Embark on a culinary journey to the heart of Mayan gastronomy with our Achiote Rubbed Pork Baked in Banana Leaves. This traditional dish, also known as Cochinita Pibil, tantalizes taste buds with its tender, succulent pork infused with the vibrant flavors of achiote paste, achiote seeds, and a symphony of aromatic spices. Marinated overnight in this flavorful blend, the pork is then carefully wrapped in banana leaves and baked to perfection, creating a tender, juicy, and incredibly flavorful dish. Accompanying the star of the show are three equally enticing recipes: Achiote Paste, a versatile condiment that adds a smoky, earthy depth to any dish; Pickled Red Onions, a tangy, vibrant complement to the richness of the pork; and Habanero Salsa, a fiery, flavorful sauce that brings a delightful kick to every bite. Together, these recipes form a harmonious ensemble that promises an authentic Mayan culinary experience.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
COCHINITA PIBIL RECIPE FROM YUCATáN
Out of all the dishes in the Yucatan Peninsula, I think this is the dish that is best known throughout the whole country. Cooked with Achiote and sour orange juice, the slow roasted pork meat was traditionally buried in a pit, hence the word "Pibil", meaning "buried" in Mayan.
Provided by Mely Martínez
Categories Pork
Time 2h45m
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Roast the banana leaf, if you bought it from the frozen section of the supermarket, wait until it is completely defrosted.
- To roast the banana leaf, place it directly over a medium hot fire of you gas stove, it will start changing color and getting some shiny while in contact with the fire. Make sure not to burn the leaves, we just want them to be pliable.
- Line your roasting pan with the oven bag and arrange the banana leaves overlapping as in the above picture. You can also use aluminum foil instead of the oven bag.
- In your blender, mix the Achiote (annatto) seasoning with the pepper and bitter orange juice. Add salt.
- Place the pork meat on the leaves. Pour the Achiote mixture over. And add the oil/lard to give it more flavor.
- Cover with the sliced onion and herbs. Fold the ends of the banana leaves over the pork.
- Close the oven bag and cut 3 or 4 slits according to packages instructions. If using aluminum foil wrap tightly . Add about 1 1/2 quarter of water to the roasting pan to create a steaming effect. One time, I forgot to add the water and it still came out great.
- Bake 2 1/2 hours in a preheated oven at 350 degrees. Add more water to the pan if needed.
- Remove roasting pan from oven and uncover the meat. The meat should be tender. If it isn't, cover and return to the oven for another 30 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 385 kcal, Carbohydrate 9 g, Protein 39 g, Fat 21 g, SaturatedFat 3 g, Cholesterol 107 mg, Sodium 85 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 6 g, ServingSize 1 serving
YUCATAN PORK BAKED IN BANANA LEAVES: COCHINITA PIBIL
Provided by Food Network
Categories main-dish
Time P1DT2h30m
Yield 6 to 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 21
Steps:
- Run the banana leaves under warm water for about 5 minutes to defrost. Line a medium baking dish with the banana leaves.
- Combine the achiote paste, garlic, vinegar, orange juice, and salt in a blender until smooth. In a large bowl, rub the achiote mixture into the meat. Place the meat in the prepared baking dish. Wrap the meat with banana leaves. Cover container and refrigerate for 24 hours.
- After meat has marinated, preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- Add 1 cup water to the baking dish. Bake the meat until fork tender, about 2 hours.
- Serve wrapped meat on a bed of steamed white rice with Marinated Red Onions and Habanero Salsa on the side. Alternatively, remove meat from banana leaves and wrap in fresh, warm tortillas with Marinated Red Onions and Habanero Salsa on top.
- In a dry skillet, lightly toast the habanero chiles. Stem, seed, and roughly chop the peppers. Combine all ingredients in a blender until smooth. Pour into a small serving bowl. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
ACHIOTE-RUBBED PORK BAKED IN BANANA LEAVES
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Meat & Poultry Pork Recipes
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- In a resealable plastic bag, combine onions, vinegar, sugar, 1/2 teaspoon oregano, and 3/4 cup water; season with salt. Seal bag and shake to mix well. Let stand at room temperature for at least 6 hours; pickled onions will keep refrigerated for up to 1 week.
- In a large bowl, combine the achiote, lime and orange juices, remaining 1/2 teaspoon oregano, and garlic; add pork, and coat well. Marinate, covered, in a refrigerator for at least 8 hours or up to overnight.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Form a cross with the banana leaves, and lay flat in a Dutch-oven. Place pork in center of the leaves along with any remaining marinade; brush with lard. Wrap pork in banana leaves, moistening leaves with water to prevent them from burning, and cover.
- Bake until pork is very tender and falling apart, about 3 hours. Using a slotted spoon, remove meat and shred with 2 forks. Return meat to pot, and stir to moisten. To serve, place meat on a tortilla, and top with pickled onions and avocados; fold to enclose. Repeat with remaining ingredients.
COCHINITA PIBIL
The traditional way to make Yucatecan cochinita pibil is to bury a pig in a steaming, smouldering, stone-lined pit and cook it slowly for many hours. The pork has first been marinated with a bright red paste of achiote seeds, garlic, spices and bitter orange juice, and then wrapped in banana leaves. This tender meat is pulled and served simply in its own juices with hot tortillas and pickled onion. Diana Kennedy's no-fuss method for home cooks involves baking a small piece of pork in the oven for just a few hours, inside a heavy lidded pot, with a little water at the bottom.
Provided by Tejal Rao
Categories main course
Time 4h
Yield Serves 4
Number Of Ingredients 21
Steps:
- Score the fat of the pork, evenly salt the meat and set it aside while you make the marinade. In a dry saucepan over medium heat, toast the garlic cloves until they're charred all over, then remove. In the same pan, add cumin, peppercorns, allspice, red-chile powder, cloves and cinnamon. Toast until you can really smell the cumin and pepper. Grind spices, and mix in a food processor until smooth with the oregano, charred garlic, achiote paste, all the citrus zest and about half the juice.
- Place two overlapping banana leaves on your work surface, and put the pork at the center. Rub the spice paste all over the meat, arrange the sliced white onion on top and roll the whole thing up, folding the sides like wrapping paper. (If it unravels, tie it closed with some kitchen twine.) Set the parcel in the fridge for a few hours, or overnight.
- Heat oven to 300. Put the parcel on a rack, or a ring of scrunched-up aluminum foil, inside a heavy pot with a half cup of water at the bottom. Bake with the lid on until the meat is very tender and yields easily to a fork, about 4 hours. Meanwhile, mix the chopped red onion with remaining citrus juices, salt and habanero, and set aside.
- While the meat is still warm, carefully transfer the parcel to a serving dish. Use a fork to shred the meat, spoon over the cooking juices and mix well. Serve with pickled onions, warmed tortillas and halved limes.
Tips:
- To make the achiote paste, you can either use store-bought or make your own. If you're making your own, you'll need annatto seeds, garlic, cumin, oregano, black pepper, and salt.
- When rubbing the achiote paste onto the pork, be sure to get it into all the nooks and crannies. This will help to ensure that the pork is evenly flavored.
- If you don't have banana leaves, you can use aluminum foil instead. However, banana leaves will give the pork a more authentic flavor.
- To prevent the pork from drying out, wrap it tightly in the banana leaves or aluminum foil.
- The cooking time will vary depending on the size of the pork roast. A good rule of thumb is to cook it for 1 hour per pound.
- Once the pork is cooked, let it rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing and serving.
Conclusion:
This achiote-rubbed pork baked in banana leaves is a delicious and flavorful dish that is perfect for any special occasion. The achiote paste gives the pork a rich and smoky flavor, while the banana leaves help to keep it moist and tender. This dish is sure to impress your guests and will be a hit at any party or gathering.
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