TACOS AL PASTOR RECIPE VIDEO
I recently shared in my Al Pastor Kabobs post, that I am obsessed with Al Pastor. When we go out, I usually order it in some form or another from authentic Tacos Al Pastor to Ada Haba Pina California Burrito (burrito with Al Pastor, pineapple, French fries, sour cream, guacamole, cheese, etc.) to Al Pastor Nachos. The combination of smoky, tangy, chile pork, with grilled pineapple is 1000X crave worthy so I knew I was up for a challenge to create a traditional al pastor tasting recipe that was homemade BUT, I think we have done just that and I can honestly say this is arguably one of the best homemade Al Pastor recipe out there. My foodie critic husband (who loves Mexican food even more than me – which is barely possible) would agree. He loved the Al Pastor as it was coming off the grill, he loved it as it was barely warm after photos and he loved it reheated the same night. In fact, he had three teenage boys from our church youth group over to our house to eat the leftovers that night – and they ate ALL of it. I think they liked it. I hope this Al Pastor recipe joins the ranks of my Mexican Chicken, Salsa Verde Chicken, Carnitas, Chipotle Pork, Carne Asada, Beef Barbacoa and Chipotle Chicken as one of your favorite new Mexican protein staples. Or exceeds them.
What is Al Pastor?
If you aren’t familiar with Al Pastor, (meaning “shepherd style” in Spanish), it is a popular pork dish in Central America in which pork is marinated in pineapple, chilies and spices then stacked and vertically roasted on a slowly turning spit with a pineapple on top which bathes the pork with its juices. The outside edges of the pork become beautifully crisp and caramelized while the inside remains splendidly juicy. The Al Pastor is sliced off the spit-grilled meat to-order in thin slices accompanied by chunks of fresh pineapple. Heaven.
Where did Al Pastor Come From?
I am always fascinated by the origins of popular “authentic” food so I was surprised to learn the concept for Al Pastor was brought to Central Mexico by Lebanese immigrants in the early 1900s. These immigrants cooked their thin cuts of meat stacked together in a cone-like shape on a vertical spit-grill, known as shawarma (one of my favs, coming soon!), much like Greek gyros. As the rotisserie rotates, the outside cooks and thin pieces are continually shaved off. The “pastor” in Al Pastor is the name given to the Lebanese merchants who brought the concept of shawarma with them. The citizens of Mexico developed their own guajillo chille marinade with its signature tangy chile flavor and applied it to pork instead of lamb or other meats.
What kind of meat is al pastor?
Al Pastor is traditionally spit-roasted pork but for our homemade Al Pastor we are going to use boneless pork shoulder. Pork shoulder is a relatively inexpensive cut of meat and layered with enough fat that when marinated and cooked on high heat, it emerges tender and juicy.
Taco Al Pastor Recipe ingredients
Al Pastor and Tacos Al Pastor are almost interchangeable terms. Tacos Al Pastor traditionally begin with a corn tortilla and are piled with charred, thin shavings of marinated, roasted pork, pineapple, pico de gallo, cilantro and lime juice. Other optional toppings include salsa verde, salsa, sour cream, avocados or guacamole. I also am a huge fan of a drizzle of Cilantro Lime Dressing – not authentic but incredible.
How to make Al Pastor Tacos
Tacos Al Pastor is very easy to make once you have all of the ingredients. Slicing your pork will probably take the most time and once that is done, you’re more than half way done! Once your pork is marinated, all you have to do is grill it up and chop, making it a fabulous make ahead dinner or meal for entertaining. To make Al Pastor:
Al Pastor Tacos Recipe tips
How to serve an Al Pastor Taco
Tacos Al Pastor go fabulously with:
Restaurant-Style Mexican Rice or Cilantro Lime Rice Corn Salad with Cilantro Lime Dressing or Grilled Corn on the Cob with Chipotle Lime Butter Tortilla chips and guacamole, salsa or salsa verde Southwest Salad with Creamy Avocado Salsa Dressing or Southwest Orzo Salad with Chipotle Honey Lime Vinaigrette Fruit Salad with Honey Citrus Dressing or Pina Colada Fruit Salad Mexican Street Fries with Salsa Ketchup and top it all off with Churros!
How to store Al Pastor Tacos
Separate Components: Store the tortillas, meat, and toppings (like salsa and cilantro) separately to prevent the tortillas from becoming soggy. Meat Storage: Place the cooked al pastor meat in an airtight container and refrigerate it. It will stay fresh for up to 3-4 days. You can also freeze the meat for up to 2-3 months. Tortillas: If you plan to use the tortillas within a day, store them in a resealable plastic bag or airtight container at room temperature. For longer storage, refrigerate or freeze them for up to a week. Reheating: When ready to eat, reheat the meat in a skillet or microwave, warm the tortillas, and assemble the tacos with fresh toppings.
Storing the components separately ensures that your tacos remain fresh and flavorful when you’re ready to enjoy them again. Now open wide!
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