Achiote pasta

Description

Achiote paste is a thick, intensely red-orange mass made from ground annatto seeds with added spices, garlic, sour ingredients, and fat. The flavor is earthy-nutty, slightly spicy, and bitter, valued more for its color and aroma than for heat, giving dishes a warm, slightly smoky tone. Nutritionally, the paste provides a small amount of calories, fat, and minerals, and annatto is a source of carotenoids (bixin, norbixin) with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In the kitchen, it is used for marinades and adobo for pork, chicken, and fish, as well as for rice, stews, sauces, and Mexican, Caribbean, and Filipino dishes, where it adds color and a subtle aroma. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator and use within a few weeks; it can be portioned and frozen in ice cube trays, which extends its shelf life to several months.