1. Home
  2. International
  3. Mexican Recipes
  4. Achiote Marinade Recipe

Traditional Achiote Marinade

2022-11-03

By Elena Hernandez

Mexican Cuisine

Marinade

3 Easy Ways to Cook Flavorful Achiote Marinade Dishes Using the Slow Cooker, Instant Pot, and Air Fryer

How to Use a Slow Cooker to Infuse Achiote Marinade for Tender, Flavorful Meat and Vegetables

Use the slow cooker’s "low" setting to simmer your achiote marinade, allowing the flavors to meld together over time. You can marinate your meat or vegetables directly in the slow cooker, letting the slow cooking process further infuse the marinade, resulting in tender, flavorful dishes with minimal effort.

Speed Up Achiote Marinade Cooking with the Instant Pot's Sauté and Pressure Cook Functions

The Instant Pot’s "saute" function is perfect for toasting your achiote paste with other spices before adding liquids. Use the "pressure cook" setting to marinate and cook meat or vegetables quickly, making sure the flavors penetrate deep into the ingredients while cutting down on time.

Achieve a Crispy, Caramelized Finish on Achiote-Marinated Meat or Veggies Using the Air Fryer

After marinating your meat or vegetables in the achiote marinade, use the air fryer to cook them to perfection. The "air crisp" function will give your dish a crisp, caramelized outer layer while keeping the inside juicy and full of flavor, all without using much oil.

Tips and Suggestions 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.

Classic Achiote Marinade Recipe

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.

Cooking Time

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

Regional Variations for Achiote Marinade

N

T

C

M

a

M

e

u

S

N

u

N

C

T

C

Achiote Marinade Recipe Review

Go to Top