RECIPE: Lechon Bread

Lechon is the ultimate star of the Noche Buena. Nothing makes holidays or fiestas grander than to have lechon as your centerpiece. But what if you can't have lechon, what's a great alternative? This is where the Lechon Bread enters the picture.

Love Añover with different sizes of Lechon Bread and other baked creations / Source: Unang Hirit

There are a few reasons why one couldn't have lechon for the holidays. The first one is health concerns such as high blood pressure or hypertension and certain heart diseases.

While it's a real bummer not to be able to have a bite of the lechon's crispy skin and its tasty meat, of course, health and safety come first. So, elderly people and those with said health conditions should, unfortunately, avoid lechon this holiday season.

Another reason why some people can't have lechon is because of financial constraints. Due to the effects of the pandemic, many people have lost their jobs or had to close their businesses that suffered major losses.

Of course, while we want to have the best celebration possible with our loved ones, it wouldn't be practical to buy lechon for Noche Buena if one is having financial difficulties.

Good thing there's one great alternative to the legit lechon for Noche Buena: the Lechon Bread!

In Unang Hirit's recent episode, Eat Girl Love Añover learned how to make the Lechon Bread from the co-owner of Bread for Everyjuan, Jan Joseph Sta. Barbara.

So, without further ado, here's the recipe for the Lechon Bread.

Ingredients:

• bread flour
• sugar
• powdered milk
• bread improver
• salt
• yeast
• water
• lard
• margarine
• ham
• cheese
• raisins
• egg wash (beaten eggs)

Procedure:

1. Combine the dry ingredients: bread flour, sugar, powdered milk, bread improver, and salt.
2. Mix well then add the yeast.
3. While the mixture of dry ingredients and yeast are stirred in the mixer, pour water in slowly to avoid clumping.
4. Add lard and margarine.
5. Rest the dough for 20-30 minutes.
6. Put ham and cheese fillings.
7. Rest the dough again for 20-30 minutes.
8. Shape the dough to make it look like a legit lechon.
9. Add raisins to serve as the eyes of your lechon bread.
10. Let it rest again for 1 to 1 ½ hour.
11. Coat with egg wash.
12. Bake in the oven for 20-30 minutes at 200 degrees Fahrenheit.

Watch and learn how to make Lechon Bread in the Unang Hirit video below.

If you want to learn more recipes like this, watch Unang Hirit from Monday to Friday at 5:30 a.m. on GMA-7.

And for more lifestyle content, head out to GMA's Lifestyle page.

Check out also the recipe for Roasted Pata.