Tacos are the heart of Mexican food. Hello, foodies! We are back with another Mexican delight. This guide is a must-read for meat lovers. So today, I will be sharing the iconic Tacos Al Pastor recipe. Packed with the rich aroma of marinated pork and flavourful condiments, this is a go-to choice for taco lovers. Traditionally, Mexicans made tacos al pastor on a vertical spit. However, home cooks! Do not get disheartened! You can still recreate its flavours. Instead of making it on a vertical spit, you can grill, microwave, or cook the Pastor on a gas stove. How? Come, let us find out!

What is Taco Al Pastor?

Tacos remain my all-time favourite Mexican cuisine. And now, whenever I visit a taqueria, I only order Tacos Al Pastor. Pineapple with zesty dishes has never been my preference, but tacos al pastor is an exception. It is such an irresistible combination that you must not miss out on it. Alongside sharing the al pastor recipe, this article will discuss how al pastor originated. So, shall we begin?

Al pastor, a popular Mexican delight, originated when Lebanese immigrants introduced their cooking style in Mexico. Inspired by the Lebanese immigrants, who cooked mouth-watering lamb on a vertical spit, Mexicans adopted their cooking style. However, instead of using lamb, they cooked pork. Mexicans used local ingredients, like achiote, chilli peppers, and pineapple, to make this dish more flavourful.

Ingredients

Yields up to around six servings

• Pork shoulder (3 lbs)

It is the prime ingredient of this dish. It has a higher fat content. The more the pork shoulder fat, the more lip-smacking the dish becomes.

Note: Request the butcher to cut its pieces into thin slices or refrigerate them for some time. It makes slicing pork simpler.

• Chiles

Chile chitpotle en adobo – 2

Chile guajillo (Deseeded)- 5

Adjust the chile in the dish according to your taste. Mexicans add chile chitpotle en adobo and chile guajillo.

• Aromatics

Onion- ¼

Garlic cloves- 4

Ground ginger- 1/4 teaspoon

Allspice- ¼ teaspoon

Bay leaves- 2

These aromatics are necessary for marinating pork.

• Spices

Cumin- 1 Teaspoon

Ground pepper-1/2 Teaspoon

Oregano- 1 Teaspoon

Achiote paste/ powder- 1 Tablespoon

These spices are the heart and soul of al pastor. Achiote enhances the colour of the dish. As many individuals believe, people often ignore a dish’s taste and scan for how appetizing the dish looks. In short, it makes your dish look more presentable and appealing

• Apple cider vinegar (1/4 cup)

Note that though achiote enhances the look of the dish, it tastes bitter. Hence, add apple cider vinegar to your dish to balance its bitterness.

• Pineapple juice (1/4 cup)

There are several reasons to add pineapple juice to this dish. It tenderness the pork and adds sweetness and tanginess to the dish. However, do not add fresh juice. Fresh juice added to the marinade makes your dish mushy.

3. Flipping in between, cook it on both sides until you observe that smoky texture. It takes around five to seven minutes.

4. Cook it from both sides until you observe char marks.

5. Before slicing the grilled pork, remove it from the grill and let it cool down.

Note: Since pineapple is rich in natural sugar, grilling caramelizes the pineapple, adding extra sweetness, balancing the sweet and tangy taste, and enhancing this dish visually. Grilling pineapple makes your dish more tasty.

Option C: Microwaving the dish

1. Preheat the oven before cooking pork at a high temperature (200°C/ 400°F).
2. Place an aluminium foil in the baking tray and add marinated pork.
3. Flipping in between, cook it on both sides. It takes around twenty-five to thirty minutes.

•  Let this half-cooked delicacy cool down and remove it from the oven.
• Chop the pork slices once cooked. Meanwhile, microwave 4 to 5 tortillas for 1 minute.
• Add chopped pork to the tortilla and garnish it with Chopped onion, cilantro, pineapple slices, and a few drops of lemon juice.