Tacos al Pastor (Mexican Marinated Pork Tacos)
Local name: Tacos al pastor
In short: Thin pork slices marinated in dried chiles, achiote and pineapple, seared until crisp-edged and piled onto warm corn tortillas. It takes about 55 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 30 min
- Cook
- 25 min
- Resting
- 4 h
- Total
- 55 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 640 kcal
Tacos al pastor are Mexico City's signature late-night taco. The spit-roasted style grew out of shawarma brought by Lebanese immigrants, and Mexican cooks switched to pork and added dried chiles, achiote and pineapple. Taquerías stack the marinated meat on a spinning trompo and shave it straight onto tortillas. This home version sears thin slices in a very hot pan or under the broiler, which gives the same browned, slightly charred edges.
Instructions
- Toast the dried chiles in a dry skillet over medium heat for 20 to 30 seconds per side, until fragrant. Cover with hot water and soak for 15 minutes until soft, then drain.
- Blend the soaked chiles with the achiote paste, pineapple juice, vinegar, garlic, oregano, cumin, cloves and salt until completely smooth.
- Slice the pork against the grain into pieces about 5 mm thick. Coat every slice in the marinade, cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
- Heat a large cast-iron skillet over high heat until it just starts to smoke. Add a little oil and cook the pork in a single layer, in batches, for 3 to 4 minutes per side until browned, crisp at the edges and cooked through.
- Sear the pineapple slices in the same pan for 1 to 2 minutes per side until caramelized at the edges, then chop them into small pieces.
- Chop the cooked pork into bite-size pieces on a board and toss it with half of the pineapple.
- Warm the tortillas in a dry skillet for about 30 seconds per side, stacking them in a clean cloth to keep them soft.
- Fill each tortilla with pork, add a little pineapple, onion and cilantro, and finish with a squeeze of lime. Serve right away with salsa.
Tips
- No achiote paste? Use 1 tbsp sweet paprika and an extra splash of vinegar. The color and flavor will be a little milder but still good.
- Freeze the pork shoulder for 30 minutes before slicing. The firmer meat is much easier to cut into thin, even slices.
Questions and answers
Can I make tacos al pastor without a vertical spit?
Yes. A very hot cast-iron pan, a grill or an oven broiler gives browned, crisp edges. Cook in small batches so the meat sears instead of steaming.
How long can I marinate the pork?
Up to 2 days in the fridge. The pineapple juice softens the meat, so do not go much longer or the texture turns mushy.
Are tacos al pastor spicy?
Mild to medium. Guajillo and ancho chiles add depth and gentle warmth rather than sharp heat, and the salsa on the side lets each person choose their own level.
How long does it take to make Tacos al Pastor (Mexican Marinated Pork Tacos)?
About 55 min in total: 30 min of preparation and 25 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Tacos al Pastor (Mexican Marinated Pork Tacos)?
About 640 kcal per serving, with 32 g of protein, 46 g of carbohydrates and 36 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 640 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 32 g |
| Carbohydrates | 46 g |
| Fat | 36 g |
| Fiber | 6 g |
| Sugar | 9 g |
| Sodium | 780 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
