-
1
In a large nonreactive container, combine water, beer, salt, granulated sugar, thyme & bay leaves, mix until salt & sugar are completely dissolved.
-
2
Submerge pork shanks in brine and refrigerate for 24-48 hours. Discard brine after use.
-
3
Preheat oven to 275u00b0F.
-
4
In a large roasting pan combine rendered pork lard and pork shanks and cover with vegetable oil.
-
5
Cover roasting pan tightly with aluminum foil and cook until very tender, about 3 hours.
-
6
Remove pork shanks from cooking oil & transfer to a sheet tray lined with a cooling rack.
-
7
Increase oven temperature to 325u00b0F. Return cooked pork shanks to oven, uncovered, & continue to cook until skin is crispy about 25-30 minutes.
-
8
Remove pork from oven and allow to rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
-
9
Serve sliced pork with mojo criollo and Cuban black beans and season with sea salt.
-
10
Heat a stainless steel saute pan over medium heat.
-
11
Add olive oil, garlic and shallots & cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
-
12
Remove from heat & add Sevilla orange juice, navel orange segments, oregano, parsley, cilantro and scallion.
-
13
Serve as garnish for cooked pork shanks.
-
14
Heat olive oil in a stainless steel saute pan over medium heat.
-
15
Add onion, red and green bell peppers and garlic and cook, stirring often, until translucent, about 10 minutes.
-
16
Add plum tomatoes & cook until juices have evaporated, about 5 minutes.
-
17
Add dry oregano and apple cider vinegar and cook until reduced by one third.
-
18
Season to taste with salt and fresh ground pepper.
-
19
Remove from heat and reserve for later use.
-
20
In a large soup pot, cook black beans in salted water until just tender, about 1 1/2 hours.
-
21
Heat lard in a separate soup pot over medium high heat until just smoking.
-
22
Add smoked bacon & cook until rendered, about 10 minutes.
-
23
Add sofrito & cook stirring frequently, until all remaining liquid has evaporated.
-
24
Add cooked black beans with cooking liquid and reduce heat to a simmer.
-
25
Continue to cook until bean cooking liquid begin to thicken, about 15 minutes.
-
26
Season to taste with salt and fresh ground pepper.