The Perfect Pork Roast

The classic pork roast has been a favorite for years. Families enjoy it for dinner, and it’s very easy to make. If made correctly, pork roasts are juicy, tender, and delicious. Here is how to make a mouth-watering oven-cooked pork roast. Feel free to substitute ingredients to your taste.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 5-pound pork shoulder roast
2 cups beef stock
1/2 cup red wine
3 onions, cut into large wedges
4 cloves garlic, chopped
2 dried bay leaves
1 teaspoon dried thyme
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 pounds carrots, cut into 1-inch chunks
2 pounds potatoes, cut into 1-inch chunks

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325°F.
2. In a Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. 
3. Sprinkle the pork roast with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Brown all sides of the roast in the Dutch oven. This step should take about 10 minutes. 
4. Turn the meat fat-side up and add the beef stock, wine, onions, garlic, bay leaves, thyme, and tomato paste. 
5. Bring to a simmer. Add carrots and potatoes. 
6. Cover, place in the oven, and cook for four hours.
7. After four hours, transfer to a platter and skim the fat off of the surface of the cooking liquid. Cut the roast into thick slices and serve with the vegetables, drizzling some of the juices over the roast.

Tips & Tricks

• If you don’t have a Dutch oven, you can also cook the pork roast in a cooking bag. Brown on all sides, and then add all of the ingredients to a 10-pound roasting bag. Place the bag in a pan, and cook it in the oven for four hours.
• Browning the meat makes the roast more flavorful, gives it a crispier outside, and keeps the meat moist. 
• Cooking longer than four hours may leave the meat tough. Cook for anywhere between three and four hours for best results.
• If you’d rather cook beef, you can substitute with a rump roast, cooking at least 3-1/2 hours. 
• Creamy garlic mashed potatoes are fantastic with pork roast, should you want an additional side dish. Asparagus is another healthy option.
• For a more flavorful roast, marinate the meat in beef broth overnight. Place the meat in a sealed bowl, cover it completely with broth, and place in the refrigerator. 
• This recipe is also simple to make in a slow cooker or crock pot. Simply add all of the raw ingredients to your crock pot and allow the roast to cook for a minimum of six hours.
• If you want to try different vegetables in your recipe, opt out of carrots and potatoes and instead introduce squash, celery, and artichoke hearts. These vegetables will give your pot roast a unique twist! Use 2 cups diced butternut squash and 1 cup diced artichokes. For best results, add them after cooking the roast for two hours.
• Delicious red wines pair nicely with this recipe. Consider enjoying the roast with a Pinot Noir.