Achiote Paste

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup annatto (achiote) seeds, or 3 tbsp ground annatto
• 1 tsp cumin seeds, 1 tsp coriander seeds, 4 whole cloves
• 1 tsp black peppercorns
• 1/2 tsp allspice berries
• 1 tsp dried Mexican oregano
• 3 cloves garlic
• 2 tbsp orange juice
• 2 tbsp white vinegar
• 1 tsp salt

Steps

1. If using whole annatto seeds, grind them to a fine powder in a spice grinder (they're very hard — a dedicated spice grinder works best).
2. Toast cumin, coriander, cloves, peppercorns, and allspice in a dry pan until fragrant, then grind to a powder with the oregano.
3. Blend the annatto powder, toasted ground spices, garlic, orange juice, vinegar, and salt into a thick, smooth paste, adding a splash more liquid if needed.
4. Store in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.