Lechon Sauce: What is it and How to Serve it

Author: Joost Nusselder, author of The Essential Japanese meal planner cookbook Updated October 25, 2022

Lechon sauce is a delicious sauce made with liver, vinegar, water, soy sauce, brown sugar, and bay leaf. It’s commonly served with roasted pork.

It’s a very versatile sauce that can be used for dipping fried chicken, lumpia, and siomai, or even spread on sandwiches. It’s also great for adding flavor to soups and salads. It’s the perfect condiment for any Filipino dish!

Let’s look at what lechon sauce is, how it’s made, and why it’s so popular.

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Lechon Sauce: The Perfect Condiment for Your Grilled Pork

Lechon sauce is a type of sauce that is commonly served with roasted pork in the Philippines. It is a sweet and savory sauce that is made with a combination of different ingredients such as liver, vinegar, sugar, soy sauce, and water. The sauce is known for its smooth and thick texture, and it contains chopped onions and garlic that add flavor to the dish.

How to Make Lechon Sauce?

Making lechon sauce is not complicated, and you don’t need a lot of time or money to prepare it. Here’s a simple recipe that you can follow:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of liver, boiled and chopped
• 1 cup of vinegar
• 1 cup of water
• 1/2 cup of soy sauce
• 1/2 cup of brown sugar
• 1 piece of bay leaf
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons of cooking oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Procedure:

1. Heat the cooking oil in a medium setting.
2. Add the chopped onions and garlic and sauté until brown.
3. Add the boiled and chopped liver and stir for 2 minutes.
4. Add the vinegar, water, soy sauce, brown sugar, and bay leaf.
5. Let it simmer for 10-15 minutes or until the sauce thickens.
6. Stir occasionally to prevent the sauce from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
7. Add salt and pepper to taste.
8. Let it cool down before serving.

Ingredients and Tips for Making the Perfect Lechon Sauce

• Garlic and onions are the aromatics that give the sauce its flavor.
• Use fresh pork or beef liver to add richness and depth to the sauce.
• Brown sugar balances the sour and tangy flavors of the sauce.
• Soy sauce and salt add the necessary saltiness to the sauce.
• Adjust the consistency of the sauce with cornstarch or tapioca starch.

Flavor Enhancers

• For a sweet and spicy twist, add some chili flakes or hot sauce.
• Miso paste adds a unique Japanese flavor to the sauce.
• Peanut butter or crushed peanuts can give the sauce a nutty taste.
• For a Chinese-style sauce, add some hoisin sauce or oyster sauce.
• To make the sauce smoother, add some butter or cream.

Quick Tips

• Use a food processor or blender to make the sauce smoother.
• Stir the sauce constantly to prevent it from burning.
• Save time by using canned liver spread instead of fresh liver.
• Adjust the seasoning according to your desired taste.
• Make sure to season the sauce well as it significantly adds to the flavor of the lechon.

Best Served With

• Lechon (roasted pig) is the traditional pairing for lechon sauce.
• It also goes well with fried chicken, steamed egg pie, and siomai.
• Lechon sauce can also be used as a spread for sandwiches or as a dip for chips.
• It can be added to soups, salads, and stir-fries for added flavor.
• Lechon sauce can also be used as a topping for desserts like maja blanca, flan, and cassava cake.

How to Serve and Store Lechon Sauce

• Lechon sauce is a versatile condiment that can be served with a wide range of dishes, not just lechon or pork. Try it as a dipping sauce for fried chicken, lumpiang shanghai, or even as a spread for sandwiches.
• For a richer and smoother sauce, strain the resulting mixture after cooking. This will remove any lumps or bits of liver that may have formed during the cooking process.
• If you prefer a little heat, add a pinch of black pepper or a finely chopped chili pepper to the sauce while cooking.
• For a sweeter sauce, add a little more sugar to the recipe. You can also substitute brown sugar for a deeper flavor.
• If you’re having a party, serve the lechon sauce in a single dish with a wide spoon or fork for easy dipping. Make sure to mention the nutrition data for those who are health-conscious.
• Leftover lechon sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Storing Tips

• To store lechon sauce for longer periods, allow it to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container. Make sure to save some parts for future use.
• Lechon sauce can also be stored in the freezer for up to three months. When ready to use, simply thaw it in the refrigerator overnight and reheat it over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
• Homemade lechon sauce does not contain any preservatives, so it can spoil quickly. If you notice any signs of spoilage, such as mold or an off smell, discard the sauce immediately.
• For convenience, you can also use commercial lechon sauce, which is readily available in most grocery stores. However, note that these may contain additives and preservatives that are not present in homemade versions.
• Lechon sauce can be a tasty and easy addition to any dish. Whether you’re cooking lechon, chicken, or even liver, this sauce is the perfect condiment to add a little flavor and nutrition to your meal.

Conclusion

So there you have it – everything you need to know about lechon sauce. It’s a delicious sauce that goes well with pork, but it can also be used for other dishes. 

You can use this recipe to make your own lechon sauce, or you can just buy one from the store.

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Bitemybun's family recipes with complete meal planner and recipe guide.

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Joost Nusselder, the founder of Bite My Bun is a content marketer, dad and loves trying out new food with Japanese food at the heart of his passion, and together with his team he's been creating in-depth blog articles since 2016 to help loyal readers with recipes and cooking tips.