When I first wrote this recipe, I started with whole annatto seeds which are hard and difficult to work with, but with so many brands of commercial achiote paste available to use as a base, I have changed the recipe. This recado is the basis of many Yucatán Peninsula dishes such as Cochinita pibil. When made with vinegar, it will keep indefinitely in the refrigerator, but the flavor will be more subtle and true with the sour orange juice, which reduces its shelf life to about 3 weeks.

Photo by Laurie Smith

Achiote Paste (Recado de adobo colorado)

You can brush it on a whole fish and roast in a hot oven. Or use it as a marinade to make chicken or lean pork pibil-style. Line a deep Dutch oven or pot with banana leaves long enough to have an overhang of about 6-8 inches; arrange the marinated meat in one layer then flip the leaves over to cover and seal tightly with heavy aluminum foil. Roast in a slow 300°F oven until fork tender. Top with pickled red onions.

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Course Ingredient, Marinade

Cuisine Mexican

Servings 16

Calories 14 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• One 4-ounce package achiote paste preferably a Mexican brand such as El Yucateco
• 4 cloves garlic
• 1½ teaspoons Mexican oregano
• 1½ teaspoons whole black peppercorns
• 1½ teaspoons cumin
• 1½ teaspoons coriander seeds
• 1 teaspoon whole allspice
• 1 teaspoon salt

Sour orange juice

• ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
• ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

OR

• 1¼ cup mild white vinegar I use a Swiss brand called Kressi

Instructions

 

• Place the achiote paste and garlic in the bowl of a food processor and process until smooth.
• Grind all the spices in a coffee grinder and add to the achiote. Process until well combined.
• Add the juice or vinegar a little at a time until thoroughly combined.

Notes

If you do not have a coffee or spice grinder, combine all ingredients in the container of a blender. Blend with an on/off motion until thoroughly puréed. It may be necessary to add more vinegar or sour orange juice to facilitate the blending.

Nutrition

Calories: 14kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 147mgPotassium: 45mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 31IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 13mgIron: 1mg

Keyword achiote, achiote paste

NOTE: Nutrition values are approximate and for informational purposes only. Values do not include optional or alternate ingredients, nor do they include the nutritional values for any secondary recipes that may be listed in the ingredients.