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Tacos al Pastor
Photo: Susan Flores / Pexels

60 MIN · STOVETOP

Tacos al Pastor

Chilli-marinated pork with charred pineapple in corn tortillas.

dairy-freegluten-freeporktacolatin-americandinner

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 lbpork shoulder, sliced thinly
  • 4guajillo chillies, stemmed and deseeded
  • 2ancho chillies, stemmed and deseeded
  • 2 tbspachiote paste
  • 3 tbspwhite vinegar
  • 4 clovegarlic
  • 1 tspground cumin
  • 1 tspdried oregano, Mexican oregano if you have it
  • 10 1/2 ozpineapple, peeled, cut into thick rings
  • 12corn tortillas
  • 1white onion, finely diced
  • 3/4 ozcoriander, leaves picked and chopped
  • 2limes, cut into wedges
  • 1 1/2 tspsea salt
  • 2 tbspvegetable oil

Method

  1. 1

    Toast the guajillo and ancho chillies in a dry pan for 30 seconds a side until they smell sweet, then cover with just-boiled water and leave for 15 minutes until pliable.

  2. 2

    Drain the chillies and blend them with the achiote paste, vinegar, garlic, cumin, oregano, salt and 100 ml of the soaking water until completely smooth.

  3. 3

    Turn the sliced pork through the marinade until every piece is coated deep red, then leave for at least 30 minutes. Overnight in the fridge is better.

  4. 4

    Get a heavy pan very hot with the oil. Cook the pork in a single layer for 3 to 4 minutes a side without moving it, so the marinade caramelises. Char the pineapple rings in the same pan, then chop both into small pieces.

  5. 5

    Heat the tortillas directly over a gas flame or in a dry pan for 20 seconds a side, until soft and just blistered. Stack them in a clean tea towel to steam.

  6. 6

    Pile pork and pineapple onto each tortilla and top with the diced onion and coriander. Serve with lime wedges to squeeze over.

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