What is, and is not, achiote rojo?
September 4, 2015 5:29 PM Subscribe
I have a recipe that calls for "achiote rojo." Which I've never encountered before. I did some googling but that term seems pretty loosely defined and I'm still pretty confused about what they want me to use.
There are pictures of boxes on the internet clearly marked "Achiote Rojo." But I can't find any of those in my local grocery - which is not a specialty Hispanic food market, granted. And then there's "achiote paste," but I'm not sure if that's necessarily the right thing - apparently there is also green achiote paste.
I have Sazon Goya. Will that work? I'm not sure. It claims to be achiote with cilantro, which doesn't sound right. Also, the recipe thinks the stuff comes in 3 1/2 ounce packages and Sazon Goya doesn't. Can I use the Sazon Goya I have, or do I need to go out looking for something else? Basically I'm confused. Can someone sort me out so I can figure out how to make a really good spicy pulled pork barbecue and not just a weird mess of the wrong stuff?
There are pictures of boxes on the internet clearly marked "Achiote Rojo." But I can't find any of those in my local grocery - which is not a specialty Hispanic food market, granted. And then there's "achiote paste," but I'm not sure if that's necessarily the right thing - apparently there is also green achiote paste.
I have Sazon Goya. Will that work? I'm not sure. It claims to be achiote with cilantro, which doesn't sound right. Also, the recipe thinks the stuff comes in 3 1/2 ounce packages and Sazon Goya doesn't. Can I use the Sazon Goya I have, or do I need to go out looking for something else? Basically I'm confused. Can someone sort me out so I can figure out how to make a really good spicy pulled pork barbecue and not just a weird mess of the wrong stuff?
Oh, and I wouldn't use the the Sazon Goya. That's a seasoning mix with a variety that has a little achiote. But it's also got a ton of other flavors, and might not play well with the rest of your recipe.
If you can't find any achiote paste at all, look for annatto seeds or powder. (That's what achiote is.) You can make an achiote paste from that .
posted by alligatorpear at 6:05 PM on September 4, 2015
If you can't find any achiote paste at all, look for annatto seeds or powder. (That's what achiote is.) You can make an achiote paste from that .
posted by alligatorpear at 6:05 PM on September 4, 2015
I'm just getting into this, too. I have some from here:
http://delmayab.com/achiote_bistek.htm
but haven't used it yet.
posted by falsedmitri at 9:17 PM on September 4, 2015
http://delmayab.com/achiote_bistek.htm
but haven't used it yet.
posted by falsedmitri at 9:17 PM on September 4, 2015
I use the exact same brand as primaluxe. It's pure ground anatto paste, if I'm remembering correctly.
It's basically a natural red dye for cochinita pibil or tamale filling.
posted by Juliet Banana at 9:23 PM on September 4, 2015
It's basically a natural red dye for cochinita pibil or tamale filling.
posted by Juliet Banana at 9:23 PM on September 4, 2015
It turns out that the Del Mayab product has red food coloring in it. I wasn't careful enough to check. So I would recommend against it.
posted by falsedmitri at 9:24 AM on September 5, 2015
posted by falsedmitri at 9:24 AM on September 5, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by alligatorpear at 5:33 PM on September 4, 2015