

If you cannot find pre made authentic Achiote paste (recado rojo) in your area, here is how you can make some at your home. Buy Achiote Paste from Amazon (affiliate link, my friends!).
#Achiote paste ingredients how to#
The package should come with instructions on how to use the paste. The block is made of concentrated Achiote and you can dilute it down with water or broth as you are cooking with it. Look for it in your local grocery store in the specialty Mexican aisle. In Mexico or Hispanic grocery stores, you will be able to find Achiote paste available in blocks. You can also fix the paste with some oil or lard and brush it onto your seafood to impart some beautiful color and nutty taste. The earthy flavor pairs very well with beef that is set to roast, barbecue, or grill. Another mouth watering application is to use ground achiote as a dry rub for meat. When cooking, you can incorporate it into soups, stews, curries, and dishes that feature beans. It can be used as a spice, as a food colorant, or even as a condiment. In Puerto Rican cuisine, you'll find it dishes like carne guisada, pernil (roast pork), Puerto Rican arroz con pollo and arroz con gandules, among others. This includes the likes of cochinita pibil, chorizo, tacos al pastor, tamales, and longanizas, among several others. How to Use Achiote?Īchiote is traditionally used in many Mexican dishes like Pollo Asado (Roast Chicken), though you'll also find it in traditional dishes in Latin America, Puerto Rico and Caribbean cuisine. It also has peppery and sweet undertones. The heat level of Achiote paste can go up to 40K SV on the Scoville Scale. It is earthy and nutty thanks to the array of spices and herbs that are incorporated in it. The sauce has a bright orange red color that looks extremely appealing.Īchiote paste has a fairly mild flavor. This results in a chunky and delicious paste that can be used for a variety of purposes. While the seeds are used in Mexican cuisine as well, the paste like condiment is the more known form of the edible across the globe.Īchiote paste incorporates the annatto seeds along with a combination of aromatic herbs and earthy spices such as cumin, coriander, oregano, cloves, cumin, and some delicious garlic. What is Achiote Paste?Īchiote is a paste that is made using the seeds of the Bixa orellana tree.

They both refer to Bixa orellana which is a shrub native to South America and Mexico that famously produces this classic red orange condiment. The terms "Achiote" and "Annatto" are used interchangeably. These seeds impart a bright red to yellow color to items such as body paint, cloth, as well as food. For centuries, they have been used for coloring purposes. What is Achiote?Īchiote is the Mexican name for annato seeds, which are seeds that come from a tree that is commonly grown in the tropics of Central and South America as well as the Caribbean. One of the very unique ingredients featured frequently in Mexican cuisine is Achiote.īut what is Achiote? Let’s explore. It is a concoction of unique ingredients that are native to the region and give this type of cuisine a very specific flavor profile. It wouldn't be wrong to say that a lot of the cuisine from the region is nothing short of a celebration of colors, textures, and flavors. Latin American dishes are known for their incredible flavors and bright colors. Achiote is the Mexican name for annato seeds that come from a specific tree grown in the Caribbean and South American tropics, used for their vibrant red color and flavor for cooking.
