Air Fryer Mexican Cochinita Pibil Pork Tostada Boxes

AF-200 Crew Pork Recipe

Air Fryer Mexican Cochinita Pibil Pork Tostada Boxes

Cochinita pibil is Yucatan pork stained red with achiote and sharpened with citrus. Traditionally wrapped in banana leaves and cooked underground, it emerges soft, fragrant and built for pickled onion. A foil-lined banana-leaf parcel traps the same aromatic steam inside the air fryer. The shredded pork is crisped at the end and piled into boxes with tostadas for scooping.

Air Fryer Mexican Cochinita Pibil Pork Tostada Boxes
Air Fryer Mexican Cochinita Pibil Pork Tostada Boxes preparation stage

You’ll Need

For the Pork
900g pork shoulder, cut into 3cm pieces
75g achiote paste
Juice of 2 oranges
Juice of 2 limes
3 garlic cloves, finely grated
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp ground cumin
½ tsp sea salt
Banana leaf or baking paper and foil
For the Pickled Onion
1 red onion, very finely sliced
Juice of 1 lime
1 tbsp cider vinegar
1 tsp caster sugar
½ tsp sea salt
For the Boxes
12 small tostadas
Shredded white cabbage
Chopped coriander
Optional but dangerous
Habanero salsa
Crumbled feta
A cold Mexican lager

Method

Whisk the achiote, citrus juices, garlic, oregano, cumin and salt together.

Coat the pork and marinate in the fridge for at least 4 hours.

Line a deep heatproof dish with banana leaf or baking paper and add the pork and marinade.

Fold over the leaf, cover tightly with foil and air fry at 170°C for 55-65 minutes.

Stir once after 40 minutes and add a splash of water if the dish looks dry.

Check the pork is piping hot and pulls apart easily, then shred it in the juices.

Spread the pork in the basket and air fry at 200°C for 5-7 minutes to crisp the edges.

Toss the onion with the lime, vinegar, sugar and salt.

Box the pork with tostadas, cabbage, pickled onion and coriander.

Lad Tip: Keep the parcel tightly sealed during the tenderising cook. Banana leaf brings aroma, but foil brings discipline— without it the citrus escapes before the shoulder softens.

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