Lechona Tolimense

Name: Lechona Tolimense
Yield: 30–50
Cuisine: Colombian
Ingredients: 3 pounds boneless pork shoulder, cut into 1-inch pieces; 1 pound skin-on pork belly; 2 cups dried yellow peas, soaked overnight; 8 scallions; 1 large onion; 8 garlic cloves; 1 tablespoon ground cumin; 2 teaspoons achiote; ⅓ cup sour-orange juice, or ¼ cup orange juice plus 2 tablespoons lime juice; 2 tablespoons lard; 2 teaspoons salt; pepper; a large sheet of pork skin, optional; arepas or insulso for serving

Tolima Stuffed Roast Pig

Lechona Tolimense is listed in Classic Dishes for Tolima / Huila. Follow the verified ingredients and numbered instructions below.

Prep: 24 hrCook: 8 hrTotal: 32 hrServes 30–50Advanced

Ingredients

3 pounds boneless pork shoulder, cut into 1-inch pieces
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1 pound skin-on pork belly
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2 cups dried yellow peas, soaked overnight
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8 scallions
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1 large onion
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8 garlic cloves
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1 tablespoon ground cumin
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2 teaspoons achiote(specialty)
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⅓ cup sour-orange juice, or ¼ cup orange juice plus 2 tablespoons lime juice
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2 tablespoons lard
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2 teaspoons salt
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pepper
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a large sheet of pork skin, optional
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arepas or insulso for serving
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Instructions

1
Blend the scallions, onion, garlic, cumin, achiote, citrus, salt, and pepper.
2
Marinate the pork overnight.
3
Simmer the soaked peas until barely tender and drain.
4
Combine them with the pork and marinade.
5
Line a covered roasting pan with pork skin, skin-side down, if available; add the filling and cover with another section of skin, skin-side up.
6
Roast covered at 300°F/150°C for 4 hours.
7
Uncover, raise the oven to 425°F/220°C, and roast until the skin is crisp and the pork reaches at least 195°F/90°C for shreddable tenderness.
8
Rest 25 minutes before chopping and serving.

Source Notes

→Authentic Tolima-style lechona traditionally omits rice, although rice-containing adaptations are common elsewhere in Colombia.

Ingredient Substitutions

Recipe-specific substitutions are published only when supported by verified culinary guidance. For ingredient sourcing, see our Colombian Pantry Guide and consult a qualified recipe tester before making substitutions that may change a dish’s flavor or texture.

At a Glance

CategoryClassic Dishes

RegionTolima / Huila

Prep Time24 hr

Cook Time8 hr

Total Time32 hr

YieldServes 30–50

DifficultyAdvanced

Shop Ingredients

boneless pork shoulder
Walmart Instacart
skin-on pork belly
Walmart Instacart
dried yellow peas
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scallions
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large onion
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garlic cloves
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cumin
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achiote
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Shop the Colombian Pantry

Equipment Needed

Large Roasting Oven
Butcher's Twine

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