TACOS AL PASTOR — Thinly sliced pork is marinated in a mixture of Mexican seasonings, peppers and pineapple juice, then grilled and served in warm tortillas with cilantro and fresh pineapple.
One of my boys recently spent some time in Mexico as a missionary. He loved every dish he tried, but his favorite thing, hands down, was the Tacos al Pastor.
So I decided I needed to try and recreate this popular Mexican meal at home.
Traditionally, the meat for Tacos al Pastor is cooked on a rotating spit, then thin slices of pork are shaved off as needed for the tacos. So it’s a little tricky to make these tacos exactly as they should be.
Unless, of course, you have a rotating spit in your kitchen. But since I don’t, I cut my pork into very thin slices, then pounded it with a skillet to make it even thinner.
So these tacos aren’t 100% authentic, but they are loaded with flavor and absolutely delicious!
Fun fact, Tacos al Pastor was brought to Mexico by Lebanese immigrants, and the technique of cooking the meat on a spit is similar to the way shawarma is made.
Whatever it’s origin, these are some of the most flavorful tacos I’ve ever had. I think I need to visit Mexico soon just so I can try the real thing! My son certainly never stopped raving about them.
There are a few specialty ingredients, like achiote paste, that you will need to look for in the international section of your grocery store, or maybe order online.
But since I couldn’t cook my pork on a spit, I wanted everything else to be as authentic as possible. So it’s totally worth a little extra effort to get the right ingredients.
I can’t wait to make these Tacos al Pastor for my son when he arrives home this summer. The rest of the family loved them, and I think he will too!
Be sure to save this Tacos al Pastor recipe to your favorite Pinterest board for later.
Here’s what you’ll need to make Tacos al Pastor
- Pork
- Produce: guajillo chiles, fresh pineapple, onions, garlic, cilantro, limes
- Pineapple juice
- Apple cider vinegar
- Achiote paste
- Spices: thyme, oregano, salt
- Brown sugar
- Tortillas
Tacos al Pastor
Thinly sliced pork is marinated in a mixture of Mexican seasonings, peppers and pineapple juice, then grilled and served in warm tortillas with cilantro and fresh pineapple.
Ingredients
For the pork
- 3-4 guajillo chiles, stemmed and seeded
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 3-4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1.75 ounces achiote paste
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2-3 lb. pork shoulder
For the tacos
- Warm corn or flour tortillas
- Diced fresh pineapple
- Chopped fresh cilantro
- Lime wedges
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, add the guajillo chiles and enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until the chiles have softened, 10-15 minutes.
- Transfer the chiles to a blender, and add the pineapple juice, lime juice, oil, vinegar, onion, garlic, achiote paste, thyme, oregano, salt and brown sugar. Puree until smooth.
- Cut the pork into thin slices (1/2 inch thick), then use a mallet or heavy skillet to pound the pork until it's very thin, about 1/4 inch.
- Place the pork in a large zip-top bag and add the marinade. Seal the bag and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
- Preheat grill for medium heat. Grill the pork about 5-6 minutes per side, until crispy and cooked through. Remove pork from grill and let stand for 5 minutes. Slice into thin strips and serve in tortillas with desired toppings.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 1090Total Fat: 75gSaturated Fat: 27gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 41gCholesterol: 306mgSodium: 794mgCarbohydrates: 18gFiber: 2gSugar: 8gProtein: 81g
Never miss a Let’s Dish Recipe:
Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
If you love this recipe, you might also like:
More Mexican Inspired Recipes
Easy Cheese Enchiladas
You'll never have leftovers when you serve these cheese filled enchiladas for dinner. With red enchilada sauce and two kinds of cheese, this dish is always a hit!
Quick Red Enchilada Sauce
Why buy canned enchilada sauce when it is so easy to make it yourself at home with a handful of pantry staples.
Copycat Restaurant Style Mexican Rice
This easy to make side dish tastes just like the rice from your favorite Mexican restaurant.
Restaurant Style Salsa
This easy salsa recipe comes together in about 5 minutes, and tastes just like the salsa from your favorite Mexican restaurant.
Copycat Chipotle Corn Salsa
This easy to make corn salsa if fresh tasting, delicious, and just like the corn salsa at Chipotle restaurants.
Honey Lime Chicken Enchiladas Verdes
Shredded chicken is combined with honey, lime and seasonings, then rolled in flour tortillas and smothered in a creamy chili verde sauce in this crowd pleasing enchilada recipe.
Favorite Homemade Guacamole
Fresh avocados, tomatoes, onions, lime juice and cilantro come together in this class Tex-Mex dip!
Easy Homemade Flour Tortillas
Just five simple pantry ingredients come together to make the best flour tortillas you've ever had.
Who Dished It Up First: Adapted from Chicano Eats
Leave a Reply