Simple Al Pastor Rice Bowls. Tacos Al Pastor is one of my favorite dishes to order from Mexican restaurants when we order out. There is so much flavor in the pork, sweet roasted pineapple, and almost no toppings. Usually just cilantro and white onion. I kept every ingredient in this recipe simple and accessible to the home cook & still absolutely delicious.
Al Pastor
Tacos Al Pastor is a Mexican recipe made with spit-grilled pork. You know those massive cones of meet you see for shawarma & gyro? Like that! Lebanese immigrants brought this style of cooking to Mexico, and al pastor was born. I tried everything under the sun to make something like a spit that you would still want to try, but I came up with what you see below. Stack your thin, sliced marinated meat tightly onto bamboo skewers and layer them on top of each other.
Now we have a spit looking log of meat that will bake through in the oven. The top will get charred and crispy, and the bottom will stay moist- so reminiscent of classic al pastor, but instead made in your oven in 20-30 minutes.
The Spices
I know not many of you will have achiote in your house, which is what gives traditional al pastor it’s vibrant red color. If you are like me and are down to try anything, order it here. Omit the paprika & use 2 tablespoons of achiote paste instead.
Marinating overnight is a must for one reason: in order to get moist, juicy thin layers while still having crisp edges, the salt needs tons of time to penetrate the meat. You CAN take the short cut by only marinating for an hour or so, but do it at your own risk!
Assembling the Rice Bowls
Serve this over brown rice with raw onion, the roasted pineapple, maybe even some avocado. You can even just use corn tortillas and have it as a taco. I personally don’t care about the vessel, I am in it for the pork. These Watermelon Feta Skewers are a perfect appetizer for this summery dish. & if you love traditional twists on Mexican dishes, I am in love with my Easy Chicken Tinga Tostadas.
When you make these Simple Al Pastor Rice Bowls, please tell me how you made it your own. Did you order the achiote? Did you use the skewers? Tell me in the comments below or tag me on Instagram @quartersoulcrisis
[kindred-recipe id=”3976″ title=”Simple Al Pastor Rice Bowls”]
leave a comment