Lechón Asado Recipe - In the Crockpot!

From the archives - for your holiday pleasure....

I love to tell stories. This is part of my Cuban legacy. As Val (from Babalú Blog) and I discussed before I started doing this feature, I will probably have a story to tell each time I post a recipe. Today's story has an interesting twist.

My mom (the 93 year old) likes to tell stories of her life in Cuba. And I pay attention. She recalls a peaceful and sweet pre-revolutionary life back in her small town - back in “the day.” The few families that lived in the small port all knew and cared for one another.

Her family owned a huge German Shepherd they named Lindbergh, after the famous aviator. (Of course, in 1930's Cuba they pronounced it Leem-Berr.) Everyone in her small town knew this dog. The kids in town would come over and taunt Lindbergh (I know. I know. It's so NOT a Cuban pet's name) through the picket fence. The way she describes him, Lindbergh had a reputation for being pretty ferocious, and had bitten a few kids in his day. It was kind of an adventure for the kids to get the dog to react from the safety of the other side of the fence.

There was one daring kid, Pepin, who apparently felt exceptionally brave one day. He climbed up and straddled the fence. The big dog leaped up and opportunistically took a chunk out of the kid's ummm...rear end.

My grandfather (sur-name, Perez-Puelles) felt soo bad about the dog attacking the kid, that he paid for Pepin to receive medical attention. Poor Pepin was out of commission for a few weeks recovering from the bite in the nalga.

As my mom continues telling the story, I can sense she still feels bad about the incident. She tells the story apologetically. She figures that Pepin must be an old man now, since this happened over 70 years ago. Even so, she muses, he probably still has the scar from the dog bite.

I kind of feel the family guilt over this one, too. Poor Pepin and his dog-scarred nalga.
After all these years, it was not until just yesterday that I discovered the kid's last name.
I found out that Pepin's brother lives in Miami. And I even spoke to his nephew yesterday.
How random is that??

This recipe is quick, like Lindbergh, and tasty, like Pepin's umm ....

So by way of saying that the Perez-Puelles family still feels bad about the whole dog-bite incident, today's recipe is dedicated to:

Pepin PRIETO and his family.

And... just curious... Val, does your Uncle Pepin still have the scar?

Quick and Tasty Lechon Asado Recipe - Estilo Pepin

• 2 Tbsp. Olive oil
• 1 1/2 lbs. Pork loin chops – the big, thick ones
• 2 cups Mojo Criollo*
• 1 white onion – sliced into rings
• 1 tsp. Parsley

1) Stab each of the chops two or three times and brown them quickly in the olive oil.

2) Put them in a crockpot. Cover with the mojo and the onion slices and sprinkle with parsley.

3) Cook on high for 4-5 hours. Or on low for 6-8 hours.

4) Serve with black beans and white rice.

*Mojo Criollo
You can use the mojo that comes in a bottle, or make your own.
Here’s my recipe.

• 20 cloves garlic
• 2 tsp. Salt
• 1 tsp. Coarse-ground Pepper
• 2 tsp. Oregano
• 1 ¾ cups orange
• ¼ cup white vinegar

1) Using a mortar and pestle, mash together the garlic, salt, pepper and oregano to make a paste.

2) Stir in the orange juice and vinegar.

(Original Lechón Asado Recipe posted at Babalú Blog. March 2007)

Comments

[Victoria Rivero Elliott]

Wow, the crockpot?! I gave mine away years ago, but I'm now thinking that maybe I should get a new one, because your Cuban cook a la crockpot sound so easy and tempting! I think we could also use a small-ish boneless pork loin roast for this recipe?

[Esther Avila-Young]

I have a crockpot, in fact I'm planning to make Scalloped potatoes in it for Thanksgiving for 20 people. This recipe sounds wonderful and will have to try it real soon. Thank you Marta!

[Marta M. Darby]

Victoria,

A pork loin is absolutely fabulous, too! Do it!

Buen Provecho,
Marta

[Marta M. Darby]

Esther,

Scalloped potatoes? Sounds wonderful. I'm only have 17 for Thanksgiving this year. ;-)

Muchos besos,
Marta

[Andres Aquino]

Poor Pepin y su.. Haha this is so easy and delicious to do. Mi abuelita still cook everything in her crockpot. Question: What does/should a Cuban-American family have at the dinner table for thanksgiving?

Love your blog I usually translate the stories to Spanish for my grandma she loves you as well. :)

[Marta M. Darby]

Hi Andres,

Our Thanksgiving is more traditionally American, although we have known to stuff a turkey with congris and have plantains on the table.

Whatever you choose to do, "Japi Sangubin!" ;-)

xoxo,
Marta

[Victoria Rivero Elliott]

Thanks, Marta. I definitely will start looking for a new crock pot! Wishing you and yours a very Japi Sangibin! :)

[Caro]

Hi Marta,
Just found your recipe for the crock pot. It's cooking as I write this! I cook EVERYTHING in my crock pot ever since my mom bought it for me!

I'm currently studying in Boston (home is Miami) and I've had the hardest time finding good cuban restaurants... so I've just started cooking my own cuban food!

Hope you had a pleasant thanksgiving!

-Caro

[Kayla Perez]

oooo I just crock pot on black friday! I'm going to make this weekend!

[Aracely]

I am making this for my family this week. My mom makes it traditionally every Noche Buena, and it's so good my kids revere her lechon and won't even have it at a restaurant "because Mima didn't make it." I hope this comes close ;) Also, is the orange you say to use in the recipe Naranja agria? That's what my mom uses in her mojo. Thanks--I love reading your blog!!