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Mojo Roast Pork (Lechon Asado)

Name: Mojo Roast Pork (Lechon Asado)
Prep time: 27 min
Total time: 57 min
Cuisine: Cuban
Ingredients: 4 lbs pork shoulder, scored; 1 cup sour orange juice (or 1/2 cup orange juice + 1/4 cup lime juice); 8 cloves garlic, minced; 1 tbsp dried oregano; 1 tsp ground cumin; salt to taste; 1 tsp black pepper; 3 tbsp olive oil

Mojo Roast Pork (Lechon Asado) reads richness 7.7, umami 7.2 and citrus 7.0 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Cuban main, about 57 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.

The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10

Umami & Savory — 7.5 / 10
Sweet & Fruity — 7.8 / 10
Sour & Bright — 7.9 / 10
Bitter & Earthy — 2.4 / 10
Rich & Fat — 8.1 / 10
Aromatic & Spice — 4.7 / 10

The measured notes (of 18)

Richness 7.7 · Umami 7.2 · Citrus 7.0 · Fruity 6.3 · Sweetness 4.9 · Allium 4.2 · Salinity 3.4 · Sourness 3.1 · Warm Spice 2.3 · Earthy 2.1 · Floral 2.1 · Herbaceous 1.9 · Bitterness 1.7 · Nutty 1.5 · Heat 1.0

What's in it (8)

4 lbs pork shoulder, scored
1 cup sour orange juice (or 1/2 cup orange juice + 1/4 cup lime juice)
8 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp dried oregano
1 tsp ground cumin
salt to taste
1 tsp black pepper
3 tbsp olive oil

Time & effort: about 57 min (27 min active) · effort: involved

Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 252.9 kcal, 15 g protein, 20.1 g fat, 2.2 g carbs

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

How it's cooked (3 steps)

Blend garlic, sour orange juice, oregano, cumin, salt, and pepper into a mojo marinade and inject or rub it deeply into the pork; marinate overnight.
Roast covered at 325°F for 4 to 5 hours, then uncovered at 400°F for 30 minutes to crisp the skin.
Rest before pulling or slicing; serve with mojo sauce drizzled over the top.

Dishes with a similar flavor shape

Masitas de Puerco (Fried Pork Chunks) — 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.