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Gluten-free

Yucatán-Style Cochinita Pibil in Banana Leaf with Pickled Onion

Slow-roasted pork shoulder marinated in achiote and citrus, served with spicy pickled onion and corn tortillas. This home-oven version is based on a traditional Yucatán dish; make sure the achiote paste and tortillas are labeled gluten-free.
4 views220 min700 kcal / servingsMedium
Gluten-freelunchdinnerMexican cuisineslow-roastedpork
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Yucatán-Style Cochinita Pibil in Banana Leaf with Pickled Onion

Nutrition

Per serving · approximate nutritional values
Energy
700 kcal
Protein
43 g
Carbohydrates
36 g
Sugars
10 g
Fat
45 g
Saturated fat
16 g
Fiber
5 g
Salt
2.3 g

Instructions

Follow the steps and taste along the way.

  1. Make the citrus marinade

    In a bowl, mash the achiote paste with the orange juice and 60 ml of lime juice until smooth. Stir in the garlic, oregano, cloves, allspice, and 7 g of salt. Cut the pork shoulder into four large pieces and coat them thoroughly with the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, ideally overnight.
    Photo for step 1
  2. Pickle the onion

    In a glass or ceramic bowl, toss the red onion with the vinegar, water, 15 ml of lime juice, 2 g of salt, and the chopped habanero. Let stand for at least 30 minutes; while the pork roasts, the onion will turn pink and soften while remaining crisp.
    Photo for step 2
  3. Wrap the pork in banana leaves

    Preheat the oven to 160 °C. Arrange the banana leaves in a roasting pan so they cover the bottom and extend over the edges. Add the marinated pork and all the marinade, fold the leaves over the pork, and cover the pan tightly with a lid or aluminum foil.
    Photo for step 3
  4. Slow-roast until tender

    Place the pan in the oven and roast for 3 hours. Then test the pork with a fork: it should pull apart easily into strands. If it still resists, cover it and roast for another 15 minutes. Remove the pork from the leaves and shred it with two forks; toss it with the pan juices to keep it moist.
    Photo for step 4
  5. Warm the tortillas and serve

    Warm the corn tortillas one at a time in a dry skillet for about 30 seconds per side, until small toasted spots appear and the tortillas are pliable. Divide the shredded pork among them, top with the pickled onion, and serve immediately.
    Photo for step 5

Recipe ingredients

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boneless pork shoulderbanana leavesthawedachiote paste labeled gluten-freeorange juicelime juicegarlicpresseddried oreganoground clovesground allspicefine salt for the marinadered onionthinly sliced into half-moonswhite wine vinegarwater for pickling the onionlime juice for the onionfine salt for the onionsmall fresh habanero pepperseeded and finely choppedcorn tortillas labeled gluten-free
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TodayRecipes · Recipes

Yucatán-Style Cochinita Pibil in Banana Leaf with Pickled Onion

Slow-roasted pork shoulder marinated in achiote and citrus, served with spicy pickled onion and corn tortillas. This home-oven version is based on a traditional Yucatán dish; make sure the achiote paste and tortillas are labeled gluten-free.
4 Servings220 minMedium
Yucatán-Style Cochinita Pibil in Banana Leaf with Pickled Onion

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Make the citrus marinade

    In a bowl, mash the achiote paste with the orange juice and 60 ml of lime juice until smooth. Stir in the garlic, oregano, cloves, allspice, and 7 g of salt. Cut the pork shoulder into four large pieces and coat them thoroughly with the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, ideally overnight.
    Make the citrus marinade
  2. Pickle the onion

    In a glass or ceramic bowl, toss the red onion with the vinegar, water, 15 ml of lime juice, 2 g of salt, and the chopped habanero. Let stand for at least 30 minutes; while the pork roasts, the onion will turn pink and soften while remaining crisp.
    Pickle the onion
  3. Wrap the pork in banana leaves

    Preheat the oven to 160 °C. Arrange the banana leaves in a roasting pan so they cover the bottom and extend over the edges. Add the marinated pork and all the marinade, fold the leaves over the pork, and cover the pan tightly with a lid or aluminum foil.
    Wrap the pork in banana leaves
  4. Slow-roast until tender

    Place the pan in the oven and roast for 3 hours. Then test the pork with a fork: it should pull apart easily into strands. If it still resists, cover it and roast for another 15 minutes. Remove the pork from the leaves and shred it with two forks; toss it with the pan juices to keep it moist.
    Slow-roast until tender
  5. Warm the tortillas and serve

    Warm the corn tortillas one at a time in a dry skillet for about 30 seconds per side, until small toasted spots appear and the tortillas are pliable. Divide the shredded pork among them, top with the pickled onion, and serve immediately.
    Warm the tortillas and serve