The hog roast with sauces, vegetables, salad and puree is honestly ‘family food’. Traditionally prepared, juicy and butter-soft meat! An absolute taste sensation. A bit brutal and rustic, but at the same time so complete and delicious.
A pig roast or hog roast is mostly found on gatherings or events where the whole pig is roasted for your family, friend and party tips. A bottle of beer or some cold drinks makes the sauce a delicacy. This hog roast is undoubtedly be tasted, both on a weekday and on a festive Sunday. One of the advantages of this is that the meat inside tastes good and loses (almost) nothing of its juiciness.
What is Hog Roast or lechón?
What is Hog Roast or lechón? Ask a Puerto Rican and their eyes will probably be mists of desire. People here tend to love their pork, and lechón, or roast suckling pig (Hog Roast), is the crown prince of pork dishes. Hog Roast is the popular choice for any major gathering, and certain restaurants draw lines from hungry families when they break out their Hog Roast.
Hog Roast is not exclusive to Puerto Rico; Cubans will claim that their version of this dish is just as good as anything else. But Puerto Ricans proudly display a fierce territory when it comes to their favorite pork recipe, and it is probably well deserved. How good is this dish? One woman actually broke her pledge of no pork in her diet to try … and she had no regrets.
Recipe
Hog Roast is not an easy dish to make at home. For one you need a lot of open space or a big oven. It is also a time-consuming dish to prepare, but if done properly, it produces a smoky, delicious, carnivorous party.
Where to find it
There is one place in Puerto Rico that stands out as the Lechón capital of the island (and possibly the world). And that place is Guavate. In this hilly city in the central region of Puerto Rico is a road called “La Ruta del Lechón” or the Lechón route. And there are dozens of eateries along the way that serve strong chunks of pork for the milk part. Thousands of visitors make the pilgrimage to Guavate every year, where they are always accompanied by happy groups of locals enjoying a true Puerto Rican flavor.
Many Guavate lechoneras also have live music on weekends, making this an ideal place to get away from the resorts and the beach and take a dip in the local culture.
Hog Roast is perhaps the most popular holiday food on the island; as such it can always be found on menus of the restaurant on Thanksgiving and Christmas (not to mention weekend cookouts and large family parties). If you visit Puerto Rico during your vacation, one of the best ways to enjoy the dish without going too far off the beaten track is to ask your hotel about their brunch specials. Many hotels throughout Puerto Rico will happily make a hog roast over an open fire. Even Cawdrons Hog Roast in Norfolk offers you to try the original juicy taste of hog roast at your doorstep.
Most people will recommend that you try Hog Roast at least once while you are here. There is a good reason that it is one of the favorite dishes in Puerto Rico.
Hog Roast is more than tender meat
There is a lot more to it than having meat cooked in the oven. Whether you give croquettes, puree or a vegetable wreath, you especially want your meat to be nice and juicy and tender from the oven. First and foremost, you make the hog roast as tasteful as you want. You can put vegetables and herbs inside the hog, which will help determine the taste of the meat and gravy. Are there fat edges around the meat? Let them roast with ease, they provide extra flavor and can be removed just before serving.
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