Chilorio

15 minutes
to prep

45 minutes
to cook

4–6 servings

About this Recipe

Chilorio is a delicious recipe from the state of Sinaloa in Mexico. For the vegan version of this yummy dish made with dried peppers, white vinegar, and spices, we are using jackfruit, which has the perfect texture to absorb all the ingredients and flavors. This chilorio can be used for filling burritos or to eat with tortillas!

Recipe and photos by: Gabriela Cárdenas

Ingredients

For the Chilorio:

14 ounces of young jackfruit chunks (if using canned jackfruit, make sure you wash the pieces thoroughly to remove all the brine from the fruit, and pat dry after washing)
1 white onion, sliced
2 garlic cloves
1 teaspoon Mexican oregano
1 teaspoon coriander seeds
½ teaspoon cumin powder
2 guajillo chilies
1 ancho chili
2 arbol chilies
1 bay leaf
2 tablespoons of white vinegar
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoons of water
1 tablespoon of vegan shortening
Oil of your preference

For Serving:

1 pound of corn or flour tortillas
Sauce of your preference

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1

Preheat your oven on the broil setting at 350° F for 10 minutes.

Step 2

Add the jackfruit chunks and the sliced onions to an oven-safe dish, then add one tablespoon of oil and mix well to coat them. Broil for 10 minutes at 350° F.

Step 3

While the jackfruit is in the oven, start making the sauce for the chilorio. Deseed the ancho chili, the arbol chilies, and the guajillos and toast over a medium-sized pan for 5 minutes, flipping constantly. Avoid burning the chilies; otherwise, your sauce will be bitter.

Step 4

Add the chilies to warm water and let them hydrate for 10 minutes.

Step 5

Cool down the chilies and add to a blender along with the garlic cloves, oregano, coriander seeds, cumin powder, bay leaf, and salt. Blend all the ingredients with two tablespoons of the water used for hydrating the chilies.

Step 6

Use a strainer to sieve the sauce, discarding any remaining seeds or any hard bits.

Step 7

Take the jackfruit out of the oven. Don’t turn the oven off yet, as you will broil the chilorio once it’s done.

Step 8

Shred the jackfruit and set aside.

Step 9

Heat a large-sized pan over a medium flame. Add the tablespoon of vegan shortening and, once hot, add the chargrilled jackfruit with onions and sauté for 5 minutes.

Step 10

Pour the sauce over the pan and mix well, stirring constantly for 5 minutes.

Step 11

Add the white vinegar to the mixture and integrate well, adjusting the salt and adding pepper to your taste.

Step 12

Add the mixture to the oven dish you used before and broil the chilorio for 5 minutes at 350° F. This will give the chilorio its particular crispy texture.

Step 13

Serve with warm flour or corn tortillas.