Achiote Shredded Pork Tacos is a beautifully savory dish where a pork shoulder is flavored with achiote paste and lime juice and slow cooked. Achiote turns this everyday pork roast into a classic Mexican recipe for tacos.
And if you love Southwestern braised pork recipes, you won’t want to miss this one for New Mexico’s most celebrated dish of Carne Adovada. Tender pork roast cooked in a luscious red chile sauce. Or this rustic taco recipe for Pork Tenderloin Tacos in Chile Guajillo Sauce.
I’m a huge Rick Bayless fan and a big fan of real Mexican Food. By real Mexican food I mean authentic dishes from south of the border as opposed to our Americanized versions of dishes we call “Mexican Food” or Tex Mex.
I was browsing through his cookbooks last Saturday and this shredded pork tacos recipe jumped right off the page and right onto my dinner table. And I’m here to day, this pork is simply delicious.
It’s a Yucatan pork taco recipe with bright and sultry flavor.
Rick tells us in the introduction to this recipe that this type pork recipe would normally be served at a large celebration using a slow pit roasted whole pig.
Since most of us don’t have pits in our back yards, Rick assures us a slow cooker or dutch oven and a bone-in pork roast will deliver much of the same flavors.
It’s just up to us to provide the celebration.
What is Achiote Paste?
The major flavor to this dish is Achiote. Achiote paste is a spice used in cuisine in Mexico and South America. The paste is clay red in color and clay-like in texture. It does turn your fingers red when you crumble the paste.
It’s made of crushed achiote seed, vinegar, salt, garlic and spices and is typically formed into a small block. The achiote paste is then diluted and added to stews or used as a rub for meats. It adds a salty and bittersweet tangy flavor. It is a traditional ingredient used to make Ricado, a rub for suckling pig and other meats.
You can also purchase Achiote Powder, which is a pure dry powder product, without the added ingredients. It’s commonly used for rubs.
Step by Step Instructions
- Step 1: Dilute the achiote by smashing it with a fork with fresh lime juice.
- Step 2: If you can find them, line a Dutch oven with banana leaves. Make sure you place the banana leaves so that you can fold them over to surround your pork roast. No banana leaves? Just place the pork roast in a Dutch oven.
- Step 3: Pour the diluted achiote paste over the roast, top with rings of sliced onions and pour a little bit of water on the sides of the roast. Fold the banana leaves over to surround the meat and onions.
- Step 4: Put the lid on and slow roast the pork for 3 hours, in the oven at 300 degrees. Cook longer if needed for the meat to be fall apart tender.
- Step 5: Once the meat is cool enough to handle, place it on a large sheet pan and use two forks to shred.
How To Serve Achiote Shredded Pork Tacos
- Tortillas: Serve these pork tacos on soft white corn tortillas. Warm the tortillas, lay some of the tender pork on top. You can also use white flour tortillas, either street taco size or regular small burrito size works well here.
- Salsas: If you’d like to drizzle with salsa, This Homemade Roasted Tomatillo Salsa is a great choice. A fruity salsa is a great combination for pork, like this Jalapeno Pineapple Salsa, or Chipotle Peach Salsa. A scoop of Homemade Mexican Restaurant Salsa is always welcome.
- Southwestern Sauces: If you’re looking for a real treat, try drizzling with Authentic New Mexico sauces like this Red Chile Sauce, or Green Chile Sauce.
- Pico de Gallo: I always have a couple of jars of Homemade Pickled Jalapeno Peppers in the refrigerator and use them to make a quick pico de gallo. Just chop them, add some chopped onion and fresh tomato. Pour in some of the pickling juice and stir. You can also make a more traditional Homemade Pico de Gallo using my recipe. And almost every grocery store will carry a container of pico de gallo in their refrigerator section.
- Fresh: A wedge of avocado is always nice.
- Creamy: A simple dollop of Mexican Crema is delicious. Make these shredded pork tacos your own, roll them up and enjoy.
- Side Dishes: A fresh Southwestern Salad and you’ve got a beautiful and delicious meal.
Recipe for Achiote Pork Tacos
I hope you give this recipe for Shredded Pork Tacos a try. A Mexican version of BBQ shredded pork tacos, you’ll want to serve this over and over. The flavor and the ease is very enticing.
I don’t always have banana leaves on hand for this recipe and have made it many times with out using them to wrap.
Explore More Southwestern Mexican Inspired Taco Recipes
And more pork taco recipes? Take a look at this one for Tacos al Pastor. And don’t forget to browse my Mexican Food Recipes category. You’ll find lots of fun recipes to spice up those meal plans.
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Achiote Shredded Pork Tacos
Ingredients
- 2 ounces achiote paste
- 1 teaspoon New Mexico Chimayo Chile Powder or ancho chile powder
- ¾ Cup lime juice
- 1 Tablespoon Kosher Salt
- Banana leaves
- 3 pound bone-in pork shoulder roast
- 1 large onion white or yellow, sliced about ¼ inch thick
- 1 large red onion thinly sliced
- ½ Cup roasted fresh chile salsa
Instructions
- Place the achiote seasoning in a small bowl. Pour in ½ C. of the lime juice and 2 teaspoons salt. Add the Chimayo or Ancho Chile powder. Use a fork to work the mixture into a smooth thickish marinade.
- Line your slow cooker with banana leaves. Lay in the pork and pour the marinade over and around the meat.
- Scatter the white onion over the meat.
- Pour ½ C. water around the meat and sprinkle the top of the meat with the remaining salt.
- Fold banana leaves to roughly cover everything.
- Cover and slow-cook on high for 6 hours, until the meat is fall-off-the-bone tender. If you roast this in the oven, 300 degrees for 3 hours.
- While the meat is cooking, combine the red onion with remaining ¼ cup lime juice in a small bowl. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt and set aside to marinate, stirring from time to time..
- Use tongs to transfer the meat and onions to a cutting board. With forks, shred pork. Spoon off any rendered fat that's floating in the juices.
- Ladle the brothy sauce into a large saucepan or fry pan and boil it down to about half. Add the shredded meat to the sauce and toss well. Top with the lime-marinated red onions and serve with the salsa and warm corn tortillas.
Notes
Nutrition
Rick Bayless Achiote Pork Tacos …It’s What’s For Dinner
