Cochinita pibil

Cochinita pibil is a traditional Mayan dish from the Southern Mexico that reminds us of an adventurous journey many years ago through Mexico and in particular a New Year's Eve in the jungle of Palenque.

The ancient recipe involved cooking a whole pork, marinated with annatto seeds (a red seed from achiote tree that gives the meat an intense red color and a floral flavor of pepper and walnut), spices, bitter orange juice and wrapped in banana leaves. It was cooked slowly for many hours in an oven made from a hole in the ground and covered with embers.

Modern recipes use pork parts such as loin or shoulder, marinated in achiote sauce, made from annatto. Meat is wrapped in banana leaves and cooked at low temperature.

The cooked meat should be pulled apart and served with tortillas and other condiments.

Cooking time: 6 to 7 hours

Prep time: 15 mins

Ingredients for 4 to 6 people

What do you need?

• 1 kg pork shoulder roast .

• ½ cup of achiote paste.

• 1 cup fresh bitter orange juice (or a mix of ¾ part orance juice e ¼ part lime or grapefruit).

• 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar.

• 1 teasppon dried oregano.

• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper.

• 1 teaspoon ground cumin.

• 1 cup of onions (sliced).

• ¼ cup of tequila.

• 2 banana leaves.

• 1 teaspoon of chili pepper (optional if you want a spicy version).

How to proceed?

1. In a large bowl, mix achiote paste, vinegar, orange juice, cumin, oregano, tequila, black pepper and chili pepper (if used) until well blended.

2. Place the meat into the mixture and turn it over until it is evenly covered with spices.

3. Cover and refrigerate for 12/18 hours.

4. Soak banana leaves in hot water to make them soft and easily foldable.

5. Place the meat in the center of the banana leaf, add onion over the meat and close the banana leaves.

6. Place the wraped pork into the slow cooker and pour over the marinating sauce.

7. Cook on high setting for 1 hour; change the settings to low and keep cooking until pork is tender about six hours or depending on the size of the meat cut.

8. After cooking, Open the banana wraps then discard, pull the meat apart with the help of a knife and a fork.

9. Filter the marinade, add salt and chilli to taste.

10. Serve the dish on a new banana leaf with the sauce on the side.

Coquinita is ready to be served! You can create your own tortilla adding cabbage, guacamole, pico de gallo or whatever you like!