietary: Contains meat — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.

How it's cooked (3 steps)

Marinate pork chunks in sour orange juice, garlic, cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper for at least 2 hours.
Simmer the pork in the marinade with a little water until tender and the liquid evaporates, then fry the chunks in oil until crispy and golden on all sides.
Serve topped with sautéed sliced onion alongside tostones and rice.

Dishes with a similar flavor shape

Mojo Roast Pork (Lechon Asado) — Cuban
Carnitas — Mexican
Boliche (Cuban Pot Roast) — Cuban
Lechon (Whole Roasted Pig) — Filipino
Pork Carnitas Burrito with Rice and Beans — Mexican

Keep reading: what richness, umami, citrus mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.

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Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.