Suckling Pig, Whole Roasting Pig

Be sure to select the correct size suckling or roasting pig – one that fits your cooking method: grill, oven, rotisserie or roasting box and the size of your party. You should allow for 1 ½ pounds of pork per person.

Useful to keep in mind: suckling pigs that weigh less than 20 pounds generally fit in the average kitchen oven. Anything larger needs a spacious grill or smoker.

Our favorite recipe calls for marinating the pig in a citrusy mixture of orange and lime juices spiked with jalapenos, and then slow-roasting the pig over an open fire or in La Caja China, a Cuban roasting box.

If you don’t have a place to dig a pit or have a specialized implement like La Caja China, suckling pig can also be cooked in a high-heat oven. Just be sure you have an oven of a size that can accommodate the pig you are purchasing. Once roasted, the pork can be shredded, and it needs little more than a spicy mojo sauce for serving. Any way you choose to cook it, prepare for some of the moistest, most tender meat and crispy, addictive skin.