Cochinita Pibil (Mexican Pulled Pork in Annatto Sauce)

  4.7 – 1 reviews  • Mexican

Mexican cuisine is the source of this cochinita pibil recipe. A fiery red annatto sauce is used to cook the pork shoulder, which is then shredded and served with habanero sauce.

Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 1 hr 30 mins
Total Time: 1 hr 50 mins
Servings: 12
Yield: 12 servings

Ingredients

  1. 3 ounces achiote paste
  2. 1 white onion, chopped
  3. 2 cloves garlic
  4. 2 cups orange juice
  5. ½ cup lemon juice
  6. ¼ cup white vinegar
  7. 2 tablespoons salt
  8. 1 tablespoon ground black pepper
  9. 1 tablespoon dried Mexican oregano
  10. 5 pounds pork shoulder roast
  11. salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  12. 1 tablespoon lard
  13. 1 red onion, chopped
  14. 3 habanero chiles, seeded and sliced
  15. ¼ cup lemon juice
  16. ¼ cup white vinegar
  17. 1 cup lukewarm water
  18. sea salt and ground black pepper to taste
  19. dried oregano

Instructions

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. For an even more intense flavor and if you have the time, cover meat with annatto sauce and marinate for about 8 hours.
  6. Be careful when handling the peppers as they are very spicy and you might want to wear gloves.
  7. Watch the recipe video in Spanish on my blog:
  8. Achiote paste can be found in most Mexican stores.

Nutrition Facts

Calories 422 kcal
Carbohydrate 8 g
Cholesterol 122 mg
Dietary Fiber 1 g
Protein 38 g
Saturated Fat 9 g
Sodium 1334 mg
Sugars 5 g
Fat 26 g
Unsaturated Fat 0 g

Reviews

Jennifer Rodriguez MD
Very delicious! Made it as described. Easy and versatile. Made leftovers into vegetable Mexican soup. I will use this recipe again.

 

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