Authentic Mexican Al Pastor

Tantalize your taste buds with this vibrant and flavorful recipe for Mexican Al Pastor. Perfect for a festive taco night or a delightful outdoor barbecue, this dish is steeped in tradition and packed with spices that bring out the succulence of pork in every bite.

Ingredients:

🐖 2 lb pork meat (thinly sliced)
🍊 1 cup orange juice
🌶️ 100g annatto paste
🖤 1 tsp black pepper
🧄 1 tsp garlic powder
🧅 1 tsp onion powder
🌿 1/4 tsp cinnamon
🧂 1 tsp salt
🥄 1/4 tsp cumin

Equipment:

• Oven
• Baking sheet
• Mixing bowl
• Whisk or fork (or blender)
• Cooking oil spray or brush
• Meat thermometer

Prep Time: 45 minutes (includes marinating)
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: Serves 4-6 people

Instructions:

1. Begin by creating the marinade. In a mixing bowl, combine the annatto paste, orange juice, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, cinnamon, salt, and cumin. Whisk together until the annatto paste is fully dissolved and a uniform marinade is formed. For an even smoother mixture, you can opt to blend all the ingredients until well combined.
2. Slice your pork meat into very thin pieces to ensure the flavors penetrate thoroughly and the meat cooks evenly.
3. Place the sliced pork into the bowl and ensure each piece is generously coated with the marinade. Let it marinate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld; however, for the best flavor, marinate overnight in the refrigerator. If you can, transfer the meat and marinade into a resealable plastic bag to save space.
4. Preheat the oven to the broil setting. Lightly oil a baking sheet with cooking spray or with a brush to prevent sticking.
5. Arrange the marinated pork slices in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
6. Place the baking sheet on the top rack of the oven and broil for 15 minutes. After the first 15 minutes, stir or turn the pork slices over to ensure even cooking and broil for another 15 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the pork reaches 145°F (63°C).
7. Remove from the oven and allow it to rest for a few minutes before slicing it into smaller pieces if desired.

Cooking Tips:

• Al Pastor meat is versatile and can be enjoyed in various dishes such as tacos, sandwiches, lettuce wraps, or even as a pizza topping.
• Marinating overnight intensifies the flavors beautifully, so plan accordingly if you have the time.
• Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for a few days or frozen for future use.

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Mexican Al Pastor