Tender Tacos al Pastor Recipe

Tender Tacos al Pastor Recipe

  • 1 tomato
  • 3 dried guajillo chile peppers, seeded
  • 2 dried ancho chile peppers, seeded
  • 1 pineapple, sliced 3/4-inch thick
  • 1/2 cup orange juice
  • 1 onion, quartered
  • 1/4 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
  • 1 (2 pound) pork tenderloin, cut into thin slices
  • To Serve:
  • 1/2 cup chopped onion
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  1. 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.
  2. Bring a small pot of water to a boil. Add guajillo and ancho chile peppers; cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Drain.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. Marinate pork in the refrigerator, 4 hours to overnight.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. Chop pork coarsely into small pieces against the grain. Serve with pineapple, chopped onion, and cilantro.