Jalapeno – …½ a (finely) diced jalapeno, plus….Onion – ½ of a (finely) diced onion, plus….Tortillas – these tacos al pastor are served on mini corn tortillas, but use whichever tortillas you love best!.The butter really helps to achieve that crispy texture – don’t skip it! Ghee, Butter, or Avocado Oil – we pour a bit of butter (ghee or avocado oil work too!) over the cooked pork before popping it in the oven for a good crisp.Pineapple – we love to crisp the cooked pork in the oven with some extra pineapple! You’ll need about a cup of diced pineapple for this.

You’ll need 4 peppers in adobo – guajillo peppers are our first choice, but chipotle peppers are a great sub! For these reasons, we tend to grab canned peppers. Guajillo Peppers in Adobo – traditionally, dried chili peppers are used in the tacos al pastor marinade, but we’ve found that they can be too hard to get your hands on (many stores don’t carry them), they're a bit difficult to use (you have to go through the process of re-hydrating them), and you’re left with a bunch of leftover chilis when its all said and done.Sea Salt – 1 tablespoon of salt get added to the mix!.Orange Juice – orange juice really helps to break down and tenderize the pork and adds to the amazing flavor! You’ll need 1 cup of freshly squeezed orange juice for this marinade.Garlic – garlic makes everything better, am I right? 4 cloves get blended up!.

Oregano + Chili Powder – these classic spices used in Mexican fare are a must!.

Pineapple – …as does ½ (about 2 cups) of a pineapple!.

White Onion – ½ of a white onion gets blended into our al pastor marinade….

Pork Shoulder – we’ll use a 4-5 pound pork shoulder for our tacos! Unless you’re feeding a crowd, 5 pounds of meat = leftovers…leftover tacos al pastor is a beautiful thing!.You’ll need a few ingredients for the pork marinade, and a few ingredients for the tacos themselves! For the Pork: Add pineapples and, VOILA!, you’ve got the most scrumptious, spicy (but not too spicy), tangy (thanks, pineapple!) tacos known to mankind (or at least to me!) Al Pastor Taco Ingredients Why? Pork shoulder, marinated in a special chili marinade, makes for the most delicious, flavorful, crispy-on-the-outside, but juicy-on-the-inside taco filler. SO, what's up with these tiny tacos? Here's the scoop: they're usually made with pork shoulder, but can occasionally be found with pork tenderloin instead. What are Tacos Al Pastor? What Meat Does Tacos Al Pastor Have? Snooping what plates hit neighboring tables is how I've discovered so many of my favorite meals! Tacos al Pastor included. Watching you eat would be weird …but drooling over your untouched choices is a little less weird. If you're proud of your order, maybe you lean back a bit so others can really take it in.īUT, as soon as someone picks up a fork, I avert my eyes. We all avoid eye contact, but we know what's happening. I will lean way, way back to get a glance at what everyone ordered at your table. I'm one of those people who will shamelessly STARE DOWN plates as they walk by. Then, one day, I saw a waiter walk out of the kitchen carrying a plate with 4 tiny tacos that were stuffed with (what looked like) crispy pork, cilantro, and a bit of pineapple. Before they were in regular rotation in my life, I glazed over their presence on menus for YEARS. Tacos al Pastor …do they need an introduction? Once upon a time, I needed an introduction to their (magical) secrets. These Tacos al Pastor are a convenient spin on a traditional dish native to Central Mexico! With a fresh pineapple-centered marinade, crispy finish, and fresh cilantro relish, these tacos are a great meal for a family night in or your next hosted party.

Taco al pastor