Pork Al Pastor

Savor the bold and smoky flavors of Pork Al Pastor, a Mexican street-food favorite that's bursting with the perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and savory notes. This refined recipe features tender pork shoulder marinated in a vibrant blend of guajillo and ancho chiles, chipotle peppers in adobo, and a zesty mix of pineapple, orange, and vinegar-based juices. Grill or sear until perfectly caramelized, then pair the juicy pork with charred pineapple for a tantalizing contrast. Serve it all on warm corn tortillas, garnished with fresh cilantro, diced onion, and a squeeze of lime for an authentic taco experience. Ideal for taco nights or summer grilling, this Pork Al Pastor recipe is your gateway to bold Mexican cuisine.

Nutriscore Rating: 75/100

Prep Time:25 mins

Cook Time:60 mins

Total Time:85 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 2 pounds pork shoulder
• 4 units dried guajillo chiles
• 2 units dried ancho chiles
• 1 cup pineapple juice
• 0.25 cup white vinegar
• 0.5 cup orange juice
• 2 tablespoons chipotle peppers in adobo
• 4 units garlic cloves
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 cup fresh pineapple, thinly sliced
• 12 units corn tortillas
• 0.5 cup onion, diced
• 0.25 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• 4 units lime wedges

Directions

Step 1

Start by preparing the marinade. Remove the stems and seeds from the guajillo and ancho chiles. Soak the chiles in hot water for 10 minutes, until softened.

Step 2

In a blender, combine softened chiles, pineapple juice, white vinegar, orange juice, chipotle peppers in adobo, garlic cloves, oregano, cumin, paprika, salt, black pepper, and vegetable oil. Blend until smooth.

Step 3

Cut the pork shoulder into thin slices, about 1/4-inch thick. Place the sliced pork in a large bowl or resealable plastic bag and pour the marinade over the meat. Ensure all the meat is well-coated. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.

Step 4

Preheat your grill or skillet to medium-high heat. Cook the marinated pork slices for 3-5 minutes on each side, or until the meat is well-browned and slightly charred. Work in batches if necessary.

Step 5

While cooking the pork, grill or sear the fresh pineapple slices until lightly caramelized, about 2 minutes on each side.

Step 6

Once cooked, roughly chop the pork and the pineapple into bite-sized pieces.

Step 7

Warm the corn tortillas on the grill or a skillet for about 30 seconds per side, until soft and pliable.

Step 8

Assemble tacos by layering the chopped pork and pineapple on the tortillas. Top with diced onion, chopped cilantro, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(2493.0g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	4077.7

Total Fat 159.4g	0%
Saturated Fat 44.8g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 16.8g
Cholesterol 800.5mg	0%
Sodium 5770.4mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 396.6g	0%
Dietary Fiber 67.1g	0%
Total Sugars 78.2g
Protein 263.7g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 819.0mg	0%
Iron 29.0mg	0%
Potassium 6710.0mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 35.2%

Protein: 25.9%

Carbs: 38.9%