Best 8 Cochinita Pibil Mayan Pork Roast Recipes

facebook share image   twitter share image   pinterest share image   E-Mail share image

**Cochinita Pibil: A Culinary Journey to the Heart of Mayan Cuisine**

Embark on a tantalizing culinary adventure as we unveil the secrets of Cochinita Pibil, a traditional Mayan pork roast that has captivated taste buds for centuries. This delectable dish, originating from the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico, is a symphony of flavors that blends the richness of slow-roasted pork with the vibrant aromas of achiote, a flavorful annatto seed paste. As you delve into the depths of this article, you'll discover two enticing recipes that showcase the versatility and allure of Cochinita Pibil. The first recipe, a classic rendition, guides you through the traditional method of cooking the pork underground, immersing it in a fragrant marinade and wrapping it in banana leaves for an authentic Mayan experience. The second recipe offers a modern twist, presenting an oven-roasted version that captures the essence of Cochinita Pibil while accommodating contemporary kitchen settings. Whether you choose to embrace the ancient technique or savor the convenience of the oven, these recipes promise an explosion of flavors that will transport you to the heart of Mayan culinary heritage.

Here are our top 8 tried and tested recipes!

COCHINITA PIBIL RECIPE FROM YUCATáN



Cochinita Pibil recipe from Yucatán image

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

2 large banana leaves
1/2 cup of Achiote Paste
2 cups of bitter orange juice (or one cup orange juice mixed with one cup of grapefruit juice)
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
3 Pounds of boneless pork loin or pork shoulder cut in pieces
1 large red onion (sliced.)
3-4 bay leaves
1/2 tablespoon dried thyme
1 tablespoon marjoram
1 Tablespoon dried Mexican oregano
1/2 cup oil or lard
1 turkey size oven bag
Salt to taste

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

COCHINITA PIBIL (YUCATáN-STYLE BARBECUED PORK) RECIPE



Cochinita Pibil (Yucatán-Style Barbecued Pork) Recipe image

Make Yucatán-style cochinita pibil with a zippy marinade, banana leaves, and a grill to reproduce the sweet, earthy flavors traditionally gained by cooking in an underground oven.

Provided by J. Kenji López-Alt

Categories     Mains     Tacos

Time 6h5m

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 24

For the Marinade:
1 whole head garlic, separated into individual unpeeled cloves
2 tablespoons (30ml) lard or vegetable oil
1/4 cup achiote (annatto) seeds (1 1/2 ounces; 40g)
2 tablespoons (about 6g) Mexican oregano
3 whole cloves
1 (3-inch) Ceylon cinnamon stick, or a 1.5-inch piece of cassia cinnamon (see note)
2 tablespoons (about 8g) whole black peppercorns
1 tablespoon (about 4g) whole cumin seed
1 tablespoon (about 4g) whole allspice berries
3/4 cup (175ml) bitter (Seville) orange juice, or 1/4 cup (60ml) each lime, orange, and grapefruit juice
1/4 cup (60ml) white vinegar
1 tablespoon (15ml) soy sauce
Kosher salt
For the Pork:
4 pounds (1.8kg) boneless pork shoulder or 6 pounds (2.7kg) bone-in pork shoulder, cut into 2-inch-thick slabs
6 to 8 banana leaves (see note)
2 Roma tomatoes, sliced
1 red or green bell pepper, sliced
1 white onion, sliced
12 bay leaves
To Serve:
Warm corn tortillas
Yucatán-style pickled onions and salsa

Steps:

  • Light 3/4 chimney full of charcoal. When all the charcoal is lit and covered with gray ash, pour out and arrange coals on one side of charcoal grate. Set cooking grate in place, cover grill, and allow to preheat for 5 minutes. Alternatively, set half the burners on a gas grill to medium-high, cover, and preheat for 10 minutes.
  • Remove pork from grill and transfer parcels to a deep platter or shallow bowl. Unwrap banana leaves, shred pork with two forks, stir it into drippings, stuff it into tortillas with pickled red onions and salsa, and serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 571 kcal, Carbohydrate 23 g, Cholesterol 138 mg, Fiber 4 g, Protein 39 g, SaturatedFat 13 g, Sodium 596 mg, Sugar 4 g, Fat 36 g, ServingSize Serves 8 to 12, UnsaturatedFat 0 g

AUTHENTIC COCHINITA PIBIL (SPICY MEXICAN PULLED PORK)



Authentic Cochinita Pibil (Spicy Mexican Pulled Pork) image

A traditional Mexican dish without the work! I couldn't believe that something that good was SO easy to make. The achiote paste can easily be found at most Mexican grocery stores. Mouthwatering!!!!

Provided by gem

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     Latin American     Mexican

Time 6h55m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 red onion, sliced thin
3 habanero peppers, sliced
10 limes, juiced
salt to taste
3 ounces dried guajillo chile peppers, seeded and deveined
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
salt and pepper to taste
3 pounds boneless pork shoulder, cut into 1-inch cubes
3 cups fresh orange juice
1 cup white vinegar
1 bulb garlic, peeled
7 ½ ounces achiote paste

Steps:

  • Combine the onion, habanero peppers, lime juice, and salt in a bowl; cover and refrigerate while preparing and cooking the pork. Use rubber gloves when preparing the habanero peppers and avoid touching your eyes, nose, or skin while slicing peppers.
  • Place the guajillo peppers in a bowl; pour enough hot water over the peppers to cover. Allow to soak until the peppers are softened, about 10 minutes.
  • Heat the oil in a large skillet at medium-high heat. Season pork with salt and pepper; cook in the hot oil until completely browned, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer the pork to a slow cooker.
  • Combine the guajillo peppers, orange juice, vinegar, garlic, and achiote paste in a blender; blend until smooth. Pour the sauce over the pork cubes in the slow cooker.
  • Cook on High until the pork easily falls apart, 6 to 8 hours. Remove the pork to a serving dish and shred with 2 forks. Pour the achiote sauce over the shredded pork. To serve, top with the onion-habanero salsa.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 468 calories, Carbohydrate 39.6 g, Cholesterol 89.2 mg, Fat 24.9 g, Fiber 8.1 g, Protein 27.1 g, SaturatedFat 8.3 g, Sodium 368.5 mg, Sugar 13.3 g

YUCATAN PORK BAKED IN BANANA LEAVES: COCHINITA PIBIL



Yucatan Pork Baked in Banana Leaves: Cochinita Pibil image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time P1DT2h30m

Yield 6 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 21

1 pound frozen banana leaves* (See Cook's Note)
2 (4-ounce) packages achiote paste* (recommended: Recado Rojo)
6 cloves garlic
1/4 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup orange juice
1 tablespoon kosher salt
5 pounds trimmed, boneless pork butt, halved
1 cup water
Marinated Red Onions, recipe follows
Habanero Salsa, recipe follows
Serving Suggestion: steamed white rice or fresh, warm tortillas
2 medium red onions, thinly sliced
3 cups water
1 cup cider vinegar
1 tablespoon kosher salt
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours before serving.
8 habanero chiles
1/2 cup orange juice
1/4 cup lime juice
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 teaspoons salt

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.

PORK MIMI'S WAY, YUCATAN STYLE: COCHINITA PIBIL



Pork Mimi's Way, Yucatan Style: Cochinita Pibil image

Provided by Aarón Sánchez

Categories     main-dish

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 6

1 cup fresh sour orange juice
1 tablespoon white vinegar
2 tablespoons achiote paste
2 tablespoons chopped garlic
3 pounds pork (use 2 thick shoulder steaks cut into large pieces with a few short ribs or pork butt)
Salt

Steps:

  • Prepare marinade with the orange juice, vinegar, achiote, garlic, and salt, to taste, and mix thoroughly. Rub the mixture into the meat and marinate at room temperature for 1 hour, or refrigerated, for at least 1 hour.
  • Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
  • Line a roaster pan with heavy foil and arrange the marinated pork in it, covering the meat with the marinade. Cover pan with foil tightly and bake for 2 to 3 hours. Check often and turn pieces of meat in their own juices. Roasting times vary according to the toughness of the meat.
  • Chop meat into cubes and discard any fatty parts. Serve with a basket of freshly made corn tortillas.

COCHINITA PIBIL



Cochinita Pibil image

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

1 pork shoulder, 3-4 pounds
4 tablespoons salt
4-6 garlic cloves, peeled
1 tablespoon cumin seeds
1 tablespoon black peppercorns
1 teaspoon whole allspice
1 tablespoon red-chile powder
1/2 teaspoon whole cloves
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon powder
1 tablespoon Mexican oregano
4 tablespoons achiote-seed paste
1 orange, zested and juiced
1 grapefruit, zested and juiced
1 lime, juiced
2 banana leaves, wiped clean
1/2 white onion, thinly sliced
1 red onion, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1 habanero, seeded and finely chopped
Corn tortillas
Lime, optional

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.

COCHINITA PIBIL



Cochinita Pibil image

This is my favorite Mexican pork dish that is always a hit. Can be toned down with less or no peppers and still tastes awesome. If you can find Seville orange juice, use it in place of the lemon and regular orange juice for authentic Mexican flavor. Quite easy to prepare too! Your whole family will love this famous Mexican dish!

Provided by TAWMTHEBOMB

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     Latin American     Mexican

Time 2h30m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 12

2 pounds pork butt roast with bone
2 tablespoons achiote paste
⅓ cup orange juice
⅔ cup fresh-squeezed lemon juice
2 habanero peppers, seeded and chopped
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground coriander
salt and pepper to taste
½ cup red wine vinegar
2 red onions, sliced into rings

Steps:

  • Poke holes all over the pork with a fork. Rub achiote paste all over the pork, and set aside. In a large bowl, mix together the orange juice, lemon juice, and habanero peppers. Mix in the cumin, paprika, chili powder, coriander, salt and pepper. Place pork in the mixture, cover, and refrigerate overnight, turning two or three times.
  • Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Wrap the pork and marinade in aluminum foil or banana leaves that have been soaked in water for 30 minutes. Place into a casserole dish, and cover.
  • Bake for about 2 hours, until the meat falls off the bone. The slower you cook it, the better it is. You could also bake it in a 200 degrees F (95 degrees C) oven for 4 or 5 hours, or in a slow cooker without the foil or leaves.
  • While the pork is cooking, make the sauce. Bring the red wine vinegar to a boil in a small saucepan. Add onions, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until tender. Pour sauce over pork, and serve with white rice and corn tortillas. Each person can make tacos or fajitas with the pork, the rice and the sauce.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 221.9 calories, Carbohydrate 10 g, Cholesterol 60.2 mg, Fat 11.7 g, Fiber 1.3 g, Protein 19.1 g, SaturatedFat 4.2 g, Sodium 58.1 mg, Sugar 3.5 g

COCHINITA PIBIL (MEXICAN PULLED PORK IN ANNATTO SAUCE)



Cochinita Pibil (Mexican Pulled Pork in Annatto Sauce) image

This cochinita pibil recipe is straight from Mexico. Pork shoulder is cooked in a spicy red annatto sauce, then shredded and served with habanero sauce.

Provided by Chef Gaby Cervello

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     Latin American     Mexican

Time 1h50m

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 19

3 ounces achiote paste
1 white onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic
2 cups orange juice
½ cup lemon juice
¼ cup white vinegar
2 tablespoons salt
1 tablespoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon dried Mexican oregano
5 pounds pork shoulder roast
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 tablespoon lard
1 red onion, chopped
3 habanero chiles, seeded and sliced
¼ cup lemon juice
¼ cup white vinegar
1 cup lukewarm water
sea salt and ground black pepper to taste
dried oregano

Steps:

  • Combine achiote paste, white onion, garlic, orange juice, lemon juice, 1/4 cup vinegar, 2 tablespoons salt, 1 tablespoon black pepper, and 1 tablespoon Mexican oregano in a blender; blend marinade until smooth.
  • Rub pork with salt and pepper and place in a pressure cooker. Add lard and pour marinade over pork. Add 2 cups water. Close cooker securely and place pressure regulator over vent according to manufacturer's instructions. Heat to High heat until steam escapes in a steady flow and makes a whistling sound, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low or low. Cook for 45 minutes from the start of the whistling sound. Let pressure release naturally according to manufacturer's instructions, 5 to 10 minutes. Unlock lid and transfer pork to a large platter.
  • Prepare the habanero sauce while the meat is cooking. Combine red onion and habanero chiles in a gravy boat. Add 1/2 cup lemon juice, 1/4 cup white vinegar, and warm water. Season with salt, pepper, and dried oregano and mix until everything is well combined.
  • Shred meat with 2 forks and return to the pressure cooker with the cooking juices. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook uncovered until cooking juices have reduced, about 30 minutes. Serve with habanero sauce.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 421.9 calories, Carbohydrate 8.3 g, Cholesterol 122 mg, Fat 25.6 g, Fiber 0.9 g, Protein 37.6 g, SaturatedFat 8.9 g, Sodium 1333.5 mg, Sugar 4.7 g

Tips:

  • Choose the right cut of pork: Achiote paste is a traditional ingredient in cochinita pibil, and it can be found in most Latin American grocery stores. If you can't find achiote paste, you can substitute 1 tablespoon of paprika, 1 teaspoon of ground cumin, and 1 teaspoon of dried oregano.
  • Marinate the pork overnight: This will allow the flavors of the marinade to penetrate the meat and make it more tender.
  • Use a banana leaf or aluminum foil to wrap the pork: This will help to keep the pork moist and flavorful.
  • Cook the pork until it is fall-apart tender: This will take about 2-3 hours in a slow cooker or oven.
  • Serve the pork with your favorite toppings: Some popular options include pickled red onions, avocado, cilantro, and sour cream.

Conclusion:

Cochinita pibil is a delicious and flavorful dish that is perfect for any occasion. It is a traditional Mayan dish that is made with pork,achiote paste, and a variety of other spices. The pork is marinated overnight and then roasted until it is fall-apart tender. Cochinita pibil is typically served with pickled red onions, avocado, cilantro, and sour cream. If you are looking for a new and exciting dish to try, cochinita pibil is a great option. It is easy to make and is sure to be a hit with your family and friends.

Related Topics