HORIZONTAL TACOS AL PASTOR

Horizontal Tacos al Pastor image

Provided by Jeff Mauro, host of Sandwich King

Time 2h40m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

1 cup pineapple juice
1/4 cup vegetable oil, plus more for cooking
One 1-ounce package achiote paste
1 tablespoon adobo sauce
4 chipotles in adobo sauce
1 clove garlic
Pinch kosher salt
2 pounds boneless pork butt, sliced into 1/2-inch-thick slices, then into 1/2-inch-wide strips
12 fresh 6-inch white corn tortillas
1 yellow onion, 1/4-inch dice
1 fresh pineapple, peeled, cored, 1/2-inch dice
1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves
Cotija cheese, crumbled, for serving
Salsa, for serving

Steps:

Puree 3/4 cup of the pineapple juice, the vegetable oil, achiote paste, adobo sauce, chipotles, garlic and salt in a food processor. Mix the pineapple juice mixture with the pork in a freezer bag and move around to coat. Marinate the pork in the fridge, 1 to 2 hours.
Preheat a cast-iron skillet or grill to medium-high heat. Lightly oil the skillet and add the tortillas, toasting, about 30 seconds per side. Remove the tortillas and store in a towel to keep warm.
Raise the heat under the skillet to high and add 1 tablespoon vegetable oil. Remove the pork from the bag and wipe off any excess pineapple juice mixture. Cook the pork in batches, until charred and cooked through.
Remove the pork from the skillet. Chop the meat into bite-size pieces. Add half of the onions and the fresh pineapple and quickly cook until lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Add the remaining 1/4 cup pineapple juice and the chopped pork back to the skillet with the juices.
Place the pork, pineapple and onion mixture in the tortillas. Top with the remaining onions, cilantro, cotija and salsa. Order a margarita, apply SPF 2 and take a bite.