An awesome, fabulous pork pibil recipe from the Yucatán Peninsula in south eastern Mexico has been prepared by renowned Baja chef Deborah Schneider. This dish is so knock-out that Johnny Depp's character in 'Once Upon a Time in Mexico,' the 2003 film by Robert Rodriguez, ordered it in every Mexican restaurant he frequented. Which turned out to be quite few.
If you can find them (try Mexican or Asian stores), then try lining your slow cooker with banana leaves, softened over a low flame, or simply use baking foil if you prefer.
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Ingredients:
2 - 3 lbs pork shoulder, cut into large pieces
1 onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
2 green Serrano chiles
1 small block (100g) Achiote paste
2 tbsp white wine vinegar
2 tbsp freshly squeezed orange juice
2 tbsp cumin seeds, lightly toasted and ground/crushed
2 tsp sea salt
1 onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
2 green Serrano chiles
1 small block (100g) Achiote paste
2 tbsp white wine vinegar
2 tbsp freshly squeezed orange juice
2 tbsp cumin seeds, lightly toasted and ground/crushed
2 tsp sea salt
Instructions:
1. Make the marinade by whizzing the onion, garlic, Serrano chiles, Achiote paste, white wine vinegar, orange juice, cumin and salt in a food processor or blender for 15 - 20 seconds.
2. Place the pork in a large bowl and spoon the marinade over it, using your hands to really massage the paste into the meat, ensuring that it is covered evenly.
3. Transfer the pork and marinade to your slow cooker, place a banana leaf (if using) or piece of foil on top, then put on the lid and cook for 8 hours on low.
At the end of the cooking time, the pork will be at-the-point-of-collapse tender, and your house will smell incredible. Serve the meat, drizzled with a little sauce, on soft white tortillas, with a cilantro garnish. You could also serve a zingy salsa by chopping a red onion, a Roma tomato and a couple of tablespoons of chopped cilantro with 1/2 a Habanero chile, a little white wine vinegar and the juice of 1/2 lime then season with salt to taste. Johnny Depp's character loved pork pibil so much that he tried to get everyone in the restaurant to taste it. Try it once and you might start doing the same thing...
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Watch the video below to see how to prepare this dish.