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Tacos Al Pastor

Name: Tacos Al Pastor
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 700 g Pork shoulder (sliced thin); 4 pieces Dried guajillo chillies; 2 pieces Dried ancho chillies; 200 g Pineapple; 30 g Achiote paste (or a teaspoon of ground annatto); 60 ml White vinegar; 4 cloves Garlic; 1 tsp Ground cumin; 1 tsp Mexican oregano; 12 pieces Corn tortillas; To taste Onion and coriander; To taste Lime

Tacos Al Pastor is a classic Mexican main that holds a distinguished place in traditional cooking. Celebrated for its wholesome ingredients and time-honored preparation, this dish brings authentic regional character to the home kitchen.

Carefully prepared featuring Pork shoulder (sliced thin), Dried guajillo chillies, Dried ancho chillies, Pineapple, Achiote paste (or a teaspoon of ground annatto), White vinegar, Garlic, Ground cumin, Mexican oregano, Corn tortillas, Onion and coriander and Lime, the ingredients are simmered and seasoned to achieve a satisfying depth of flavor. True to traditional Mexican cooking, the dish focuses on vibrant with toasted dried chilies, fresh citrus brightness, and earthy herbs.

In authentic Mexican tradition, Tacos Al Pastor is best presented with warm corn tortillas, fresh salsa, and lime wedges.

If you enjoy authentic Mexican cooking, be sure to also explore our recipe for Chiles Rellenos.

Difficulty: mediumPrep: 30 minCook: 20 minServes 4

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Ingredients

Pork shoulder (sliced thin)700 g
Dried guajillo chillies4 pieces
Dried ancho chillies2 pieces
Pineapple200 g
Achiote paste (or a teaspoon of ground annatto)30 g
White vinegar60 ml
Garlic4 cloves
Ground cumin1 tsp
Mexican oregano1 tsp
Corn tortillas12 pieces
Onion and corianderTo taste
LimeTo taste

Step-by-Step Instructions

5 steps

Interactive Cook Mode: Click any step or circle to check it off as you cook.

Step 1

Seed the chillies and toast them in a dry pan until they smell — twenty seconds a side, no longer, or they turn bitter. Cover with boiling water for fifteen minutes.

Step 2🥄 Mix

Blend the softened chillies with half the pineapple, the achiote, vinegar, garlic, cumin and oregano to a smooth paste. Season it.

Step 3🥣 Marinate

Coat the pork in the marinade and leave it at least two hours, ideally overnight. Do not go past a day: the pineapple will soften the meat to mush.

Step 4🥄 Mix

Get a pan searing hot and cook the meat in batches, two minutes a side. Do not stir until dark edges appear.

Step 5🔪 Prep

Sear the rest of the pineapple in the same pan and dice it. Chop the meat roughly, warm the tortillas twenty seconds a side and build: meat, pineapple, onion, coriander, lime.

👨‍🍳 Chef's Culinary Notes

Cultural Heritage

Tacos Al Pastor reflects the timeless heritage of traditional Mexican home cooking, vibrant with toasted dried chilies, fresh citrus brightness, and earthy herbs. Prepared for generations for family gatherings and celebrations, it represents the heart of regional culinary identity.

Dietary Substitutions

If you need to accommodate dietary restrictions, pork shoulder (sliced thin) can be substituted with an equivalent volume of seasonal vegetables, legumes, or a protein alternative of your preference.

Chef Technique Tips

Season in stages rather than all at once at the end. Salting components as they cook draws out excess moisture, intensifies natural sugars, and builds harmonious depth of flavor throughout the dish.

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