Portuguese roast suckling pig (leitão assado)

Leitão assado a bairrada is a Portuguese dish of roast suckling pig. It originates in Covões, Cantanhede, and is regarded as the richest gastronomic treat of the region, with restaurants all along the north-south 'estrada national' serving it.

Before slaughter, the piglet weighs between six and ten kilos and, at a month or a month and a half old, has been weaned. It is seasoned with salt and pepper and roasted on a spit for two hours in a wooden oven.