Lacón con Grelos Recipe: Authentic Galician Pork Feast 2026

Lacón con grelos is a hearty Galician classic that shines during Carnival season, when turnip greens are at their peak. This simple dish pairs salted pork shoulder with greens, potatoes, and chorizo for a comforting meal.

With just four main ingredients, the magic lies in timing each component so everything finishes cooking together. The result is a deeply savory, satisfying plate that warms you from the inside out.

It's a dish meant to be shared, often served as a single course with cornbread or filloas on the side. Whether for a holiday gathering or a chilly evening, it brings the taste of Galicia straight to your table.

Ingredients for Lacón con Grelos

Serves 4

• 1 kg salted lacón (pork shoulder)
• 1 kg turnip greens (grelos)
• 4 potatoes
• 3 chorizos (preferably Galician)

How to Make Lacón con Grelos Step by Step

1. Desalt the lacón

The day before cooking, place the 1 kg salted lacón in a large bowl of cold water to remove excess salt. Let it soak for about 24 hours, changing the water once or twice if you like.

2. Boil the lacón

The next day, discard the soaking water and put the lacón in a large pot with plenty of fresh water, making sure it's fully covered. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 2 hours, or until the meat is tender.

3. Prepare the grelos

While the lacón cooks, clean the 1 kg of grelos: remove any damaged leaves and trim the tough stems from the outer leaves, keeping only the tender leaves. Wash them well, drain, and set aside.

4. Peel the potatoes

Peel, wash, and leave the 4 potatoes whole. Keep them submerged in water to prevent oxidation.

5. Add the chorizos

When the lacón has about 30 minutes left and is almost fork-tender, add the 3 chorizos to the pot and cook for another 30 minutes.

6. Cook the potatoes

With 10 minutes left of the lacón's cooking time, ladle some of the cooking broth into a separate saucepan. Cook the whole potatoes in this broth for about 30 minutes over medium heat, or until tender. This way they'll be ready at the same time as the grelos.

7. Remove lacón and chorizos

Once cooked, transfer the lacón and chorizos to a platter and keep the cooking broth in the pot for the grelos. Cover the meat with an inverted platter to keep it warm, or use a low oven. Alternatively, give the meat a final 1-2 minute boil right after cooking the grelos in the same pot.

8. Cook the grelos

Return the pot with the lacón broth to the heat. When it boils, add the reserved grelos. If they are very bitter (common at the end of the season), blanch them first in clean water for 2 minutes to reduce bitterness.

9. Simmer the grelos

Cover the pot and cook the grelos for 15-20 minutes, depending on how tender you like them. If they are very tender, 10 minutes may be enough. When done, drain and transfer to a serving dish.

10. Finish the potatoes

When the potatoes are cooked, remove them from the cooking water. Now everything is ready to serve.

11. Serve the dish

To serve, arrange the grelos, sliced lacón, whole potatoes, and chorizos on a large platter. Bring to the table so everyone can help themselves. Typically, each portion includes some of each component.

Tips for the Best Lacón con Grelos

Timing is everything

The secret to this recipe is managing cooking times, as each ingredient needs different durations. Boil the lacón first, then use its broth to cook the rest, adding each component so they finish together.

Alternative cooking method

If you have a pot large enough, you can cook the lacón first, then add potatoes and chorizos 30 minutes before it's done, and finally the grelos 15-20 minutes before the end.

Serving suggestions

Lacón con grelos is a complete main course. Serve it with filloas (Galician crepes) made with some of the cooking broth for a traditional touch. It's perfect for cold winter days or during Galician Carnival.

30 Favorite Recipes I Keep Coming Back To at Home

Maybe you're wired the same way I am: your kitchen rotation is a blend of cozy standbys, well-loved dishes from around the globe, and sweets that make a crowd happy.

Some nights I want something luxurious, and that's when I reach for this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a deeply rich Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And on days when only fruit-forward comfort will do, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is my reliable pick.

For quick morning meals and lighter plates, I regularly whip up these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe, a hearty Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, or these bright Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And whenever my pantry needs a gluten-free basic, this no-fuss Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe does the trick.

On evenings built around tapas and Mediterranean tastes, I cycle through this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, golden Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, silky Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a cool Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This elegant Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe also comes out whenever the occasion calls for a little extra polish.

For stick-to-your-ribs midday meals and comforting suppers, my go-tos are this warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, time-honored Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, deeply savory Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and velvety Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. When I'm after something even more substantial, I turn to this oven-baked Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, homey Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the supremely cozy French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Anytime street food or party fare is on my mind, I'll throw together this succulent Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, crunchy Salchipapas recipe, punchy Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crisp Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These effortless Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe are another favorite of mine for a light starter or snack.

And when I'm hosting and mixing drinks to go with a full spread, dinner often gets paired with this cool Original Cuban Mojito recipe, a strong Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this sweet Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To bring it all together, I like setting out this zesty French Remoulade Sauce recipe alongside, or capping the meal with this dramatic Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Even More Tasty Recipes the Whole Family Will Enjoy

After countless rounds of testing and tweaking in my own kitchen, I've come to believe the finest dishes are built on straightforward steps, dependable methods, and serious flavor.

The recipes gathered here are the ones I genuinely cook on repeat—whether it's a fast solo meal or something festive for the people I love.

On the sweet side, the lush, velvety Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is my pick when I want a dessert that feels fancy yet comes together without fuss. Another treat I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, modeled on the celebrated Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better dessert texture helps a lot, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

When light and easy is what I'm after, I lean on the timeless Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly done Simple Poached Egg Recipe. For more filling comfort fare, I frequently suggest the crowd-pleasing Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the luscious Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the speedy weeknight go-to One Pot Pasta Recipe.

Sharing dishes from across the globe is another joy of mine, among them the genuine Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crispy Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the traditional Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is yet another category I turn to often, since it delivers speed without sacrificing texture. The ones I make most include Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for those steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a classic baked pasta can still be indulgent, cheesy, and deeply comforting without any gluten.

Gluten free Empanada Dough Recipe 🍕 Fluffy Apple Cake Recipe 🍔 Langos Hungarian Fried Bread Recipe 🌭 Gluten Free French Brioche Recipe 🍟 Madeira British Sponge Cake Recipe 🌮 Chocolate Argentinian Cookies Alfajores Recipe 🌯 Barmbrack Irish Sweet Bread Recipe 🥙 Gluten free Cookies Recipe 🥗 Homemade cream Maruxas Galician Biscuit Recipe 🍝 Japanese Dumplings Gyoza Dough Recipe

American Gluten Free Cookies Recipe 🍜 Gluten Free King Cake Recipe 🍲 Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Recipe 🍛 Extremadura Style Chard Recipe 🍣 Keto Sliced Sandwich Bread Recipe 🍱 Gluten Free Waffles Recipe 🍤 Low Carb Keto Pizza Recipe 🍗 Gluten Free Bread Rolls Recipe 🍖 Flourless Gluten Free Bread Buns Recipe 🥓 Protein Ice Cream Recipe 🥞 Chia Pudding Dessert with Seeds Recipe

Fluffy Cloud Bread Pan Nube Recipe 🧇 Quinoa Bread Recipe 🍞 Schiacciata Tuscan Focaccia Flat Bread Recipe 🥐 Shokupan Japanese Milk Bread Recipe 🥨 Potato Sandwich Bread Recipe 🧀 Homemade Breadsticks Recipe 🍳 Stollen German Dried Fruits Cake Recipe 🥚 French Gingerbread Spiced Cake Recipe 🍰 Gluten Free Pancakes Recipe

🥔 Potato-omelet-in-Thermomix 🍓 Smores-Sandwich-Dessert 🍰 Womens-Day-Mimosa-cake ☕ Coffee-Sorbet 🍆 Eggplant-pizza 🍋 Ciambella-Italian-Lemon-Cake 🥖 Zapiekanka-Polish-Snack 🌰 Dukkah-Egyptian-Nuts-Mix 🧆 Best-Hummus 🥑 Best-Avocado