Mexican Pulled Pork Yucatan Style Food

COCHINITA PIBIL (YUCATáN-STYLE BARBECUED PORK) RECIPE

Steps:

• Light 3/4 chimney full of charcoal. When all the charcoal is lit and covered with gray ash, pour out and arrange coals on one side of charcoal grate. Set cooking grate in place, cover grill, and allow to preheat for 5 minutes. Alternatively, set half the burners on a gas grill to medium-high, cover, and preheat for 10 minutes.
• Remove pork from grill and transfer parcels to a deep platter or shallow bowl. Unwrap banana leaves, shred pork with two forks, stir it into drippings, stuff it into tortillas with pickled red onions and salsa, and serve immediately.

MEXICAN PULLED PORK - YUCATAN STYLE

Steps:

• 1. Using a sharp knife, deeply pierce the flesh of the pork and insert garlic pieces evenly all over the roast.
• 2. Combine Achiote paste, cilantro, olive oil, cumin, salt, chile powder, pepper, liquid smoke, cloves, allspice, and oregano in a bowl and mix together to form a marinade 'paste'.
• 3. Cover pork generously with the seasoning paste. Use it all even if it looks like a lot! Marinade overnight in the refrigerator.
• 4. Place pork in a shallow foil tray - fat side up - and cook indirectly (meaning the burner(s) directly under the pork are not on, but the others are, and the top is down) on the grill for about 4 hours or until internal temp of about 160 degrees is reached. If using a smaller size roast, reduce the grill time accordingly - just monitor the internal temp.
• 5. Cover pork (still in its foil tray!) in aluminum foil and leave on the grill for another 60-75 minutes or until internal temp of 195 is reached. This is key - in order to be able to 'shred' pork from a shoulder you need to get the internal temp up to 195. I find those last 30-40 degrees seem to take forever, so I cover with foil to accelerate after it gets to 160. DON'T turn up the grill temperature - that won't work :)!
• 6. Remove from the grill after reaching 195 degrees and let rest under foil for 10 mins - retain pan drippings.
• 7. Remove and discard fat and skin and 'shred' the pork into thin strings by pulling it apart with a couple of forks. If you don't get it to 195 degrees, then it won't shred and you'll have to chop it - not a horrible thing, but not as good! Pour about half the pan drippings back over the shredded pork, mix, and serve with warm tortillas your favorite Latin condiments! Enjoy

MEXICAN PULLED PORK (TINGA PUEBLANA)

Steps:

• Place the potatoes in a large pot of cold water. Add the salt, bring to a boil and cook until tender, 20 minutes. Drain the potatoes and set aside.
• Place the pork in a large pot of cold water. Add the onion half, the garlic, and the bay leaves. Bring to a boil then reduce the heat to low. Simmer gently until the pork is cooked through and is no longer pink in the center, about 45 minutes. Remove the pork from the water and set it aside until it is cool enough to handle (discard the cooking liquid). Using your fingers or 2 forks, shred the meat into small pieces and set aside.
• In a large skillet over medium-high heat, saute crumbled chorizo until completely cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes, stirring often. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the chorizo to a paper towel lined plate. Add the chopped onions to the chorizo skillet and cook until soft, about 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the shredded pork, the tomatoes, and the chipotle chiles. Cook until the tomatoes break down and release their juices, about 5 minutes. Return the potatoes and cooked chorizo to the pan. Stir in the vinegar, thyme, marjoram and salt, to taste. Continue to cook over medium heat until some of the liquid has evaporated, about 5 minutes.
• While the pork cooks, heat a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add a tortilla and warm for 10 to 15 seconds. Flip the tortilla over and continue to warm until the tortilla is pliable and heated through, another 10 to 20 seconds. Place warm tortillas in a tortilla warmer or on a plate, cover with a kitchen towel, and set aside; repeat with the remaining tortillas (or warm the tortillas in the microwave: stack them on a plate and cover with a damp cloth; microwave for 30 seconds and keep them covered until you're ready to serve).
• Place the pulled pork in a serving bowl or bring to the table in the cooking pot. Arrange the limes, avocado, and cilantro on a platter. Pass warm tortillas so each diner can fill a tortilla with some of the meat and accompaniments. Squeeze lime juice over each serving.

YUCATAN STYLE PORK SHOULDER

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Combine the annatto seeds, vinegar, olive oil, oregano, coriander, cumin, black pepper, chiles and garlic in a food processor. Blend until smooth. Rub the paste all over the pork shoulder. Lay one banana leave in the bottom of a deep hotel pan, then place the rubbed pork on top. Add the orange and lime juices, then add the salt. Lay the remaining banana leaf over top. Cover with foil and cook in the oven for 5 to 6 hours.
• Remove the pork and allow to cool. Remove the fat and bone and shred the meat. Then serve while hot, it's ready to eat.

MEXICAN PULLED PORK TACOS

Steps:

• Put the marinade ingredients in a large, zip-seal freezer bag and squish until well combined. Add the pork and onion, ensuring they're well coated. Seal and put in the fridge overnight.
• Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Transfer the pork and its marinade to a medium casserole dish. Cover with a lid and place in the oven for 4-5 hrs or until the pork is very tender and falls apart when poked with a fork.
• To make the pickled onions, put the sliced red onions in a heatproof bowl. Cover with just-boiled water and leave to stand for 10 mins. Drain well, then stir in the white wine vinegar or cider vinegar and caster sugar. Stand for at least 10 mins before serving.
• Drain the pork in a colander, reserving the marinade, then transfer the pork to a board. Shred the pork with two forks, drizzle over 4-5 tbsp of the reserved marinade, and serve from the board with the pickled red onions, warmed corn tacos, shredded lettuce and soured cream.

MEXICAN PULLED PORK

Steps:

• Place pork, 1/2 cup water, vinegar, and salt in a large saucepan. Simmer, covered, until all the liquid has cooked off and the pork cooks in its own rendered fat, 45 to 50 minutes. Add lard if there is not enough fat, so pork cooks to a golden brown. Set aside.
• Place the guajillo and ancho chiles in a small saucepan with 1 cup water. Cover and cook over low heat for 10 minutes. Transfer to a blender and add parsley, garlic, oregano, and cumin; puree.
• Add the pureed mixture to the pork. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer, covered, until the pork is tender and can easily be cut with a fork, about 1 hour. It may be necessary to add another cup of water to the pan, depending on the tenderness of the meat.
• Let pork rest for 15 minutes. Shred with 2 forks.

MEXICAN PULLED PORK

Steps:

• Heat oil in large pan until hot.
• Add pork, stir until browned.
• Add onion, garlic and chilies, cook and stir until onions are tender.
• Add all spices and stir.
• Add enough water to just cover meat.
• Put in crock-pot on Hi for 6-8 hours until meat shreds. (You can help it by pulling meat apart with forks or by pressing meat onto side of pan when almost done.).
• If not using crock-pot, simmer on top of stove on low heat for 3-4 hours until meat shreds, adding more water if needed to prevent sticking.
• Serve with taco shells or as burritos with beans, sour cream, guacamole, etc.