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Shredded pork tacos with Achiote Sauce topped with slices of avocado.
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Achiote Pulled Pork Tacos

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 fiesta. Try this Rick Bayless Slow Roasted Pulled Pork Tacos Recipe, it's feeds a crowd, so great for your next party.
Course Mexican
Cuisine Mexican
Diet Gluten Free
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours
Servings 10
Calories 141kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces achiote paste
  • 1 teaspoon New Mexico Chimayo Chile Powder or ancho chile powder
  • 3/4 Cup lime juice
  • 1 Tablespoon Kosher Salt
  • Banana leaves
  • 3 pound bone-in pork shoulder roast
  • 1 large onion white or yellow, sliced about 1/4 inch thick
  • 1 large red onion thinly sliced
  • 1/2 Cup roasted fresh chile salsa

Instructions

  • Place the achiote seasoning in a small bowl. Pour in 1/2 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 1/2 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 1/4 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

 I don't always have banana leaves on hand, and have made this many times with simply slow roasting the pork in a Dutch oven or Slow Cooker. 

Nutrition

Calories: 141kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 56mg | Sodium: 159mg | Potassium: 377mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 131IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 1mg