Easy Conchinita Pibil
Native to the Yucatán Peninsula, this spicy and citrusy pulled pork is fantastic as a taco or burrito filling or just eaten with a side of warm tortillas. You can purchase the achiote paste at your local Latin supermarket or online. This recipe makes 4-6 servings.
PREP TIME
10 minutes
COOK TIME
4 hours / 0 mins
Ingredients
3-4 pounds pork shoulder, cut into 2" pieces
1 cup orange juice, freshly squeezed if possible
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon salt
3 ounces red achiote paste, available in Latin markets
1 jalapeño or habanero, minced (wear disposable plastic gloves when handling the pepper)
For the pickled onions:
1 large red onion, thinly sliced
1 1/2 cups white vinegar
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cinnamon stick
5 cloves
1 bay leaf
1 star anise
Dash red pepper flakes
1 cup orange juice, freshly squeezed if possible
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon salt
3 ounces red achiote paste, available in Latin markets
1 jalapeño or habanero, minced (wear disposable plastic gloves when handling the pepper)
For the pickled onions:
1 large red onion, thinly sliced
1 1/2 cups white vinegar
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cinnamon stick
5 cloves
1 bay leaf
1 star anise
Dash red pepper flakes
Directions
Add the pork pieces to a large nonreactive bowl. Blend achiote paste, citrus juices, salt and chili pepper and add to the pork; toss to combine. Store, refrigerated for at least 6 hours and up to one day.
Preheat your oven to 325 F. Line a 9" x 13" baking dish with heavy-duty foil. Add the pork pieces to the dish; cover with another sheet of foil. Crimp the edges of the top and bottom foil to make a pouch; you want a tight seal so no moisture escapes while the pork is cooking. Cook pork for 4 hours. Remove from oven, cut a slit in the foil and let stand for 15 minutes or until the pork is cool enough to handle.
Shred the pork with two forks. Top with pickled onions and serve.
To make the pickled onions, pack onion slices into a large glass jar. Add vinegar, sugar and spices to a small nonreactive saucepan. Simmer over medium until the sugar just dissolves; make sure not to boil the mixture or you will burn the sugar. Pour hot mixture over the onions and let stand, uncovered for about 5 minutes. Cover the jar and let stand a room temperature for at lest 2 hours before using.
Preheat your oven to 325 F. Line a 9" x 13" baking dish with heavy-duty foil. Add the pork pieces to the dish; cover with another sheet of foil. Crimp the edges of the top and bottom foil to make a pouch; you want a tight seal so no moisture escapes while the pork is cooking. Cook pork for 4 hours. Remove from oven, cut a slit in the foil and let stand for 15 minutes or until the pork is cool enough to handle.
Shred the pork with two forks. Top with pickled onions and serve.
To make the pickled onions, pack onion slices into a large glass jar. Add vinegar, sugar and spices to a small nonreactive saucepan. Simmer over medium until the sugar just dissolves; make sure not to boil the mixture or you will burn the sugar. Pour hot mixture over the onions and let stand, uncovered for about 5 minutes. Cover the jar and let stand a room temperature for at lest 2 hours before using.
Looking for inspiration? Try these recipes:
Spicy Chicken and Onion Quiche
Easy Conchinita Pibil
Patty Melt with Caramelized Onions
