Achiote Sauce Food

SCALLOPS POACHED IN ACHIOTE SAUCE

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over moderate heat. saute the onions with the salt until caramelized, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and achieve paste and cook 5 minutes, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon to avoid scorching. Add the tomato paste and pour in the fish stock or clam juice and boil 5 minutes longer. Stir in the pepper and vinegar and remove from the heat.
• Transfer the sauce to a blender and puree. Pass through a strainer. The sauce keeps up to 4 days.
• To finish, pour the sauce into a large skillet. Bring to a boil over high heat. Stir in the scallops or shrimp, reduce the heat to medium and cook 3 to 5 minutes. Serve over a bed of white rice and garnish with the capers or pickled onions.

PESCADO EN ACHIOTE (MEXICAN FISH IN ANNATTO SAUCE)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Combine 3/4 cup water, achiote paste, onion, juice of 2 limes, juice of 1 orange, vinegar, garlic, 1 teaspoon oregano, salt, and pepper in a blender; blend until smooth.
• Season both sides of the fish fillets with salt and pepper, then brush the top with melted butter. Arrange fish fillets in a baking dish. Add shrimp on top and cover with achiote sauce. Cover baking dish with aluminum foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven until fish flakes easily with a fork, about 30 minutes.
• Place red onion and habanero peppers in a glass bowl. Add 1 cup water, juice of 1/2 orange, and juice of 1 lime; stir well and season with salt, peppercorns, and Mexican oregano.
• Serve fish and shrimp with achiote sauce and top with habanero sauce.

ACHIOTE MARINADE

Steps:

• Whisk lime juice, garlic, achiote, oregano, cumin, brown sugar, adobo sauce, wine vinegar and oil until well blended.
• Add marinade to a ziplock bag with chicken, pork or beef; seal bag and turn to coat. Marinade for at least 3 hours or overnight for more flavor.
• Season meat with salt and pepper before cooking.

GARLIC AND ACHIOTE FERMENTED HOT SAUCE

Steps:

• Pulse garlic in a food processor until finely chopped. Add chiles, salt, and sugar and pulse until chile pieces are no bigger than 1/2". Transfer mixture to jar and press down so chiles are slightly submerged in their own liquid. Cover with cheesecloth and fasten with kitchen twine or a rubber band. Let sit in a cool place away from direct sunlight at least 2 days and up to 5 days. The liquid will develop a slightly sour smell and there should be small bubbles scattered throughout. The longer you let it ferment, the more active it will become, but don't go longer than 5 days.
• Heat oil, achiote seeds, and paprika in a small saucepan over medium-high. As soon as small bubbles appear around the edges of the pan (2-3 minutes), let cook another 30 seconds; let cool. Strain oil through a fine-mesh sieve into a heatproof bowl; discard solids.
• Blend achiote oil, vinegar, and two-thirds of chile mixture in a blender until smooth. Transfer to an airtight container and stir in remaining chile mixture.
• Do Ahead:
• Hot sauce can be made 2 weeks ahead; cover and chill.

TRADITIONAL ACHIOTE RECADO

Steps:

• In a small saucepan bring water and achiote seeds to a boil.
• Cook seeds, covered, at a bare simmer 30 minutes and remove from heat.
• (Steep seeds 2 hours, or until softened.) Heat a dry comal or flat iron griddle over moderately low heat until hot and pan-roast garlic and onion, turning them occasionally to ensure even roasting, until browned and soft throughout, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Discard garlic skins.
• In a small heavy skillet dry-roast oregano over moderate heat, shaking skillet occasionally, until fragrant and beginning to brown, about 2 minutes and transfer to a small bowl.
• Cool oregano completely and in an electric coffee/spice grinder grind fine.
• Drain seeds and in a blender or food processor blend with garlic, onion, oregano, and remaining ingredients until smooth.
• Recado may be made 5 days ahead and chilled and covered.

TRADITIONAL ACHIOTE RECADO

Steps:

• In a small saucepan bring water and achiote seeds to a boil. Cook seeds, covered, at a bare simmer 30 minutes and remove from heat. (Steep seeds 2 hours, or until softened.)
• Heat a dry comal or flat iron griddle over moderately low heat until hot and pan-roast garlic and onion, turning them occasionally to ensure even roasting, until browned and soft throughout, 25 to 30 minutes. Discard garlic skins.
• In a small heavy skillet dry-roast oregano over moderate heat, shaking skillet occasionally, until fragrant and beginning to brown, about 2 minutes and transfer to a small bowl. Cool oregano completely and in an electric coffee/spice grinder grind fine.
• Drain seeds and in a blender or food processor blend with garlic, onion, oregano, and remaining ingredients until smooth. (Recado may be made 5 days ahead and chilled and covered.)

ACHIOTE SHRIMP

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic and cook until golden and fragrant, 1 minute. Add achiote, pepper, sugar and salt. Cook, mashing with the back of a wooden spoon, to a thick paste, 2 minutes.
• Pour in lime juice and grapefruit juice, thinning to a sauce.
• Add shrimp. Cook, tossing, until shrimp are cooked through and coated with an orange/red sauce, 4 minutes. Transfer to a shallow bowl and sprinkle with cilantro.
• You can eat these guys as is, over rice or dipped into guacamole (the guac is my favorite way to have these).