Yucatecan Style Pork 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.

PORK ROAST YUCATAN STYLE

Steps:

• Using a food processor, grind all the meat seasoning ingredients into a paste. Rub the seasoning paste over the surface of the meat after pricking it with a fork.
• Wrap the meat in foil and let marinade while you prepare the clay.
• Combine the dry ingredients for the baker's clay.
• Add liquid in small amounts until dough holds together and can be gathered into a ball.
• Roll the dough out to a measure of 20 x 18 inches. Arrange roast in the center of dough and fold dough over the roast. Seal seams of the dough and place the roast on a baking pan lined with foil--seam side down.
• Roast the meat at 350-375 degrees for 2 1/2 hours (you may want to insert a thermometer to check for doneness).
• Remove from the oven and crack the clay in several places using a hammer.
• Peel off the foil and allow the roast to rest for 10 minutes before carving.
• Serve with tortillas, beans and salad.

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.

YUCATECAN-STYLE PORK

Steps:

• Put pork in a large bowl and rub with 1 teaspoon salt and 2 tablespoons juice.
• Toast peppercorns, cumin, and allspice together, then cool slightly. Transfer to grinder along with annatto seeds and grind to a powder. Transfer to a small bowl.
• Mince garlic and mash to a paste with remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons salt using side of a large heavy knife. Add to ground spices along with oregano and remaining 6 tablespoons juice and stir to make a paste.
• Toss pork with paste to coat well. Add onion and toss to combine.
• Holding both ends of a banana leaf, drag leaf over a burner on moderately high heat slowly until it changes color slightly and becomes shinier, then turn over and toast other side. Toast remaining banana leaves in same manner.
• Line roasting pan with leaves, shinier sides down, by arranging 1 leaf lengthwise and 2 leaves crosswise, letting excess hang over sides. Trim overhang to about 8 inches on all sides.
• Transfer pork mixture to banana leaves, then fold overhang of leaves over pork to enclose completely. Cover pan tightly with foil and chill, at least 6 hours.
• Put oven rack in middle position, then put pan with pork in oven and heat to 400°F (to take chill off pork gently).
• Once oven has reached 400°F, bake until pork is very tender, 2 1/4 to 2 3/4 hours.
• Discard foil and open banana leaves, then serve pork with salsa and tortillas.

YUCATECAN SALSA

Steps:

• Place the onions in a colander and place under a stream of cold water for a few seconds. Drain.
• In a large bowl, combine all ingredients except the cilantro. Toss to mix well, salt to taste,and allow to sit at room temperature for an hour to allow the flavors to combine.
• Toss with the cilantro and serve.