Chuletas de Cerdo Asadas al Achiote (Achiote Pork Chops)
Thick pork chops marinated in orange, lime and achiote, grilled until blistered and served with black beans and fresh pico.
Made with Fresh pico de gallo and Mexican black beans and Pollo asado marinade. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time50 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £2.77 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Put the pork chops in a dish with 120 ml of your ready made pollo asado marinade (see the base recipe). Turn to coat, cover, and chill for 4 to 8 hours.
240 min - 2
Take the chops out 20 minutes before cooking. Wipe off the excess marinade and pat the surface dry with kitchen paper so they char instead of steam.
- 3
Heat a griddle pan or barbecue until very hot and oil the chops lightly. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes per side, turning once, until blistered and the middle reaches 63C.
12 min - 4
Rest the chops on a plate for 5 minutes, loosely covered.
- 5
Meanwhile, warm your ready made black beans (see the base recipe) in a small pan with a splash of water until steaming hot all the way through.
5 min - 6
Serve the chops with beans, your ready made pico de gallo (see the base recipe), warm tortillas, coriander and lime wedges.
Tips
- Pork chops should be at least 2.5 cm thick. Thin ones dry out before they char.
- Do not marinate longer than 8 hours. Pork turns mealy in acid if left too long.
- Pat the chops dry before cooking so the surface sears hard.
Storing and freezing
Keeps in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat gently until steaming hot all the way through, and slice the pork if reheating in a pan.
Questions
What temperature should pork chops reach?
At 63C in the thickest part followed by a 3 minute rest is safe and keeps pork juicy. Cook to 70C if you prefer them well done.
Can I use pork shoulder steaks?
Yes. Cook shoulder steaks a little longer, 7 to 8 minutes per side, as they are tougher and more marbled.
What sides work with this?
Black beans and pico are the pairing here. A cabbage and lime slaw or warm tortillas finish the plate.
More made with fresh pico de gallo
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.