Pro Tips
**Chef's Tips & Troubleshooting:**
- Make sure the pan and oil are hot before adding ingredients for the best sear.
- Fry in batches to avoid overcrowding — lowering the temperature makes food greasy.
- Score the skin of pork belly in a crosshatch pattern for the crispiest crackling.
- For braised pork, sear the meat on all sides first to develop a deep brown crust.
Cooking Tips
Pat the meat completely dry with paper towels before frying — moisture is the enemy of crispiness. Use a thermometer to maintain oil temperature at 350–375°F (175–190°C). If the oil is too cool, the food absorbs grease; too hot and it burns on the outside before cooking through.
Ingredient Substitutions
Pork alternatives: Chicken thighs work well in most pork recipes (they stay moist like pork does). For a leaner option, use turkey breast or firm tofu. Short on time? A pressure cooker (Instant Pot) can reduce cooking time by roughly half for most braised and stewed Filipino dishes. Reduce liquid slightly since less evaporates.
Storage & Reheating
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. The flavors often deepen overnight, making leftovers even more delicious. Crispy dishes are best enjoyed fresh — they lose their crunch when stored. If you must store leftovers, reheat in an air fryer or oven at 375°F (190°C) for 5–7 minutes to restore crispiness. Avoid microwaving crispy dishes — the steam makes the coating soggy. Use a toaster oven or stovetop skillet instead. Reheat on the stovetop over medium-low heat, adding a splash of water or broth if the sauce has thickened during storage. Microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring between each.
Lechon Carajay
Made with pork belly, dried bay leaves, garlic and medium red onion — a hearty Filipino dish that's simple to cook and satisfying to share.
Instructions
- In a cooking pot, bring water to a boil.
- Put-in the garlic, onion, dried bay leaves, and 3 teaspoons of salt. Let boil for 3 minutes.
- Add the pork belly. Cover and boil in medium heat for 40 minutes.
- Remove the boiled pork belly from the cooking pot and place in a clean plate. Let it cool down for a few minutes.
- Rub the remaining salt along with the garlic powder and ground black pepper all over the belly slices. Cover the belly and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (this will let the meat absorb the flavors from the rub).
- Heat cooking oil in a large cooking pot or a deep fryer. Once the oil gets hot (around 375F), start to deep fry the pork belly per batch. Cook it until the color turns golden brown and the skin gets crisp. Note: be extra careful during this step.
- Remove the belly from the fryer and let the excess oil drip.
- Slice the deep fried lechon carajay into bite sized pieces. Arrange in a serving plate and serve with a dip composed of chopped onion, soy sauce, vinegar, and chili peppers.
- Serve.
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Pro Tips & Troubleshooting
- Make sure the pan and oil are hot before adding ingredients for the best sear.
- Fry in batches to avoid overcrowding — lowering the temperature makes food greasy.
- Score the skin of pork belly in a crosshatch pattern for the crispiest crackling.
- For braised pork, sear the meat on all sides first to develop a deep brown crust.
Cooking Tips
Use a thermometer to maintain oil temperature at 350–375°F (175–190°C). If the oil is too cool, the food absorbs grease; too hot and it burns on the outside before cooking through.
Substitutions
Short on time? A pressure cooker (Instant Pot) can reduce cooking time by roughly half for most braised and stewed Filipino dishes. Reduce liquid slightly since less evaporates.
Storage & Reheating
Crispy dishes are best enjoyed fresh — they lose their crunch when stored. If you must store leftovers, reheat in an air fryer or oven at 375°F (190°C) for 5–7 minutes to restore crispiness.
Avoid microwaving crispy dishes — the steam makes the coating soggy. Use a toaster oven or stovetop skillet instead.
Reheat on the stovetop over medium-low heat, adding a splash of water or broth if the sauce has thickened during storage. Microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring between each.
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