Crispy Pata

.....

Preparation & drying: 4 hours to 1 day

Estimated cooking time: 20 minutes

Crispy Pata Ingredients:

• 1 Pata (front or hind leg of a pig including the knuckles)

• 1 bottle of soda (7Up or sprite)

• 1 tablespoon of salt

• 2 tablespoons patis (fish sauce)

• 1/2 tablespoon baking soda

• 1 tablespoon of monosodium glutamate (MSG)

• 4 tablespoons of flour

• Enough oil for deep frying

• Enough water for boiling

Crispy Pata Cooking Instructions:

• Clean the pork pata by removing all hairs and by scraping the skin with a knife. Wash thoroughly.

• Make four to five inch cuts on the sides of the pata.

• On a deep stock pot, place the pata in water with soda and salt. Bring to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes. Then add the baking soda and continue to simmer for another 10 minutes.

• Remove the pata from the pot and hang and allow to drip dry for 24 hours. An alternative to this is to thoroughly drain the pork pata and refrigerate for a few hours.

• After the above process, rub patis on the pata and sprinkle flour liberally.

• In a deep frying pot, heat cooking oil and deep fry the pork pata until golden brown.

Crispy Pata Dip Sauce:

Mix 3/4 cup of vinegar, 1/4 cup soy sauce, 2 cloves of crushed garlic, 1 head of diced onion and 1 hot pepper. Salt and pepper to taste.