Brined Pork Shoulder Cooked In A Caja China With Sour Orange Dipping Sauce Recipes

STUFFED PORK SHOULDER "A LO CAJA CHINA"

Steps:

• Remove bone and flatten meat so that it may be rolled. If the pork shoulder is very fatty, a small amount may be removed. Score fat well and marinate for a minimum of 12 hours in the sour orange juice, garlic, bay leaves, salt and pepper. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• Line meat with ham slices, bacon slices, prunes and guava shells. Roll meat carefully to keep the filling inside the roll. Tie firmly with a butcher twine. Cover with brown sugar and 1/2 bottle of Malta and cook for 1 hour in the preheated oven. At this point, turn the meat, cover with the remaining Malta and cook for an extra hour, or until the pork reaches a temperature of 180 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer. Allow to cool and cut into fine slices. Pour the drippings over the meat after slicing the meat. Serve with the Fried Green Plantains, White Rice, and Black Beans.
• Preheat oil in a fryer or Dutch oven to 365 degrees F. Peel the plantains and cut into 1-inch pieces. Place into preheated oil and fry for 5 minutes or until they begin to brown. Drain them on a paper-towel lines plate. Flatten them using a Tostonera or the bottom of a metal can and fry again at 385 degrees F for approximately 3 minutes. Drain again and sprinkle with salt and garlic mojo. For softer fried plantains, soak for a few minutes in salted water after the first fry, drain and fry again.
• Yield: 8 servings
• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Inactive Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Chop up the garlic very thinly or crush using a mortar and pestle or food processor with the salt to form a thick paste. In a mixing bowl, combine the garlic paste and juice, and let the mixture sit at room temperature for 30 minutes or longer.
• Heat oil in a shallow casserole and brown garlic. Take it off the heat and remove garlic from the oil. Add water and salt to the oil and bring to a rolling boil. Add the washed rice and stir. Bring to a rolling boil again, cover and cook over low heat for approximately 30 minutes.
• Yield: 20 servings
• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 35 minutes
• Wash the beans and soak overnight in the water. When the beans swell, cook in the same water until soft, about 45 minutes. Heat 1 cup oil in a frying pan, add onions, garlic and green peppers. Add 1 cup of the beans to the pan and mash. Add this to the beans together with the salt, pepper, if using, oregano, bay leaves and sugar. Allow to boil for a 1 hour then add the wine and vinegar allowing to cook uncovered for a while. Add the 4 remaining tablespoons olive oil just before serving.
• Yield: about 20 servings
• Prep Time: 25 minutes
• Cook Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
• Inactive Prep Time: 12 hours

PULLED PORK RECIPE: CAJA CHINA STYLE

Steps:

• Combine the spices and apply to the pork shoulder. Wrap the shoulder well and refrigerate for at least 12 hours. Unwrap at least 2 hours before you plan to start cooking.
• Pre-heat your caja china style la caja asadora roasting box with about 8 lbs of charcoal for 15-20 minutes and chuck the pork on fat side up. Baste with mop every hour when adding fresh charcoal. Remove when the meat's internal temp hits 190.
• Let the pork rest for at least 2 hours, then start pulling your pork!