These Slow Cooker Achiote Pork Tacos are super easy to make. Take 5 minutes out of your morning to put this together in your slow cooker and supper will be ready to roll when you get home from work.
What is Achiote?
Achiote is used as a spice and is also used as a coloring agent. It is also often called Annotto. The seeds come from a tree native to Mexico and Brazil called the Bixa Orellana tree.
I use a premade Achiote Spice Paste for this dish, it is made of Annatto Seed, garlic, chiles, and spices. I buy it at the Mexican grocery store by my house, but you could maybe find it in some well-stocked grocers, or if all else fails you can order it on Amazon Achiote Paste and have it delivered right to your door! I think you can order practically anything on Amazon these days. You could make the paste homemade as well which would probably be superior to the store-bought version, but hey – I was looking for simple today.
The pork itself is a bit rich, so I do find you need the pickled onions to cut the richness a little for these.
INGREDIENTS:
- 4 lb pork shoulder
- 1 white onion, roughly chopped
- 1/2 tsp salt (or to taste)
- 3.5 oz Achiote Paste
- 1/2 cup fresh squeezed lime juice
- 1/4 cup fresh-squeezed orange juice
- Pickled Red Onions
- Homemade Corn Tortillas
Other optional garnishes:
- Fresh Limes
- Feta or Cojito
- Cilantro
- Mexican Hot Sauce
- Pickled Jalepenos
- Avocado Slices
Place your pork shoulder into your slow cooker. In a small bowl, combine your Achiote Spice paste with lime juice, orange juice, and salt. Pour over pork. Roughly chop your onion and throw this in too.
Cook for 6 hours on high or on low for 8 hours or so.
Remove pork, shred with two forks (removing fat). Skim the sauce for as much fat as you can. Add the pork back in. Serve in heated Corn Tortillas with pickled onions and garnishes of choice. I like to serve mine with extra lime wedges, feta, Pickled Jalepenos, and Pickled Red Onions
If you like this dish you should try: Mushroom Poblano Tacos
