Paksiw na Lechon

If you know Daddydoodledoo, you know his obsession with Lechon is real. It’s a staple in his craving rotation – and I mean regular rotation. He’d probably eat it weekly if left to his own devices, , but hey, we all know that’s not exactly the healthiest choice, right? 😅

So last week, the Paksiw na Lechon craving hit hard. The thing is, it was Petsa De Peligro (you know, the end of the month when finances get a little tight), and Lechon isn’t exactly cheap. A kilo goes for ₱1,400, so yeah, not something you buy on a whim! But Daddydoodledoo really had his heart set on it, so I promised we’d grab some once we got that sweet sweldo day money.

And true to my word, today was the day! Of we went to the Lechon capital of Metro Manila, La Loma – the place where all lechon dreams come true. We didn’t go all out though (for now, at least). We bought half a kilo of fresh Lechon for ₱700 and added a lechon pata (which was a steal at ₱360 considering it was more than half a kilo – a kilo costs ₱600).

Now, for the fun part: cooking up that Lechon Paksiw! 😋

I started by sautéing garlic and onion in oil until it was all fragrant and delicious. Then I threw in the lechon pieces, giving them a little sankutsa here and there (you know, just enough to make it extra crispy and yummy). After that, I added the Lechon sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar, water, bay leaf, and peppercorns. I let it all simmer until the lechon was tender and the sauce thickened up beautifully.

Here’s the trick: once it was looking good, I added the vinegar. But listen to this – don’t stir it right away! Let it boil for a few seconds first, or you’ll get that hilaw na suka (raw vinegar) taste. It’s a little old-school advice, but it really works. I like my Lechon Paksiw to hit that perfect balance between sweet, savory, and tangy. You can totally adjust the sweetness or sourness by adding more brown sugar or vinegar if that’s your jam.

So, what’s the plan now? Bring on the unli rice, folks. The diet can start again tomorrow. For today, let’s just enjoy this Paksiw na Lechon goodness! 😋🍚

P.S. If you’re craving something hearty and delicious, this is your sign to make Lechon Paksiw! Just don’t blame me when you’re hooked! 😉