Crisp Roasted Pig's Head

      1    Pig's head, cleaned and
           -tongue removed
      1 ts 5-spice powder
      2 tb Salt
    1/2 c Mien see (ground brown bean
           -sauce)
           Or
    1/2 c Oyster sauce
    1/4 c Bourbon
      1 c Honey, combined with
      1 c Boiling water

Remove any hair on head by singeing over and open flame or plucking. Scrub well (using a vegetable brush, if desired) and then sprinkle with salt, rubbing it into the skin. Rinse well with cool water; pat dry. Remove any excess fat.

Place head in a colander in the sink and pour a kettleful of boiling water over. Let cool.

Combine the 5-spice powder, salt, bean sauce and bourbon. Slash the meat on underside of head and rub half of the spice mixture into the meat. Rub the remaining spice mixture onto the skin. Place head upright on a rack in a large baking pan. Bake at 375 degrees for 1-1/2 hours. Lower heat to 325 degrees and continue cooking for an additional 2 hours, or until the meat is cooked through, basting the skin well every 30 minutes with the honey-water mixture. (Cooking time will depend on the size of the head.) If ears begin to brown too quickly during cooking period, wrap them with foil.

When head is done, remove to platter and garnish with water- cress or coriander. Chop head into pieces and serve with sweet vegetable relish or plum sauce.

[I'd definitely serve with spiced salt and Chinese mustard and minced green onions for dipping too.]

From "Innards and Other Variety Meats". Jana Allen and Margret Gin. 101 Productions. San Francisco, 1974.

Collected by Bert Christensen
Toronto, Ontario

web site: http://bertc.com