How to Make Pernil—Pernil Recipe

This roast is more than just a main—it's a celebration.

Feb. 6, 2026 at 8:47pm

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This article explores the author's journey of learning to make pernil, a traditional Puerto Rican roast pork dish, in order to bring her husband's family's holiday traditions into their own celebrations. The author describes her Italian upbringing and how she was introduced to Puerto Rican cuisine through her husband's family, leading her to research and perfect two Puerto Rican holiday dishes, pernil and arroz con gandules, to serve at their table.

Why it matters

The article highlights the power of food and tradition in bringing families together and preserving cultural heritage. By learning to make pernil, the author is able to bridge the gap between her Italian upbringing and her husband's Puerto Rican roots, creating a shared holiday experience that celebrates both of their family traditions.

The details

The author grew up in an Italian family where food was central to their celebrations, especially around the holidays. When she met her Puerto Rican husband in 2013, she was introduced to his family's holiday traditions, which included pernil, arroz con gandules, and pasteles. Last Christmas Eve, her mother-in-law's stories and memories of these dishes sparked the author's desire to learn how to make them herself, leading to weeks of research, trial and error, and finally two successful dishes that she plans to serve at their table this holiday season.

  • In 2013, the author met her Puerto Rican husband.
  • For the past seven years or so, the author and her husband have spent Christmas Eve with her mother-in-law.
  • Last Christmas Eve, the author's mother-in-law described the three dishes that define a Puerto Rican Christmas: pernil, arroz con gandules, and pasteles.
  • After that night, the author knew she wanted to create a meal that her mother-in-law would be proud to serve her own family and friends.
  • This holiday season, the author will be serving the pernil and arroz con gandules dishes at their table.

The players

The author

The author of the article, who grew up in an Italian family and is now married to a Puerto Rican man, has been on a journey to learn and incorporate her husband's family's holiday traditions into their own celebrations.

The author's mother-in-law

The author's mother-in-law, who shared stories and memories of the three dishes that define a Puerto Rican Christmas, inspiring the author to learn how to make them.

The author's husband

The author's Puerto Rican husband, who chimed in with his own memories as his mother described the traditional Puerto Rican holiday dishes.

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What they’re saying

“Last Christmas Eve was different. We started talking about holiday food, and my mother-in-law lit up as she described the three dishes that define a Puerto Rican Christmas: pernil, arroz con gandules, and pasteles. As she shared stories and memories, I could see her revisiting moments from long ago, and my husband chimed in with his own. The joy on their faces was undeniable—proof of how powerful food and tradition can be in bringing people back to cherished times.”

— The author (goodhousekeeping.com)

What’s next

This holiday season, the author will be serving the pernil and arroz con gandules dishes at their table, bridging her Italian upbringing and her husband's Puerto Rican roots.

The takeaway

The article highlights the power of food and tradition in bringing families together and preserving cultural heritage. By learning to make pernil, the author is able to create a shared holiday experience that celebrates both her Italian upbringing and her husband's Puerto Rican roots, demonstrating how food can be a powerful tool for connecting people and bridging cultural divides.