Ingredients
- 3 pounds pork shoulder or butt sirloin cutlets or butterfly chops, cut into 1/2-inch slices
- 3 cups achiote adobo marinade
- Half of a pineapple peeled, cut into 1/2-inch slices
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil divided
- To taste kosher or coarse sea salt
- 12 to 14 corn tortillas (or flour tortillas to make them “gringas” style)
- Shredded queso asadero, Mexican Oaxaca or Chihuahua or mozzarella, Monterey Jack, or any melty cheese of your choice (optional, for making them “gringas” style)
- 1 cup cilantro roughly chopped, to garnish
- 1 cup white onion roughly chopped, to garnish
- 2 limes cut into quarters, to garnish
- Serve with a salsa of your choice
To Prepare
- Marinate the meat in the adobo marinade for at least 3 hours, or up to 48 hours, in the refrigerator. Reserve 3/4 cup of marinade to brush on the pineapple before grilling/cooking and to finish off meat.
- When ready to make tacos, remove the meat from the refrigerator. Brush some of the reserved marinade on the pineapple slices. Reserve the remaining marinade.
- Heat a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add a tablespoon of oil. Place as many pineapple slices as will fit on the skillet and sear for about 3 minutes per side, until juicy and lightly charred on both sides. Remove from heat. When cool enough to handle, cut the pineapple into thin slices about 1 to 2-inches long and 1/4-inch wide, removing the core. Place in a bowl and cover.
- Drizzle another tablespoon of oil onto the skillet. Lightly sprinkle the meat with salt to taste. Sear as many slices of meat as will fit in the pan, without over crowding, for about 2 minutes per side until browned on both sides. Cook in batches if necessary. Place the meat on a chopping board. Cut it crosswise into thin slices about 1/4-inch thick and 1-inch wide.
- Once done with all the meat, reduce the heat to medium, place the meat back in the skillet and pour the rest of the unused marinade on top. Stir and cook for another minute. Cover and set on the table.
- On a pre-heated cast iron skillet or comal set over medium heat, heat the corn tortillas 1 to 2 minutes per side until thoroughly cooked, lightly browned and crisp on the outside. Place them in a tortilla warmer and bring to the table along with the meat, pineapple, chopped cilantro, chopped onion, lime wedges, and salsa of your choice. Let everyone assemble their own tacos.
- Note: If you want to offer some “gringas,” heat flour tortillas on the comal and, once hot, add the melty cheese, fold, and let it melt as if it were a quesadilla. Once melted, re-open the tortilla, add a generous tablespoon or two of the sliced meat, fold again and serve.
Comments
43comments inTacos al Pastor
Nicole
Mar 09
I am a Culinary Arts teacher and my students get to make these each year and they love them! Thank-you fpr sharing such a delicious recipe!
Pati Jinich
Mar 09
Yay, so happy to hear, my pleasure Nicole!
John langer
Aug 15
Such a great recipe. Love pastor tacos.
Pati Jinich
Sep 04
Glad you like it John 🙂
Linda Hall
Feb 17
Made this tonight. I cut up a few nice pork chops, and marinated overnight. (Ordered Achiote paste from Amazon).
THe grilled pineapple in the TACO was THE BOMB….added much needed sweetness to to spicy sauce. I did it burrito style. I will try it gringo style tomorrow! 😉
For some reason my comments are not being submitted
Pati Jinich
Mar 08
So glad you liked this recipe Linda, the pineapple in Tacos al Pastor is also my favorite!
Melissa Lombardo
Feb 14
I made these for my bf today for valentine’s day (i made heart shaped tostadas too) and he LOVED it! Great recipe thank u so much! I always watch the show and wonder how everything tastes bcuz it looks so good and this did not disappoint!
Pati Jinich
Feb 16
So glad you and your boyfriend enjoyed my take on Tacos al Pastor Melissa, yay!
Jennifer Barnstien
Jul 03
Love this. I am going to use it in the slow cooker. I hope it works out!
Pati Jinich
Jul 04
Let me know Jennifer 😉
Veronica
Dec 24
These were amazing! You’re cookbook and blog recipes have saved me since my family loves authentic Mexican food and there’s no good options around me. Thank you!
Pati Jinich
Jan 06
SO delighted to read this Veronica, thanks so much! Keep cooking and having fun 😉
Maggie
Nov 15
Love tacos al pastor Pati. Can’t wait to make tacos bravos really soon. ❤
Pati Jinich
Nov 22
Great Maggie, enjoy them!
Elizabeth
Oct 09
Hi Pati!
I have to tell you that I think you are absolutely gorgeous! I love your style, dishes, and decor! My family moved from California to Indiana, and unfortunately, I cannot find authentic Mexican food like I had in California. But, your show and your recipes give me the authentic Mexican dishes we are always searching for at home. Thank you for your show and recipes ❤️
Pati Jinich
Oct 27
Thanks so much for your kindness Elizabeth, un abrazo a Indiana 😉
Sally
Aug 15
Pati, you have revived my love of cooking. I’ve been pretty worn down by the pandemic and cooking every night. But now when it’s time to make supper I turn on your show and have some fun. I love Mexico and even though my husband says we don’t need to go again, I am going, no matter what. Anyway making your tacos AL Pastor tonight.
Pati Jinich
Aug 18
Thanks for the sweet words Sally, so glad you are cooking more and enjoying it 😉 Stay strong, these are difficult times for all, but I know we will be OK. Big hug to you!
Natalia Radicevich
May 07
Delicious…I love your show and i think your a phenomenal cook…. I’ve been in the Food world my whole life and my family has owned a restaurant since 1971 and I enjoy good food good cooking but especially enjoy your show because of your family orientation values principles and Your love of cooking is which I come from… However I am not Mexican I’m actually Serbian I enjoy the cooking Viva la Patti Jinich!
Pati Jinich
May 11
Hi Natalia, thanks for your kind message! This is another thing I love about cooking, it brings us all together, right? It doesn’t matter where we come from, we all love to cook and eat 🙂
Ed Naimon
Mar 26
Hola, Pati.
I’m tempted to try a variation on this. I’m thinking of making the marinade per recipe, but I would then slow cook the pork shoulder (which as been cubed) at a low temperature for several hours. What do you think of this? Please advise. Gracias.
Pati Jinich
Mar 26
This is a great idea Ed! If you try it, let me know how it comes out 😉
Jane Garner
Mar 14
Where is the recipe for the cheese tomato topping? I saw you make it on your show last week, March 2019, ?(rerun). I want the amount of cheese to add to the one pound of Roma tomatoes.
Thanks.
Pati Jinich
Mar 28
Hi Jane! You can find all of the recipes from my show here: http://patijinich.com/pati_2020/show/ Enjoy!
Venus
Jul 26
Hi Jane, The recipe you are looking for is included in Tacos de Canasta – Season 4 Episode 3. Looks good!
Pete cruz
Mar 05
How do you make the marinade, gracias
Pati
Mar 06
Here’s the recipe for the marinade, Pete: http://patijinich.com/pati_2020/recipe/achiote-adobo-marinade-2/ Enjoy!
Anonymous
Jan 13
Que grato encontrar por la tv. Una persona como tu. Con tanta facilidad hace toda clase de platillos, sopas , postres etc. Realmente una Maestra de la cocina. Muchas gracias. Vivo en Houston Tx .
Pati
Jan 18
Mil gracias!
Susan Peti-Bradley
Oct 05
This year at the Kansas State Fair the booth for Guadalupe made these and they were Fantastic
Pati
Oct 06
Oh sounds like you had a great (and yummy) time at the Kansas State Fair, Susan!
S. Perez
Sep 01
I’m not really using this recipe but I was inspired by some of your past recipes with pork and I made something similar with : pork shoulder, achiote paste, piña juice, garlic, soy sauce, vingar,salt,pepper,orgegano, cumin,marjoram. I hope it turns out well 🙂
Pati
Sep 10
I’m glad you were inspired, S.!
Irene G
Jul 17
Hello Pati,
Could you freeze the Pork with the marinade?
Pati
Jul 20
Yes you can, Irene! Freeze the pork and marinade uncooked.
Gemma
Jul 15
Hola Pati, gracias por tu receta, nos han quedado unos tacos al pastor buenisimos
Gemma, una espanola desde Seattle
Pati
Jul 16
Super, Gemma!
Susan
Apr 16
I made these this weekend for my fiance and all his co-workers on their last day of work at our local ski resort. They were a HIT!!! The flavors of the achiote paste with the citrus and guajillos were amaaazing. And it was so easy! Thanks Pati!
Pati
Apr 17
So happy to hear they were a hit, Susan!
Renee
Apr 05
Pati, I just love your style and am captivated by your shows.
I just made the marinade after I finally found the achiote paste at a marvelous Mexican grocery nearby.
I plan on taking the marinated meat to my son’s so he can barbecue it – have you ever done this before?
Pati
Apr 06
I typically use a skillet but it will be great on the grill.
Stephanie
Jan 09
Thank you! I saw this episode on Saturday and tried it today. So delicious! I made the tomatillo salsa too (and plan on making another batch to freeze tomorrow).
Pati
Jan 10
Awesome!