Achiote/annato - what else can I make besides al pastor with it?

[realdocBBQ]

I found a couple boxes of achiote/annato paste I bought quite some time ago. I had wondered where it was. I was wanting to make al pastor, as I absolutely love it, but I don't have a rotisserie or a vertical thing you do that on (a trompo? is that it?) or whatever.

I'm wondering what other things you guys have done with this stuff that wasn't TOO hard and came out good? I could see some boneless chicken thighs maybe, grilling them or smoking them, maybe on the griddle or something... I dunno.

Hit me with some ideas I can try out this weekend.

[Mosca]

I can’t help with anything but al pastor, but here is a recipe that skips the trompo.

[Michael_in_TX]

I've had the same issue....although I haven't gotten very far, but I have used it a bit in place of standard paprika. It gives a deeper color and a bit of extra flavor. (Only reason I stopped is that I was gifted some smoked paprika from Hungary and it is amazing, but once I run through that, I may switch back to substituting achiote paste for paprika.)

[Ace]

Maybe something here?:

https://www.pinterest.com/gailwags/recipes-using-achiote-paste/

[dpearce]

I'm no help, sorry. But a google search for Achiote paste recipes brought up a number of things like pork, chicken, and rice dishes.

[TripleB]

Definitely carnitas. I have a recipe for Al Pastor that is cooked in the oven in bread pans. No rotisserie needed.

[realdocBBQ]

Hmmm..... I always have a lot of pulled pork around. Doing them as carnitas usually just involves frying them up with a little extra Messicin flavors (some chili powder and cumin, etc.), but how would you do that annato? Like... mix it into a liquid, like maybe with some oil or something and then toss your pulled pork in it before crisping up in a skillet or the oven?

[TripleB]

realdocBBQ heat some olive oil and add the annato paste. You'll use the infused oil to fry the pork.

[texastweeter]

Cochinita Pibil

[realdocBBQ]

Ok, this one sounds like a possibility as well - basically shredded/braised pork in an achiote marinade. Sounds pretty good.

[texastweeter]

Gotta have the sour orange habanero salsa with it.

[barelfly]

Oooh!

you have a few ideas with al pastor and cochinita pibil. I haven’t used it for pastor, I make adobo with various types of chile instead. But, for al pastor, just by some pork steaks and let those sit in marinade over night then hot and fast on the grill. Will be excellent al pastor TACOS!!!!!!! And if you do piña with them, add just a little to the pina and get some grill marks on the pina.

but, achiote paste is great on a number of proteins. Meat, chicken, fish. One of my favorite uses is on salmon! Oh man, I had that at a restaurant in Austin one visit and have recreated it as my own. It’s outstanding!

I also recently used the seeds, ground to powder, and made a pollo asado marinade that I put on a spatchcock yardbird on the kettle. Was outstanding!

Also, an achiote oil is another way I’ve seen it being used.

[realdocBBQ]

Yeah we don't eat fish, but it seems like lots of other possibilities.

[Jerod Broussard]

Al pastor, el diácono, la monja, el feligrés, etc....

Numerous possibilities.

[Donw]

He is Rick Bayless’ recipe for Al Pastor tacos without using a rotisserie or trompo. Really good.

[Ace]

+1 for Rick Bayless. 👍