Cochinita Pibil
Cochinita Pibil is a traditional Mexican main course of pork marinated in achiote paste, citrus juice, oregano and cumin, then slow-cooked until meltingly tender. The Thermomix grinds and blends the marinade in seconds and cooks the meat gently, delivering authentic Yucatán flavour with minimal effort.
About this recipe
Cochinita Pibil with the Thermomix TM7 brings the sun-drenched flavours of Mexico's Yucatán peninsula straight to your kitchen. This iconic main course features succulent pork shoulder marinated in achiote paste, sour orange juice, garlic, dried oregano and ground cumin, then slow-cooked until it shreds effortlessly with a fork. Searching for authentic Mexican recipes for your all-in-one kitchen machine? This one is a winner for a festive weekend dinner or a quick weeknight taco night, since the TM7 blends the vibrant red marinade to a silky consistency in seconds and then simmers the meat unattended until meltingly tender. Banana leaves are traditional, but baking paper works beautifully for locking in the citrusy steam. Serve the shreddy, tangy pork in warm tortillas with pickled red onions for a Mexican feast that tastes like hours of effort.
Preparation tips
- Marinate the pork in the achiote, vinegar and citrus juice mixture overnight if possible; the sour notes penetrate deep into the meat and make the Cochinita Pibil noticeably more flavourful after slow cooking.
- Wrap the marinated pork tightly in baking paper or banana leaves before steaming; this keeps the juices and achiote marinade together so the meat braises gently instead of drying out during the long cooking.
- Thin the leftover marinade with a splash of vinegar and brush it over the shredded pork before serving; it also keeps Cochinita Pibil delicious when reheated the next day in tacos.
Recipe variations
- Make a lighter version with chicken thighs instead of pork shoulder: reduce the achiote paste slightly and shorten the steaming time, keeping the same oregano, cumin and citrus marinade for a quicker weeknight Cochinita-style taco filling.
- For a festive variation, wrap the marinated pork in real banana leaves and add a cinnamon stick to the marinade; serve the shredded Cochinita Pibil in warm tortillas with pickled red onions, avocado and a squeeze of lime for a Mexican party spread.
Thermomix TM7 Benefits
- Fine chopping - The Thermomix chops the garlic cloves uniformly in seconds, releasing maximum flavour into the achiote marinade. [Chopping]
- Fresh grinding - The TM7 grinds the dried oregano and cumin into fragrant powder for a deeper Yucatán taste. [Grinding]
- Even blending - The Thermomix mixes achiote paste, vinegar and citrus juice into a silky, clump-free marinade. [Mixing]
- Built-in scale - The TM7 weighs the vinegar and orange juice directly in the bowl for a perfectly balanced marinade. [Weighing]
- Gentle steaming - The Varoma of the Thermomix slow-steams the marinated pork until it shreds tenderly like traditional Cochinita. [Steaming]
Ingredients
- garlic cloves
- dried oregano
- achiote paste
- ground black pepper
- ground cumin
- white vinegar
- orange juice
- onions
- salt
- Boston butt or pork shoulder