The Art of Roasting: A Beginner’s Guide to Preparing Suckling Pig

For centuries now, human beings have been marking major festivals and important celebrations by roasting a whole pig. From Christmas in the West to the Chinese Lunar New Year in the East, special occasions have had the suckling pig be the piece de resistance of their feasts.

So, if you have an event on the horizon that you want to go all out for, you cannot go wrong by cooking a suckling pig. That said, whipping up a suckling pig is no simple task. But before you start to worry, we have got you covered with our beginner’s guide to preparing a suckling pig. 

What exactly is a suckling pig?

Thanks to depictions in movies, books and TV shows, we are sure you already have a vague idea of what a suckling pig is. But we will give you a little introduction in any case. 

A suckling pig is a young pig, renowned for its soft and succulent meat. While preparations vary from place to place, it is typically seasoned in a rich marinade and roasted for many hours to give it a deliciously smoky flavor. Since the process of making a suckling pig is extremely time and effort-intensive, it usually requires quite a bit of planning, and thus, is not part of regular fare.

What must you do before buying a suckling pig?

If you are buying a suckling pig for the first time, here are a few things to bear in mind. 

1. Buy from a reputed seller – When it comes to a suckling pig, cheap is not necessarily always the best. Look to source your suckling pig from a reputed farmer, butcher or meat marketer. Take care to see whether the conditions of their shop or farm match existing health codes and safety standards. 
2. Figure out the size of your suckling pig – Traditionally, a suckling pig is about 20 to 30 pounds. Place your order based on the number of guests you are catering to. 
3. Decide whether you want a fresh or frozen suckling pig – While most people prefer a fresh suckling pig for its tender meat, frozen ones are not a bad option at all. See which is available in your locale and make your decision. 
4. Clean up as much as you can before – Ask your butcher to clean up and remove unnecessary pieces and things like entrails. This will result in less work for you during your cooking process.
5. Check the quality of the meat – A great indicator of this factor is the color of the meat. Ideally, the meat should be pale pink in color. Do not settle for any other shade. 

How do you cook a suckling pig?

Get your gloves on because it is time to cook! Here are the steps to follow when cooking a suckling pig. 

1. Thawing the suckling pig – If your pig is frozen, you will have to thaw it before you can actually cook it. This process can take hours or even days, so be sure to set aside adequate time for this. 
2. Clean the suckling pig – Clean up your suckling pig by giving it a good rinse. Get rid of any remaining entrails and unrequired parts. 
3. Season the suckling pig – Pull out the herbs, spices and sauces and make a fragrant marinade for the suckling pig. Apply it all over, ensuring you are covering all the spots. 
4. Let the suckling pig sit – Allow the suckling pig to soak up all the marinade for a few hours. If you can afford to, let it rest overnight to absorb all the juices and flavors. 
5. Roast the suckling pig – Turn up the heat and cook your suckling pig! There are a range of cooking methods you can use to cook it, depending on the tools and space you have at your disposal. The most commonly used cooking techniques are:

a.) Roasting over a spit – This is when the suckling pig is cooked over an open fire, using a spit or a rotisserie. This is an extremely visual way of cooking the suckling pig, so it makes sense to impress your guests by having them watch a part of the process. Keep checking on the pig as it roasts to prevent it from overcooking. 

b.) Roasting the suckling pig in an oven – If you cannot access an open flame, cooking the suckling pig in an oven works great as well. Make sure it is timed correctly to avoid undercooked meat.

Conclusion.

In conclusion, cooking your first suckling pig is truly one for the books! With the right kind of meat and preparation, your guests are most definitely in for a treat! So get cooking now!