Tacos Al Pastor (Marinated, Spit-Roasted Tacos)

Name: Tacos Al Pastor (Marinated, Spit-Roasted Tacos)
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 2 pounds pork butt roast, sliced into very thin steaks; ¼ cup fresh lime juice; ¾ teaspoon salt; ¼ medium medium onion, plus 1 cup chopped; 2 cloves large cloves garlic, unpeeled; ½ bar achiote paste; ¼ cup apple cider vinegar; ½ teaspoon whole cumin seed, toasted; 2 tablespoons raw unsalted peanuts, toasted; 1 leaf small fresh Mexican bay leaf; 1 piece cinnamon stick; 2 whole cloves; 2 whole allspice berries; 2 cups chopped fresh pineapple; 5 whole limes, cut into wedges; 1 cup Salsa of choice; 1 cup chopped fresh cilantro; 1 cup chopped onion; 2 tablespoons Lard or vegetable oil; 24 pieces corn tortillas

Traditional Mexican tacos al pastor featuring thinly sliced pork marinated in a flavorful blend of achiote paste, spices, and pineapple. The meat is cooked until charred and served with fresh garnishes in corn tortillas.

6 servings

1 hr 36 min

Published October 4, 2025

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Ingredients

•2 pounds pork butt roast, sliced into very thin steaks
•¼ cup fresh lime juice
•¾ teaspoon salt
•¼ medium medium onion, plus 1 cup chopped
•2 cloves large cloves garlic, unpeeled
•½ bar achiote paste
•¼ cup apple cider vinegar
•½ teaspoon whole cumin seed, toasted
•2 tablespoons raw unsalted peanuts, toasted
•1 leaf small fresh Mexican bay leaf
•1 piece cinnamon stick
•2 whole cloves
•2 whole allspice berries
•2 cups chopped fresh pineapple
•5 whole limes, cut into wedges
•1 cup Salsa of choice
•1 cup chopped fresh cilantro
•1 cup chopped onion
•2 tablespoons Lard or vegetable oil
•24 pieces corn tortillas

Cooking Instructions

1.
The day before you plan to eat, place the pork in a large bowl and toss with the lime juice and salt. Heat a comal or nonstick skillet to medium-high heat. Add the onion wedge and garlic, placing the garlic near the edge, away from direct heat. Cook until soft and blackened in spots, turning occasionally, about 7 minutes. Peel the garlic and place both items in a blender jar. Crumble the achiote paste into the blender and add the vinegar, cumin seed, peanuts and bay leaf along with the cinnamon stick, cloves and allspice. Blend until smooth. Pour the marinade over the meat and toss to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 24 hours.
20 min
2.
The next day, prepare the garnishes: Chop the pineapple, slice the limes into wedges, prepare the salsa, and chop the cilantro and onion.
15 min
3.
Heat a large heavy skillet to high heat and add 1 teaspoon lard. When smoking, add one piece of marinated steak. The meat should sizzle and smoke, so make sure you have a working fan and vent on your stove. Cook until the meat starts to release its juices and lighten slightly in color, 2 to 3 minutes, then flip and cook 2 to 3 minutes more. Both sides should have dark-brown charred spots; if they don't, raise the heat higher.
6 min
4.
Transfer to a cutting board and repeat with the remaining steaks, scraping the pan well to remove any burned bits between frying.
30 min
5.
Scrape out the pan once more and cook the pineapple until soft and charred in spots. Remove to a bowl.
10 min
6.
Warm the corn tortillas on a comal or nonstick skillet and place in a dishcloth to keep warm. Chop the meat into small pieces. Serve on a platter and let guests feed themselves, passing the tortillas and garnishes.
15 min

Ingredients

•2 pounds pork butt roast, sliced into very thin steaks

•¼ cup fresh lime juice

•¾ teaspoon salt

•¼ medium medium onion, plus 1 cup chopped

•2 cloves large cloves garlic, unpeeled

•½ bar achiote paste

•¼ cup apple cider vinegar

•½ teaspoon whole cumin seed, toasted

•2 tablespoons raw unsalted peanuts, toasted

•1 leaf small fresh Mexican bay leaf

•1 piece cinnamon stick

•2 whole cloves

•2 whole allspice berries

•2 cups chopped fresh pineapple

•5 whole limes, cut into wedges

•1 cup Salsa of choice

•1 cup chopped fresh cilantro

•1 cup chopped onion

•2 tablespoons Lard or vegetable oil

•24 pieces corn tortillas

Cooking Instructions

The day before you plan to eat, place the pork in a large bowl and toss with the lime juice and salt. Heat a comal or nonstick skillet to medium-high heat. Add the onion wedge and garlic, placing the garlic near the edge, away from direct heat. Cook until soft and blackened in spots, turning occasionally, about 7 minutes. Peel the garlic and place both items in a blender jar. Crumble the achiote paste into the blender and add the vinegar, cumin seed, peanuts and bay leaf along with the cinnamon stick, cloves and allspice. Blend until smooth. Pour the marinade over the meat and toss to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 24 hours.

20 min

The next day, prepare the garnishes: Chop the pineapple, slice the limes into wedges, prepare the salsa, and chop the cilantro and onion.

15 min

Heat a large heavy skillet to high heat and add 1 teaspoon lard. When smoking, add one piece of marinated steak. The meat should sizzle and smoke, so make sure you have a working fan and vent on your stove. Cook until the meat starts to release its juices and lighten slightly in color, 2 to 3 minutes, then flip and cook 2 to 3 minutes more. Both sides should have dark-brown charred spots; if they don't, raise the heat higher.

6 min

Transfer to a cutting board and repeat with the remaining steaks, scraping the pan well to remove any burned bits between frying.

30 min

Scrape out the pan once more and cook the pineapple until soft and charred in spots. Remove to a bowl.

10 min

Warm the corn tortillas on a comal or nonstick skillet and place in a dishcloth to keep warm. Chop the meat into small pieces. Serve on a platter and let guests feed themselves, passing the tortillas and garnishes.

15 min