Yucatán-Style Shredded Pork Tacos with Achiote (Cochinita Pibil Tacos)

Name: Yucatán-Style Shredded Pork Tacos with Achiote (Cochinita Pibil Tacos)
Cook time: PT0D4H0M
Total time: PT0D4H0M
Yield: serves 8-10
Ingredients: 4 oz. achiote paste, such as El Yucateco ( mexgrocer.com ); 1 cup fresh lime juice; 1 cup fresh orange juice; 1 1 ⁄ 3 cups white vinegar; 3 tbsp. dried oregano, preferably Mexican ( mexgrocer.com ); 2 tsp. Kosher salt, plus more, to taste; 4 lb. boneless pork shoulder, cut into 2" pieces; 2 (28"-long) banana leaves; 2 cups boiling water; 1 medium red onion, thinly sliced; 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced; 2 habanero peppers, thinly sliced; 1 bay leaf; Corn tortillas, warmed, for serving; Roughly chopped cilantro, sliced radishes, and lime wedges, for serving

Serves
serves 8-10
Cook
4 hours

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DYLAN + JENI

Pib is the Mayan word for the type of traditional oven—little more than a hole filled with heated stones, on top of which leaf-wrapped meats are cooked—that was once prevalent in the Yucatán. This pibil recipe, inspired by one used at Chando's in Sacramento and prepared in a Dutch oven, pops with earthy achiote paste and citrus juices, yielding a luscious, spicy pulled pork.

Featured in: On the California Taco Trail
Featured in: 16 Things to Cook in 2016

Ingredients

4 oz. achiote paste, such as El Yucateco (mexgrocer.com)
1 cup fresh lime juice
1 cup fresh orange juice
1 ¹⁄₃ cups white vinegar
3 tbsp. dried oregano, preferably Mexican (mexgrocer.com)
2 tsp. Kosher salt, plus more, to taste
4 lb. boneless pork shoulder, cut into 2" pieces
2 (28"-long) banana leaves
2 cups boiling water
1 medium red onion, thinly sliced
4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
2 habanero peppers, thinly sliced
1 bay leaf
Corn tortillas, warmed, for serving
Roughly chopped cilantro, sliced radishes, and lime wedges, for serving

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Instructions

Step 1

Make the pork: Combine achiote paste, lime and orange juices, 1⁄3 cup vinegar, and the oregano in a blender; season with salt and purée until smooth. Strain marinade through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl; add pork and toss to combine. Line the bottom of a 6-qt. Dutch oven with banana leaves, letting the excess hang over the side of the pot. Add pork and its marinade; fold leaves over pork and place lid on pot; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook until pork is tender, about 2 1⁄2 hours.

Step 2

Meanwhile, stir water and onion in a bowl; let sit 3 minutes and drain. Stir in remaining vinegar, 2 tsp. salt, the garlic, habaneros, and bay leaf; cover and let sit at room temperature for at least 1 hour before serving.

Step 3

Unwrap and transfer pork to a cutting board; shred into bite-size pieces and transfer to a bowl. Stir in 1 cup cooking liquid from the pot. To serve, divide pork between tortillas; top with pickled onion mixture, the cilantro, and radishes. Serve with lime wedges.