Mexican Pulled Pork Yucatan Style Recipes

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

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

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.

COCHINITA PIBIL

Steps:

• Poke holes all over the pork with a fork. Rub achiote paste all over the pork, and set aside. In a large bowl, mix together the orange juice, lemon juice, and habanero peppers. Mix in the cumin, paprika, chili powder, coriander, salt and pepper. Place pork in the mixture, cover, and refrigerate overnight, turning two or three times.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Wrap the pork and marinade in aluminum foil or banana leaves that have been soaked in water for 30 minutes. Place into a casserole dish, and cover.
• Bake for about 2 hours, until the meat falls off the bone. The slower you cook it, the better it is. You could also bake it in a 200 degrees F (95 degrees C) oven for 4 or 5 hours, or in a slow cooker without the foil or leaves.
• While the pork is cooking, make the sauce. Bring the red wine vinegar to a boil in a small saucepan. Add onions, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until tender. Pour sauce over pork, and serve with white rice and corn tortillas. Each person can make tacos or fajitas with the pork, the rice and the sauce.

PULLED PORK MEXICAN STYLE

Steps:

• Roast peppers under broiler till blackened.
• Remove from oven and cover with plastic wrap this till the skins loosen. After that, peel skins from peppers and chop.
• Cut some fat off pork butt--not all--you need this for flavor.
• Use a large pot with lid, add small amount of oil to sear the meat, heat pan to hot. Add pork butt and sear for 9 minutes each side or till browned.
• Remove pork to a plate. While the pan is still hot, chop onion and add to pan. Add broth and chopped peppers.
• On medium low heat, cook for 4 hours till pork is tender. Remove from pan and using 2 forks, pull meat apart. Add a handful of cilantro.
• You are ready to make tacos or sandwiches.