CRISPY PATA

Is one of the famous Filipino pork dish that uses a whole pig’s leg. The Pata is made tender by simmering in water along with other spices. It is then rubbed with seasonings and deep-fried until the texture becomes very crunchy. Crispy pata is a main dish which is a very good parter with pickled green papaya and a homemade sauce.

Ingredients:
1 whole pig’s leg
6 teaspoons salt
12 cups water
8 cups cooking oil
2 tablespoons peppercorn
2 teaspoons ground black pepper and garlic powder
dried bay leaves

Cooking Procedure:
1. Pour water in a cooking pot then let boil.
2. Put-in dried bay leaves, whole peppercorn, star anise, and 4 teaspoons of salt.
3. Add the whole pig’s legs in the cooking pot then simmer until the leg becomes tender (about 45 to 60 minutes).
4. Remove the tender leg from the cooking pot and set aside until the temperature goes down.
5. Rub the leg with garlic powder, ground black pepper, and remaining salt. Let stand for 15 minutes to absorb the rub.
6. Heat a clean large cooking pot (preferably with cover) and pour-in cooking oil.
7. When the oil becomes hot, deep fry the rubbed pork leg. Continue cooking in medium heat until one side becomes crispy, and then cautiously flip the leg to crisp the other side. Note: Be extra careful in doing this procedure.
8. Turn-off the heat; remove the crispy pork leg; and transfer it to a wide serving plate.

Serve hot and Enjoy