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Flavorful Mexico City Tacos al Pastor Recipe with Pineapple Easy and Authentic

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This recipe captures the vibrant spirit of Mexico City tacos al pastor with juicy marinated pork, caramelized pineapple, and fresh cilantro wrapped in soft corn tortillas. It’s an easy and authentic way to enjoy Mexican street food at home.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pounds (900 grams) pork shoulder, thinly sliced
  • 3–4 dried guajillo chilies
  • 2 dried ancho chilies
  • 1 cup (240 ml) pineapple juice
  • 2 tablespoons white vinegar
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 cup fresh pineapple, diced
  • A handful fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 1 small white onion, finely diced
  • 12 small corn tortillas
  • Optional: lime wedges and sliced radishes

Instructions

  1. Remove stems and seeds from dried guajillo and ancho chilies. Soak in hot water for 20 minutes until softened.
  2. Drain chilies and blend with pineapple juice, white vinegar, minced garlic, ground cumin, dried oregano, ground cloves, and salt until smooth.
  3. Thinly slice pork shoulder into 1/4 inch strips. Toss pork with marinade in a large bowl, cover, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, ideally 4-6 hours.
  4. Dice fresh pineapple, chop cilantro, and dice white onion. Mix onion and cilantro in a small bowl and set aside.
  5. Heat a cast iron skillet or heavy pan over medium-high heat. Cook pork in batches for 3-4 minutes per side until edges are crispy and meat is cooked through. Remove and keep warm.
  6. In the same pan, caramelize diced pineapple for 3-5 minutes until golden.
  7. Warm corn tortillas on a dry skillet or tortilla warmer until soft and pliable.
  8. Assemble tacos by placing pork strips on tortillas, topping with caramelized pineapple and cilantro-onion mixture. Add lime juice if desired.

Notes

Marinate pork for at least 1 hour, ideally 4-6 hours for best flavor. Slice pork thinly for crispy edges. Cook pork in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan. Caramelize pineapple in the same pan to absorb pork flavors. Keep tortillas warm wrapped in a towel. Adjust chili quantity to control spice level. Use fresh pineapple for best texture and brightness.

Nutrition

Keywords: tacos al pastor, Mexican street food, pork tacos, pineapple tacos, authentic Mexican recipe, easy tacos, marinated pork, corn tortillas

Find it online: https://tomyumy.com/flavorful-mexico-city-tacos-al-pastor-recipe-with-pineapple-easy-and-authentic/