Cochinillo Asado is a roasted suckling pig dish from the Castile region of Spain. This recipe shows you how to make this famous dish on your grill or smoker, but can easily be translated to making in your home oven.
Thaw the suckling pig in the refrigerator, if frozen.
Remove any organs, if present. Thoroughly rinse the suckling pig then dry off with paper towels.
Once dry, rub the outside of the suckling pig with olive oil then season the inside and outside of the pig with salt and pepper.
Secure the pig to the rotisserie and cover the tail, feet, and ears with foil. If cooking in a roasting pan, position the pig with the front legs facing forward and the rear legs up under the pig. See above for more details.
Roast the pig at 275 degrees until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees in the shoulders and hams. Check on the pig about every 45 minutes, and when the skin color is to your liking, begin spraying the pig with cooking oil. This step typically takes about 2-3 hours but will vary, based on the size of your pig.
Once the internal temperature has reached 165, bump the temperature up to 400-450 degrees to crisp up the skin. This typically takes about 20-30 minutes but keep an eye on the progress to make sure the skin does not burn.
Remove from the grill, rotisserie, or oven and tent with foil. Allow to rest for about 20 minutes before serving.