2 weeks Ago By Stephen Randall
In the Popol Vuh, the sacred book of the Maya, Hun Hunahpú, the maize god, is tricked and killed by the lords of the underworld, the Xibalbá. His head is placed in a calabash tree, and from it, the twins Hunahpú and Xbalanqué, were born. The twins grow up to be cunning and skillful warriors, eventually avenging their father’s death by defeating the lords of Xibalbá in a series of epic trials.
According to a lesser-known version of the tale, after the twins triumphed and returned to the earth’s surface, they planted maize, their father’s sacred crop, in the soil. However, the maize did not sprout immediately — it needed something more, a divine offering. The twins, seeking a way to breathe life back into the earth, turned to the achiote plant, whose seeds symbolized blood and life.
In an act of sacrifice, the twins scattered achiote seeds over the freshly tilled earth, allowing the red pigment to slowly soak into the soil. With this act, they called upon the essence of life itself, and soon after, the maize began to grow. The achiote’s powerful color was believed to represent the lifeblood of the earth, linking the gods, humanity and the natural world together.
The Maya believed the vibrant red pigment of achiote seeds symbolized blood and life itself. They used it in food, painted their bodies with it during sacred rituals and even dyed their clothes and murals with its deep red hue. Legend has it that warriors would cover themselves in achiote before heading into battle, calling on its power to invoke the strength of the gods.
But fast forward to today, and we’ve found a use for achiote that’s a little less intense: chicken wings! Instead of warriors, it’s now us weekend grill gladiators slathering that bold achiote goodness on some juicy wings. Achiote’s flavor profile is earthy, with a slightly peppery kick and a hint of sweetness. Imagine paprika and nutmeg got together and decided to have a tropical vacation — achiote would be the result.
It’s the flavor that whispers, “I’m bold, but I don’t need to shout,” while giving your dishes that beautiful, golden-red glow, making your food look as good as it tastes. This recipe turned out very simple with not many ingredients, it’s usually hard for me to pare down but the results this time are great! Sometimes, less is more. Enjoy these sweet, smoky, and slightly spicy wings and let me know what you think in the comments.
Stephen Randall has lived in Mexico since 2018 by way of Kentucky, and before that, Germany. He’s an enthusiastic amateur chef who takes inspiration from many different cuisines, with favorites including Mexican and Mediterranean..
