Tacos Al Pastor

1h
Prep Time
15m
Cook Time
1h 15m
Ready In


"This taco al pastor recipe gives you all the flavor without all the fuss. Rather than marinating pork shoulder for days and then spit-roasting, you marinate it overnight, then grill for less than five minutes. I have been using Spinning Grillers Shawarma Grill."

Original is 8 servings

Nutritional

  • Serving Size: 1 (291 g)
  • Calories 340.4
  • Total Fat - 13 g
  • Saturated Fat - 4.2 g
  • Cholesterol - 113.3 mg
  • Sodium - 651.1 mg
  • Total Carbohydrate - 16.1 g
  • Dietary Fiber - 2.8 g
  • Sugars - 10.7 g
  • Protein - 38.9 g
  • Calcium - 37.1 mg
  • Iron - 1.6 mg
  • Vitamin C - 99.4 mg
  • Thiamin - 0.9 mg

Step by Step Method

Step 1

In a medium saucepan, heat the 1 tablespoon of oil. Add the garlic and cook over moderately high heat, turning occasionally, until lightly browned, about 1 minute. Stir in the oregano, cumin, pepper and cloves and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the chiles and cook, stirring, until blistered in spots, about 30 seconds. Add the pineapple juice, vinegar and achiote paste and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and let stand for 5 minutes.

Step 2

Transfer the chile mixture to a blender and puree until smooth. Season with salt. Scrape the marinade into a large, sturdy plastic bag. Add the pork and turn to coat. Set the bag in a small baking dish and refrigerate overnight.

Step 3

Light a grill or preheat a grill pan. Brush the pineapple and onion with oil. Grill over high heat, turning once, until lightly charred and softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a carving board and tent with foil.

Step 4

Remove the pork from the marinade. Grill over high heat until lightly charred and just cooked through, 2 to 4 minutes. Transfer to the carving board and let rest for 5 minutes.

Step 5

Cut the pineapple, onion and pork into thin strips and transfer to a bowl. Season with salt. Serve with corn tortillas, chopped cilantro and lime wedges.

Tips


No special items needed.

Editorial Notes

The ingredient tips, suggestions, variations, facts, questions and answers below are not edits to the original author's recipe. They are not meant to imply any change would improve the recipe. They're offered for convenience, alternative ideas, and points of interest. If you have any comments about them, please post in the Help & Ideas forum.


  • When selecting the pork loin, look for one that is thinly sliced to ensure it cooks quickly and evenly on the grill.
  • For the best flavor, use Mexican oregano instead of regular oregano.

  • Substitute pork loin for pork shoulder. The benefit of this substitution is that pork loin cooks faster than pork shoulder, so it will reduce the cooking time needed for the dish.
  • Substitute canned chipotle chillies for fresh chipotle chillies. The benefit of this substitution is that canned chillies are more widely available, so it will make the recipe easier to make and more accessible to a wider audience

Grilled Pork Tacos Al Pastor In a medium saucepan, heat the 1 tablespoon of oil. Add the garlic and cook over moderately high heat, turning occasionally, until lightly browned, about 1 minute. Stir in the oregano, cumin, pepper and cloves and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the chiles and cook, stirring, until blistered in spots, about 30 seconds. Add the pineapple juice, vinegar and


Mexican Street Corn: Mexican street corn is a delicious side dish that pairs perfectly with tacos al pastor. It is made with fresh corn off the cob, mayonnaise, Cotija cheese, chili powder, and lime juice. It is creamy, spicy, and tangy.

Cilantro Lime Rice: Cilantro lime rice is a flavorful and easy side dish to serve with tacos al pastor.




FAQ

Q: What type of pork should I use for this recipe?

A: For this recipe, you should use a boneless pork loin, thinly sliced.

Q: How long should I marinate the pork?

A: For the best flavor, marinate the pork overnight.

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Fun facts:

Fun Fact 1:Tacos al Pastor originated in the 1930s when Lebanese immigrants to Mexico brought with them the shawarma, a Middle Eastern dish of spit-roasted meat.

Fun Fact 2:Tacos al Pastor has been popularized by celebrity chefs like Rick Bayless and Aaron Sanchez, who have featured the dish on their cooking shows.