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.

Nutriscore Rating: 67/100

Prep Time:10 mins

Cook Time:5 mins

Total Time:15 mins

Servings: 6

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

Directions

Step 1

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.

Step 2

Transfer the toasted spices to a spice grinder or mortar and pestle, and grind until you have a fine powder.

Step 3

Place the ground spice mixture into a blender along with the ground cinnamon, garlic cloves, apple cider vinegar, fresh orange juice, and salt.

Step 4

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.

Step 5

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

Serving size	241.7 grams (241.7g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	157

Total Fat 2.10g	3%
Saturated Fat 0.30g	2%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.00g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 3565mg	155%
Total Carbohydrate 30.90g	11%
Dietary Fiber 5.90g	21%
Total Sugars 10.40g
Protein 4.30g	9%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 155mg	12%
Iron 4mg	24%
Potassium 494mg	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.

Source of Calories

Fat: 11.8%

Protein: 10.8%

Carbs: 77.4%