Filipino · main
Lechon (Whole Roasted Pig)
Lechon (Whole Roasted Pig) reads umami 7.3, richness 5.6 and fruity 5.1 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Filipino main, about 4 hr 45 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.
The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10
- Umami & Savory — 7.7 / 10
- Sweet & Fruity — 6.6 / 10
- Sour & Bright — 5.5 / 10
- Bitter & Earthy — 1.5 / 10
- Rich & Fat — 5.7 / 10
- Aromatic & Spice — 4.4 / 10
The measured notes (of 18)
Umami 7.3 · Richness 5.6 · Fruity 5.1 · Sweetness 4.9 · Sourness 4.3 · Citrus 4.0 · Allium 3.8 · Salinity 3.7 · Herbaceous 3.2 · Floral 1.7 · Warm Spice 1.5 · Bitterness 1.4 · Earthy 0.9 · Heat 0.9
What's in it (9)
- 1 whole suckling pig (15-20 lbs)
- 6 stalks lemongrass
- 2 oz tamarind
- 1 head garlic, crushed
- 1 onion, quartered
- 1 bunch chives
- 1 tbsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- 4 banana leaves
Time & effort: about 4 hr 45 min (45 min active) · effort: medium
Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 175.9 kcal, 16.3 g protein, 11.6 g fat, 0.5 g carbs
Dietary: Contains meat — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.
How it's cooked (3 steps)
- Stuff the pig cavity with lemongrass, tamarind, garlic, and herbs, then sew shut.
- Mount on a bamboo spit and roast slowly over live coals for several hours, rotating continuously.
- The skin should be crackling-crisp and deep mahogany.
Dishes with a similar flavor shape
- Carnitas — Mexican
- Cajun Blackened Pork Chops with Peach Salsa — Cajun/Creole · Cajun
- Masitas de Puerco (Fried Pork Chunks) — Cuban
- Pork Tacos with Charred Pineapple Salsa — Mexican
- Mojo Roast Pork (Lechon Asado) — Cuban
Keep reading: what umami, richness, fruity mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.
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Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.