Xanthan Gum Free Herb-Roasted Pork Shoulder with Crackling

Few things hit harder at the dinner table than a pork shoulder that's fall-apart tender on the inside with a shatteringly crisp skin on top — and this recipe delivers exactly that. The spice paste of turmeric, smoked paprika, ginger, cinnamon, garlic, and lemon juice gets rubbed directly onto the meat beneath the skin, so every slice is deeply fragrant and layered with flavor. The real magic here is in the technique: an overnight salt-dry in the fridge pulls moisture from the skin, setting you up for that dramatic high-heat finish that blisters and puffs the crackling into something truly spectacular. For anyone navigating ingredient sensitivities, this recipe is refreshingly straightforward — every component is a whole food or a single-ingredient spice, with no thickeners, stabilizers, or additives anywhere in sight. No store-bought spice blends, no marinades with mystery fillers, just pantry staples you can trust. The two-stage roasting method — low and slow first, then a blast of high heat — does all the heavy lifting, so the result feels restaurant-worthy without requiring any specialty products. Finish it with a squeeze of lemon and a few rosemary sprigs, and you've got a centerpiece dish that looks and tastes like you really know what you're doing.

About Fig

Fig is a food discovery app that helps you find foods and recipes that fit your dietary needs. Whether you have food allergies, intolerances, or follow a specific diet, Fig makes it easy to eat with confidence.

Learn more →