Yucatecan-Style Pork
A traditional Mexican dish featuring tender pork shoulder marinated in a flavorful blend of Seville orange juice and aromatic spices, then wrapped in banana leaves and slow-cooked until perfectly tender. This authentic Yucatan recipe produces succulent, richly seasoned meat perfect for serving with tortillas and habanero salsa.
Ingredients
- •6 pound boneless pork shoulder (not lean), cut into 3-inch chunks
- •2½ teaspoons salt
- •½ cup fresh Seville (bitter) orange juice
- •1 teaspoon black peppercorns
- •1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- •½ teaspoon whole allspice
- •3 tablespoons annatto (achiote) seeds
- •6 cloves garlic cloves
- •1 teaspoon dried oregano (preferably Mexican), crumbled
- •1 large white onion
- •3 pieces banana leaves
- •1 serving habanero salsa and tortillas
- •1 set equipment
Cooking Instructions
- 1.
Put pork in a large bowl and rub with 1 teaspoon salt and 2 tablespoons juice.
5 min
- 2.
Toast peppercorns, cumin, and allspice together, then cool slightly. Transfer to grinder along with annatto seeds and grind to a powder. Transfer to a small bowl.
10 min
- 3.
Mince garlic and mash to a paste with remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons salt using side of a large heavy knife. Add to ground spices along with oregano and remaining 6 tablespoons juice and stir to make a paste.
10 min
- 4.
Toss pork with paste to coat well. Add onion and toss to combine.
5 min
- 5.
Holding both ends of a banana leaf, drag leaf over a burner on moderately high heat slowly until it changes color slightly and becomes shinier, then turn over and toast other side. Toast remaining banana leaves in same manner.
15 min
- 6.
Line roasting pan with leaves, shinier sides down, by arranging 1 leaf lengthwise and 2 leaves crosswise, letting excess hang over sides. Trim overhang to about 8 inches on all sides.
10 min
- 7.
Transfer pork mixture to banana leaves, then fold overhang of leaves over pork to enclose completely. Cover pan tightly with foil and chill, at least 6 hours.
360 min
- 8.
Put oven rack in middle position, then put pan with pork in oven and heat to 400°F (to take chill off pork gently).
15 min
- 9.
Once oven has reached 400°F, bake until pork is very tender, 2 1/4 to 2 3/4 hours.
150 min
- 10.
Discard foil and open banana leaves, then serve pork with salsa and tortillas.
5 min
