Odnam’s Crispy Liempo

So let’s pretend I’m a Liempo expert, hehe! Well, If being able to cook this liempo once a month or twice for 10 yrs since I’ve learned the recipe can make me an expert, I think I can already claim the title. Thanks to Odnam, my father.

My Papa is equally as good as my Mama in the kitchen. Born in Bicol, he can cook anything with gata and sili with flying colors even when drunk. That’s how legit he is! But aside from those creamy laing and spicy Bicol express recipes, his Crispy Pata is one of my favorites. When I was younger, I used to watch him in the kitchen or sometimes at the garage cooking the crispiest and best tasting pata (I’ve ever had, until he told me how to do it.) Many times I tried cooking Crispy Pata too without asking his help believing the recipe runs in the blood, but I failed eminently many times over.

Until one day he visited the house to send some Bulalo for the kids. That’s what I love and hate about him, the spoiler Lolo he is, he brings delicious home cooked meals in the house. The same delicious food that makes me feel like I’m the lesser cook but most of the times the luckiest child on earth. Haha!

So, I was preparing the steamer for my Crispy Pork Belly when he arrived. I don’t know where I learned it from but I used to steam pork bellies before frying/broiling. He told me to stop from what I’m doing and he got the deep skillet to boil the belly with lots of onion, celery, ginger, a little salt and peppercorns. He also told me that I need to rub it with vinegar-fish sauce mixture after it cools down from boiling.

Confused, I then asked, how will it taste? He answered, “Tastes like Crispy pata but tender and juicier.” I was dumbfounded with what he just revealed. I was trying many times before but never got the luck to catch up with how his dish tastes. And now..

“How come I didn’t know that? I used to watch you when I was younger!” I asked.

“Hindi ka naman nagtanong (You never asked) O baka dahil mas focus ka sa pag kain kesa pagluto. (Or probably because you were more focused on eating it than learning how to cook it.)”

Well, he has a point. And glad he generously gave it away without having me to ask him! But I asked many recipes after then. 🙂 His Bulalo, patatim, etc. Lucky that I did because right now, we are on the 20th day of the Enhanced Community Quarantine in Luzon and while I’m 2 cities far away from my parents, I get to eat the home cooked meals I learned from them. Though there’s a huge difference when you know it’s from them. Right?

Im using the same techniques with this Liempo. The Pata recipe has 2 more additional ingredients though and I’ll share the recipe soon. For now, let’s focus on this belly cripy goodness!

See the pictures for the recipe. 🙂

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Enjoy and Happy Cooking, Malditas!