Fonda San Miguel Cochinita Pibil
Cochinita Pibil is the traditional pork barbecue of the Yucatan Peninsula, where for centuries it has been cooked in pits lined with hot stones and banana leaves. The achiote-based rub, which imparts a rich, terra-cotta color and an earthy flavor, is equally good on seafood and chicken.
Ingredients
- 4 pounds Pork Shoulder or butt, trimmed off ends and cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 tablespoons safflower oil
- 4 large Tomatoes sliced
- 2 medium White Onions sliced
- 2 tablespoons reserved Achiote Rub (see below)
- 1 large banana leaf C
- Cebollas Rojas en Escabeche (see separate recipe below)
- Arroz Blanco
Achiote Rub:
- 2 tablespoons achiote seeds or 3 tablespoons achiote paste C
- ¼ cup orange juice
- ¼ cup distilled white vinegar
- ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
- ½ teaspoon dried Mexican Oregano
- 12 whole black peppercorns
- 4 whole allspice
- 8 cloves garlic peeled
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon sea salt
Queso Asado with Rajas:
- cast iron skillet 8''
- 2 ½ cups shredded white cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
- 3/4 cup Rajas
- 8 flour or corn tortillas
- 2 Poblano peppers roasted
- 1 med white onion sliced
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Achiote Rub. Mix the achiote seeds with the orange juice and vinegar and soak 1 hour to soften them.
- Using a molcajete or mortar and pestle, crush the achiote seeds with a little of the soaking liquid.
- Transfer the seeds and soaking liquid to a blender and add the remaining rub ingredients; blend to a paste. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the paste for cooking with the tomatoes.
- Rub the pork cubes with the Achiote Rub and set aside.
- Heat oil in a heavy skillet over medium heat. Add tomatoes, onions, and the reserved 2 tablespoons of Achiote Rub. Fry for about 3 minutes and set aside.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Have a large, heavy Dutch oven ready.
- Using tongs, carefully sear the banana leaf over an open flame until flexible.
- Line the Dutch oven with the banana leaf and arrange the pork cubes on the leaf. Cover the pork with the tomato mixture, folding the banana leaf over the top. Cover and cook in preheated oven for 2 to 2½ hours, basting occasionally with juices from the bottom of the pot.
- Remove from the oven and transfer to a serving platter. Garnish with Cebollas Rojas en Escabeche and serve with Arroz Blanco.
- NOTE: If using prepared achiote paste instead of achiote seeds, skip the soaking and crushing step. Simply mash the paste with the orange juice and vinegar and then transfer the mixture to a blender.
- Variation: Substitute 4 pounds chicken pieces for the pork. Brown in a skillet with a little oil. Proceed as directed.
For the Queso Asado:
- Preheat oven 400F.
- Bake till cheese mixture is melted and bubbling, guest spoons the cheese into center of tortilla and fold over and eat as finger food with cocktails.
For the Rajas:
- In skillet heat olive oil over med-high heat, then you will want to add equal amounts of Chiles and onions, cook for about 10 minutes and season with salt.
- Fresh Chiles can be roasted until charred and blistered on dry Comal, under a broiler, or over an open flame, using tongs. For Rajas, put charred Poblano Chiles in plastic bags and allow them to sweat for 15 minutes.
- Using rubber gloves, peel off the charred outer skin (do not peel Chiles under running or most of the roasted flavor will be lost).
- Cut off the stem end and slice the pepper lengthwise into thin, ¼ inch strips –Make sure not to Rub your eyes, nose, mouth, or other tender body areas while handling Chiles which may burn the skin!
Notes
Recipe and Image courtesy of Fonda San Miguel.
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