Achiote/anatto

[Morning Glory]

I've received at last some achiote paste which I had to order from a specialist Mexican supplier. I've completely forgotten why I ordered it - I think it was mentioned in a post/recipe from @CraigC. Sorry if I got that wrong. Anyway - suggestions as to how to use it. I don't cook meat very often as half this family is vegan/vegetarian! The picture on the packet seems to be of a whole piggy! Does it have a distinctive taste or is it mainly used to colour dishes?

 

[CraigC]

I've received at last some achiote paste which I had to order from a specialist Mexican supplier. I've completely forgotten why I ordered it - I think it was mentioned in a post/recipe from @CraigC. Sorry if I got that wrong. Anyway - suggestions as to how to use it. I don't cook meat very often as half this family is vegan/vegetarian! The picture on the packet seems to be of a whole piggy! Does it have a distinctive taste or is it mainly used to colour dishes?

View attachment 13634

Yes, it was the Cochinita Pibil I posted in "Outdoor Cooking and BBQs".

 

[Morning Glory]

Found it: Cochinita Pibil

 

[CraigC]

Is that dinner tomorrow? I gave a recipe, better get busy!

 

[Morning Glory]

Is that dinner tomorrow? I gave a recipe, better get busy!

Unlikely - I don't have any piggy at the moment. What I may do is take the paste with me to my friend's house in Essex where I'm staying and cooking next week. There are two excellent butchers in the town and my friend loves meat - so I will have a go at something along the lines of your recipe. No BBQ though. I'll try a slow oven cook wrapped in foil.

 

[Francesca]

Achiote is a mix of spices predominately used in the Yucatán of Mexico as well as Paraguay and Perú .. As I have travelled to all three of these regions, it is commonly used in either ground format (spices ground ) and / or as a chicken rub .. or even as a marinade for Chicken ..

The authentic combination of spices called Achiote are:

1) Achiote
2) Cumin
3) Clove
4) Black Pepper
5) Cinnamon
6) Red chili pepper
7) Salt
8) Garlic

In Paraguay and Perú & The Yucatán, it is predominately used on chicken ..

 

[Morning Glory]

Achiote is a mix of spices

Far as I'm aware achiote is not a mix. Its a spice in its own right AKA anatto. Certainly, the paste I have is pure achioti spice (not a mix). The spices you list are some of those commonly used in Mexican spice mixes.

I think Achiote is sometimes used as a shorthand for some Mexican spice mixes but I doubt it is a definitive recipe. I did find the word used to mean a spice mix here: http://thymetomango.com/achiote-yucatan-spice-blend/ but the website explains the distinction.

 

[Morning Glory]

Maybe I should re-phrase and ask for ways to use anatto which is another word for the same spice. I just wondered if our US members had other uses (I have the Cochinita Pibil bookmarked for next week). Obviously I can go and research this myself on the internet but it would be good to get some first hand tips.

 

[CraigC]

Far as I'm aware achiote is not a mix. Its a spice in its own right AKA anatto. Certainly, the paste I have is pure achioti spice (not a mix). The spices you list are some of those commonly used in Mexican spice mixes.

I think Achiote is sometimes used as a shorthand for some Mexican spice mixes but I doubt it is a definitive recipe. I did find the word used to mean a spice mix here: http://thymetomango.com/achiote-yucatan-spice-blend/ but the website explains the distinction.

Absolutely correct, it is only made from annatto seeds. Now if you purchased a red recado paste, it would contain other spices beside the achiote. In many Caribbean, Latin cultures, achiote/annatto is use to color the rice for yellow rice.