Achiote Marinade Recipe

2022-11-03

By Elena Hernandez

Mexican Cuisine

Marinade

Add a bold and spicy flavor to your meats with this delicious Mexican achiote marinade recipe. 

Yucatan's Best-Kept Secret

This marinade is made using achiote paste, a traditional Mexican seasoning paste that is used to add both color and flavor to a variety of dishes, including meats and seafood. While it is difficult to pinpoint the exact region where achiote marinade originated, it is believed to have its roots in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, where it has been used in traditional dishes for centuries. 

Spices Used in Achiote Paste 

The achiote paste used in the marinade is made by grinding achiote seeds with other ingredients such as oregano, garlic, and vinegar, and often other spices such as cumin, coriander, and allspice. The resulting paste is a reddish-orange color and has a mildly sweet and slightly spicy flavor with hints of earthiness and bitterness. 

 Slightly Sweet, Tangy and Bitter

The marinade is used by rubbing the achiote paste onto meats or mixing it with citrus juice to create a marinade. The meat is then allowed to marinate for several hours, allowing the flavor to penetrate the meat.

Pitfalls on Achiote Marinade

 Finding Achiote Paste: One of the challenges of making achiote marinade can be finding the achiote paste in your local grocery store. You may need to visit a Latin market or order it online. If you cannot find achiote paste, you can opt to make it yourself using whole achiote seeds.

 Adjusting the Spiciness: Achiote marinade has a unique and robust flavor that can be spicy. To adjust the spiciness to your liking, you can reduce the amount of crushed red pepper flakes or use milder peppers.

 Ingredient Prep: It's essential to prepare the ingredients well, so the achiote marinade mixes well together. Make sure to finely chop the garlic, onions, and peppers.

 Marinade Time: Achiote marinade is designed to penetrate and flavor the meat. A marinade time of at least 3-4 hours is recommended, but you can marinate it for up to 24 hours for a more robust flavor. Plan and start marinating the meat with the achiote marinade well before mealtime.

 Consistency: The achiote marinade should be thick enough to cling to the meat properly. Follow the recipe instructions by slowly adding the oil to the achiote paste, so the marinade has the right consistency.

Ingredients

• 4-5 achiote paste cubes

• 3 garlic cloves

• 1 tablespoon dried oregano

• 1 tablespoon cumin seeds

• 1/2 tablespoon smoked paprika

• 1/2 tablespoon chili powder

• 1/2 tablespoon salt

• 1/2 cup orange juice

• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

• 1/4 cup olive oil

Instructions

1. In a blender or food processor, combine the achiote paste cubes, garlic cloves, dried oregano, cumin seeds, smoked paprika, chili powder, and salt. Pulse until everything is well blended.

2. Add in the orange juice, apple cider vinegar, and olive oil. Blend until everything is mixed well and a smooth marinade is formed.

3. Use the achiote marinade to marinate chicken, pork, beef, or shrimp for at least 2 hours or even overnight, before grilling or roasting. This marinade is also great as a flavor booster in soups or stews.

4. Store any leftover marinade in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Preparation Time 10 min

Cook Time 15 min

Total time 25 min

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 155

Fat: 13 g

Saturated Fat: 2 g

Carbohydrates: 9 g

Fiber: 1 g

Sugar: 5 g

Protein: 1 g

Try this bold and traditional Mexican achiote marinade recipe and elevate your meats for grilling and roasting. Share your flavorful dishes on your socials with the following hashtags #hivercipes #achiotemarinade #Mexicancuisine #grilling #roasting #flavorfulmeats #traditionalflavors