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achiote seed ×
Gandule Rice

Gandule Rice

4.3

Prep
Cook
Total

Instructions

  1. 1 Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large saucepan over medium high heat. Add pork and brown in oil. Meanwhile, place remaining oil in a small saucepan over medium heat and add achiote seeds. Heat until oil becomes very dark orange/red. Remove from heat and set aside.
  2. 2 To the browned pork add the onion, cilantro, garlic, salt and pepper. Cook to reduce veggies, then add the tomato sauce, pigeon peas and olives. Mix well. Strain achiote/oil mixture into pork mixture and stir together. Reduce heat to low and let simmer for 10 minutes.
  3. 3 Add uncooked rice and water to pork mixture; stir well. Raise temperature to high, cover saucepan and bring all to a boil. Stir again, reduce heat to low and cover; let cook on low about 10 minutes. Remove cover, stir again, replace cover and cook another 10 minutes; stir again. Remove from heat and allow to stand 15 minutes.

By B Mason

Achiote Paste

Achiote Paste

3.8

Prep
15 min
Cook
Total
15 min

Instructions

  1. 1 With a spice grinder, grind the annatto seeds, cumin seeds, peppercorns, allspice berries, and cloves to a fine powder.
  2. 2 In a blender or food processor, mix the ground spices, habanero peppers, orange juice, vinegar, garlic, and salt. Blend until smooth. Mix in the lemon juice and tequila.

By LiberallyGillian

Pasteles with Yuca and Plantains

Pasteles with Yuca and Plantains

4.7

Prep
55 min
Cook
85 min
Total
140 min

Instructions

  1. 1 Combine yuca, green plantains, yautia, and milk in a blender; purée into a thick paste the consistency of oatmeal. Transfer to a large bowl.
  2. 2 Combine lard and achiote seeds in a large saucepan over medium-low heat; heat until lard is melted and reddish in color, about 5 minutes. Strain out achiote seeds. Mix 1/2 of the lard into yuca paste in the bowl.
  3. 3 Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and green bell pepper; cook and stir until tender, about 5 minutes. Add pork, ham, garbanzo beans, tomato sauce, olives, capers, orange juice, cilantro, oregano, salt, and garlic; cook and stir until pork is no longer pink in the center, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat.
  4. 4 Mix 2/3 of the remaining lard into pork mixture in the pot.
  5. 5 Smear each plantain leaf with a small amount of remaining lard. Place a large spoonful of yuca paste in the center of each one; top with a scoop of pork mixture. Fold up the sides of each leaf to enclose filling and create a rectangular pastel.
  6. 6 Stack 2 pasteles and tie together with kitchen string. Repeat with remaining pasteles.
  7. 7 Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add pasteles. Cook until filling is tender, about 1 hour. Unwrap pasteles before serving.

By Mfact