Behind the Scenes at Café La Trova: How Miami’s Iconic Lechón Is Made for Nochebuena

pork

🥗Healthier: chicken

💰Cheaper: turkey

Chicken is leaner and more affordable than pork.

olive oil

🥗Healthier: avocado oil

💰Cheaper: vegetable oil

Vegetable oil is often less expensive.

pigeon peas

🥗Healthier: black beans

💰Cheaper: canned beans

Canned beans are convenient and budget-friendly.

plantains

🥗Healthier: sweet potatoes

💰Cheaper: regular potatoes

Regular potatoes are often cheaper and more available.

Trim the fat from the pork, leaving some on for roasting later.

Score the meat to prepare it for seasoning.

Mix together garlic, dried mustard, brown sugar, oregano, black pepper, coriander, salt, and onion powder.

Apply the seasoning mix to the pork, ensuring every nook and cranny is covered.

Prepare the wet ingredients: mix lime juice, sour orange, a lot of garlic, green onions, parsley, and cilantro, keeping it a little chunky.

Cover the seasoned pork with aluminum foil and let it rest for a few hours.

Roast the pork in the oven at a low temperature for three and a half hours until tender.

Peel the onions for the dish.

Once the pork is out of the oven, prepare the boiled yuca and cover it with white onion moho.

Drizzle the yuca with oil and sprinkle it with taheen, then stack the pork on top.

Add red onion moho on top of the pork, along with chicharon and finish with parsley.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens