lechon con tokwa

it was my first attempt to make a lechon kawali. I got the recipe from www.pinoycook.net. :)

i got home last night and followed every step indicated in the recipe. it was already past 10 but i was wide awake and was very busy preparing it. i boiled the pork belly slab in water with 2 whole onions, a whole head of garlic, peppercorns, bay leaf and salt. Then while allowing it to cool down, i went to sleep.

woke up at 5 am and placed the pork slab in the freezer. according to the recipe, this will ensure that the pork will be tender & moist inside even after deep frying.

then at around 6 am i woke up to prepare the rest of the recipe. i also prepared my other menu - soy fried tofu with black bean sauce (recipe below). anyway, i fried the pork as instructed and true enough, the intensity of the spattering was really strong. i kept a distance from the stove and i would turn off the flame every time i would check on it.

too bad i did not take a picture of my dish but i got a perfect brown lechon kawali. at least perfect for me :). the taste was a bit bland, i should have added more salt. anyway, i was still happy with the outcome. i hope my patrons liked it too. :)

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soy fried tofu



note: sorry but i can't provide you exact measurements of the ingredients. i seldom measure them.


ingredients:
firm tofu
ground pork/beef
black beans (tausi)
light soy sauce
oyster sauce
leeks/spring onions
seasoning
garlic and onion
cornstarch

procedure:
- slice tofu in serving sizes and cover each side with the seasoning. the seasoning is just a generic fried chicken seasoning usually bought in the market.
- deep fry tofu until crisp and slightly brown. set aside.
for the sauce
- saute minced garlic and onion slices in oil.
- put in the ground meat and let it cook for a while.
- when slightly brown put in soy sauce and the black beans. don't put in too much black beans. some brands may be too salty. it is advisable to put a small amount first and just add more later on if needed. bring to boil.
- put in oyster sauce and water. bring to boil. then taste. the taste should be salty and sweet. :) adjust taste as desired.
- dissolve cornstarch in water and put in the sauce mixture. add more cornstarch until the desired thickness is attained.
- garnish with leeks or spring onions. serve.