Bavarian Beer Roasted Pork (Print-Friendly Version)

Juicy pork shoulder with crisp crackling, beer gravy, and roasted sweet potatoes and parsnip for a hearty meal.

# What You’ll Need to Make This:

→ Main

01 - 1.5 kg pork shoulder, boned, skin scored
02 - 10 whole cloves, crushed
03 - Salt, to taste
04 - 500 ml beer

→ Vegetables and Aromatics

05 - 3 medium onions, quartered
06 - 2 sweet potatoes, scrubbed, cut into cubes
07 - 3 parsnips, scrubbed, cut into cubes
08 - 1 cinnamon stick, broken into 3 pieces
09 - 3 star anise
10 - 2 heaping tablespoons mustard seeds

→ Gravy

11 - 175 ml broth
12 - 1 tablespoon elderflower or other fruit jelly, plus more to taste
13 - 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard, plus more to taste
14 - Black pepper, to taste

# How to Prepare:

01 - Preheat the oven to 175°C. Combine crushed cloves with 2 heaping teaspoons of salt and thoroughly rub the mixture into the scored pork skin. Place the pork skin side up on a deep roasting tray.
02 - Roast the pork uncovered for 90 minutes, allowing the skin to begin forming a crust.
03 - Remove the tray from the oven. Pour 500 ml beer over the pork shoulder. Arrange quartered onions, sweet potato cubes, parsnip cubes, cinnamon stick pieces, star anise, and mustard seeds around the meat. Return to the oven and roast for an additional 30–45 minutes until the skin is crisp and the vegetables are golden.
04 - Transfer the roasted meat and vegetables to a warm platter. Pour the pan juices into a saucepan, add broth, fruit jelly, and Dijon mustard. Whisk to combine, seasoning with salt and black pepper to taste. Remove the cinnamon stick and star anise. Simmer the sauce briefly if a more concentrated flavor is desired.
05 - If the rind is not sufficiently crispy, place the pork under a hot grill or broiler for several minutes until the crackling is golden and crisp.
06 - Carve the pork and serve with the roasted vegetables and gravy immediately.

# Extra Tips:

01 - For the best crackling, ensure the pork skin is scored deeply but not through to the meat, and thoroughly dried before roasting.
02 - If using pork shoulder with bone, extend roasting by 60–90 minutes after adding beer and vegetables.
03 - Fruit jelly such as peach or elderflower adds a fruity complexity to the gravy; honey or maple syrup may also be substituted.

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