Tacos Al Pastor
Jalisco, Mexico
It is no secret that the best tacos in the world come from Mexico. On every street corner and at every restaurant in Mexico, you can find many different varieties depending on your tastes. Tacos Al Pastor are based on the lamb shawarma brought by Lebanese immigrants to Mexico, al pastor features a flavor palate that combines traditional Middle Eastern spices with those indigenous to central Mexico. Tacos al pastor is a wonderful Mexican dish that uses the beautiful pineapples that are grown all over Mexico. While traditional preparations require cooking over a spit, this recipe has been adapted for the home cook to enjoy using a stove top. Ready to make some?
Ingredients:
For the Al Pastor Meat Marinade
- 2-3 pound pork loin, cut into thin slices
- 4 guajillo chile boiled, de-seeded, and cleaned
- 1 ancho chile boiled, de-seeded, and cleaned
- 4 cloves of garlic
- 1/2 onion
- 1/2 cup of orange juice
- 3/4 cup of pineapple juice, fresh is better
- 1 tbsp oregano
- 1 tbsp thyme
- 1 tbsp pepper
- 1 tbsp cumin
- 1-2 tbsp paprika
- 1-2 tbsp salt
- 3 cloves
For the Roasted Tomatillo Chipotle Sauce
- 3 tomatillos
- 1/4 onion
- 2 small garlic cloves
- 1-2 chipotles, depending on level of spiciness you want
- 3 tbsp pineapple juice
- Salt and Pepper to taste
For the Tacos
- 15 Corn Tortillas
- Chopped cilantro
- Chopped onions
- Lime juice
- Salt
- Grilled pineapple
- Tacos al pastor meat
Instructions:
For the Al Pastor Meat Marinade
-
Blend all of the ingredients together until completely combined
-
Strain the liquid into a bowl to end up with a smooth marinade
-
Add one layer of meat in a large bowl or baking dish and cover with the marinade
-
Repeat layers until all of the meat and marinade have been used
-
Cover with aluminum foil and refrigerate for at least 4 hours (overnight is best)
-
Remove from the refrigerator and grill the meat until cooked through
-
Remove from grill and cut into thin slices to serve on the tacos
For the Roasted Tomatillo Chipotle Salsa
-
Roast the tomatillo, onion, and garlic in the oven on baking sheet at 450 F
-
8-10 minutes, remove from oven
-
Blend with the rest of the ingredients except the salt and pepper until well combined
-
Put in a bowl and season with salt and pepper to taste
For the Tacos
Enjoy!
