Best 4 Grilled Pork Tacos Al Pastor Recipes

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Tantalize your taste buds with a culinary journey to Mexico as we explore the delectable world of Grilled Pork Tacos Al Pastor. This authentic Mexican dish combines the smoky, savory flavors of marinated pork with the vibrant freshness of pineapple and a medley of traditional Mexican spices. With its tender, juicy meat and explosion of flavors, Tacos Al Pastor is a true fiesta for your senses.

Our comprehensive guide takes you step-by-step through the process of creating this mouthwatering dish. From selecting the perfect cut of pork and preparing the flavorful marinade to grilling the meat to perfection, we provide detailed instructions to ensure success. But that's not all - we also offer variations and additional recipes to cater to different tastes and preferences.

For those seeking a vegetarian alternative, we present a tantalizing recipe for Grilled Pineapple and Poblano Tacos. This meatless version captures the essence of Tacos Al Pastor with its smoky grilled pineapple and poblano peppers, complemented by a creamy avocado salsa. And for those who love the smoky flavor of Al Pastor but prefer a different protein, we have a recipe for Grilled Chicken Tacos Al Pastor that delivers the same irresistible taste using succulent chicken thighs.

Our comprehensive guide to Grilled Pork Tacos Al Pastor and its variations is a culinary adventure that will leave you craving more. So, gather your ingredients, fire up your grill, and prepare to embark on a taste sensation like no other.

Here are our top 4 tried and tested recipes!

THE BEST TACOS AL PASTOR RECIPE



The Best Tacos Al Pastor Recipe image

Tacos al Pastor - made with slow marinated pork, grilled to perfection, and served with grilled pineapple.

Provided by Charbel Barker

Categories     Main Course

Time 4h30m

Number Of Ingredients 27

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 Tablespoon of Oregano
1 Tablespoon of Thyme
1 Tablespoon of Pepper
1 Tablespoon of Cumin
1-2 Tablespoons of Paprika
1-2 Tablespoons of Salt
3 Cloves
3 Tomatillos
1/4 Onion
2 small cloves of garlic
1-2 chipotles (depending on level of spiciness you want)
3 Tablespoons of Pineapple juice
Salt and Pepper to taste
15 Corn Tortillas
Chopped cilantro
Chopped Onions
Lime juice
Salt
Grilled pineapple
Tacos al pastor meat

Steps:

  • Blend all of the ingredients together until completely combined.
  • Strain the liquid over 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, and then repeat in 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.
  • Roast the tomatillo, onion, and garlic in the oven on baking sheet at 450 degrees for 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.
  • Heat the tortillas with a little bit of oil.
  • Add the meat, the pineapple, the salsa, the lime juice, the cilantro and onions, and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 Taco, Calories 171 kcal, Carbohydrate 19 g, Protein 15 g, Fat 3 g, Cholesterol 38 mg, Sodium 511 mg, Fiber 3 g, Sugar 4 g

CHARRED TACOS AL PASTOR



Charred Tacos Al Pastor image

Provided by Jeff Mauro, host of Sandwich King

Categories     main-dish

Time 14h40m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

2 tablespoons adobo sauce, from a can of chipotle chiles in adobo
1 tablespoon ancho chile powder
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 tablespoon achiote paste
1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 clove garlic, grated on a rasp
2 pounds boneless pork shoulder, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices with a diameter of about 4 to 5 inches
Nonstick cooking spray, for container
1 whole pineapple, skin removed
2 yellow onions, quartered
Corn tortillas, salsa verde and fresh cilantro, for serving

Steps:

  • Combine adobo, ancho powder, oil, achiote paste, brown sugar, salt, cumin, garlic and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan. Whisk until uniform while bringing to a simmer to bloom all the spices and flavors, then simmer, about 5 minutes. Take off heat to cool completely, 15 to 20 minutes.
  • Coat all slices of pork with marinade. Spray a plastic quart container with cooking spray. Stuff the container with the slices of marinated pork, arranging them in a stack. Cover and place in the fridge 8 hours or overnight to marinate.
  • Slide marinated meat gently out of quart container. Cut the pineapple into 4 equal rounds. Reserve 2 whole slices of pineapple and core the remaining 2 slices, then cut them into chunks. Place the stack of marinated meat in between the reserved slices of pineapple. Evenly skewer the stack with 8 to 10 metal skewers to make the "pastor".
  • Heat a grill for cooking at about 275 degrees F. Using a chimney starter, ignite 3 to 4 charcoal briquettes. Place the briquettes in a smoker box with apple or cherry wood chips that have soaked in water 30 minutes, and place the box directly on the grate.
  • Place onion and pineapple chunks in a small drip tray or roasting pan. Position the pan right on the grill, and the pastor on the elevated grill shelf directly above it. Place smoker box directly in front of the drip pan, so that some of the heat and smoke from the wood can reach the pastor.
  • Cook for 4 hours, rotating a quarter every 45 minutes to 1 hour. Take it off the heat and let rest for at least 1 hour.
  • Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Dice onions and pineapple from drip tray and sear in the skillet until caramelized, about 5 minutes.
  • Holding the pastor vertical, shave off shards of pork. Sear off in the skillet until caramelized, about 5 minutes.
  • Serve with corn tortillas, salsa verde and fresh cilantro.

GRILLED PORK TACOS AL PASTOR



Grilled Pork Tacos al Pastor image

Recipes adapted from Fiesta at Rick's and Mexican Everyday by Rick Bayless (W. W. Norton & Company; 2010 and 2005).

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Ingredients     Meat & Poultry     Pork Recipes

Time 1h45m

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 package (3 1/2 ounces) achiote paste
3 canned chipotle chiles in adobo sauce, plus 1/4 cup sauce
1/4 cup vegetable oil, plus more for grill
1 1/2 pounds pork shoulder, sliced 1/4 inch thick
1 medium red onion, sliced into 1/4-inch rounds
Coarse salt
1/4 medium pineapple (about 6 ounces), peeled and sliced into 1/4-inch rounds
24 corn tortillas, warmed
Smoky Chipotle Salsa

Steps:

  • In a blender, combine achiote, chiles and sauce, 1/4 cup oil, and 3/4 cup water; blend until smooth, about 5 seconds. Use one-third the marinade to coat pork all over (refrigerate or freeze remaining marinade to use on other meat or fish). Cover pork and refrigerate 1 hour.
  • Set up a grill for indirect cooking over medium-high. Clean and lightly oil hot grill. Brush onion slices with oil and season with salt. Arrange in a single layer over hot side of grill. Cook until grill marks are dark brown on both sides, 3 to 5 minutes per side, flipping once. Move to cool side of grill and cook until soft, 5 to 8 minutes. Repeat with pineapple. In batches, grill pork over direct heat, about 1 minute per side.
  • Transfer pork to a cutting board; chop into 1/4- to 1/2-inch pieces. Add to a skillet set on grill to keep warm. Chop onion and pineapple into small pieces, add to skillet, and toss. Season with salt. Serve pork mixture with tortillas and salsa.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 515 g, Fat 22 g, Fiber 8 g, Protein 25 g, SaturatedFat 5 g

AUTHENTIC TACOS AL PASTOR



Authentic Tacos al Pastor image

Tacos al pastor is a quintessential Mexican dish, with tender pork and pineapple marinated in a savory and aromatic chile sauce. Serve with warm corn tortillas, tomatillos salsa, and lemon or lime wedges.

Provided by docmancito

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     Latin American     Mexican

Time 5h19m

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 16

1 tomato
3 dried guajillo chile peppers, seeded
2 dried ancho chile peppers, seeded
1 pineapple, sliced 3/4-inch thick
½ cup orange juice
1 onion, quartered
¼ cup white vinegar
2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
1 tablespoon salt, or to taste
2 cloves garlic, crushed
3 cloves
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2 pounds boneless pork loin, thinly sliced
½ cup chopped onion
½ cup chopped fresh cilantro

Steps:

  • Cook tomato on a ridged grill pan over medium-high heat until slightly blackened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and cool until easily handled. Peel off skin and remove seeds.
  • Bring a small pot of water to a boil. Add guajillo and ancho chile peppers; cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Drain.
  • Combine tomato flesh, softened chile peppers, 2 slices pineapple, orange juice, quartered onion, vinegar, chipotle peppers, salt, garlic, cloves, cumin seeds, and oregano in a blender; blend until smooth.
  • Arrange pork slices in a glass or ceramic baking dish. Pour blended mixture over pork, ensuring all sides are evenly coated. Cover baking dish with plastic wrap.
  • Marinate pork in the refrigerator, 4 hours to overnight.
  • Cook remaining pineapple slices on a ridged grill pan over medium-high heat until slightly blackened and soft, about 5 minutes per side. Chop into small pieces.
  • Wipe out grill pan and preheat over medium-high heat. Cook marinated pork in the hot pan, turning once, until browned, 4 to 5 minutes.
  • Chop pork coarsely into small pieces against the grain. Serve with pineapple, chopped onion, and cilantro.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 204.3 calories, Carbohydrate 23 g, Cholesterol 43.5 mg, Fat 5.6 g, Fiber 3.1 g, Protein 16.9 g, SaturatedFat 1.9 g, Sodium 748.1 mg, Sugar 15.9 g

Tips:

  • Pork Shoulder: For a more authentic al pastor experience, use pork shoulder instead of pork loin. The shoulder cut has more marbling and connective tissue, which results in a more flavorful and tender taco.
  • Achiote Paste: If you can't find achiote paste, you can make your own by blending annatto seeds with a little bit of oil and vinegar.
  • Pineapple: Use fresh pineapple for the best flavor. If you only have canned pineapple, be sure to drain it well and pat it dry before using.
  • Marinade: Make sure to let the pork marinate for at least 4 hours, or overnight if possible. This will allow the flavors to penetrate the meat and make it more tender.
  • Grilling: When grilling the pork, be sure to cook it over medium heat so that it has a chance to caramelize and develop flavor. Also, don't overcrowd the grill, or the pork will not cook evenly.
  • Serving: Serve the tacos with your favorite toppings, such as salsa, guacamole, sour cream, and cilantro. You can also add a side of rice and beans for a complete meal.

Conclusion:

These grilled pork tacos al pastor are a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a party or a weeknight meal. The pork is marinated in a flavorful achiote paste and then grilled to perfection. The tacos are then served with your favorite toppings. Give this recipe a try and you'll be sure to impress your friends and family.

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