Traditional Achiote Recado
Unlock the bold, vibrant flavors of the Yucatan with this Traditional Achiote Recado recipe! Carefully crafted from toasted achiote seeds, warm spices like cumin and cinnamon, fragrant orange juice, and a tangy splash of apple cider vinegar, this authentic spice paste is a cornerstone of modern and traditional Mexican cooking. Perfect as a marinade or sauce, it infuses meats, seafood, or vegetables with a rich, earthy depth and a signature reddish hue. Ready in just 15 minutes, this versatile achiote recado is an easy way to elevate your dishes and bring an irresistible taste of Mexico to your kitchen.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons achiote seeds
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
- 0.5 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 whole cloves
- 4 large garlic cloves
- 0.25 cup apple cider vinegar
- 0.5 cup fresh orange juice
- 1.5 teaspoons salt
Instructions
Heat a small skillet over medium heat and toast the achiote seeds, oregano, cumin seeds, black peppercorns, and cloves for about 2 minutes, stirring constantly, until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the spices.
Transfer the toasted spices to a spice grinder or mortar and pestle, and grind until you have a fine powder.
Place the ground spice mixture into a blender along with the ground cinnamon, garlic cloves, apple cider vinegar, fresh orange juice, and salt.
Blend the mixture until a smooth, thick paste forms. If the mixture is too thick, add more orange juice, one tablespoon at a time, until the desired consistency is achieved.
Use the Achiote Recado immediately as a marinade or sauce, or store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
157 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 2.1 g | 3% | |
| Saturated Fat | 0.3 g | 2% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 3565 mg | 155% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 30.9 g | 11% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 5.9 g | 21% | |
| Total Sugars | 10.4 g | ||
| Protein | 4.3 g | 9% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 155 mg | 12% | |
| Iron | 4.3 mg | 24% | |
| Potassium | 494 mg | 11% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
