What is Al Pastor?

Al Pastor is a popular TacOS style most commonly found in Mexico City and Cuernavaca, although they can be found elsewhere around Mexico. In the United States, Tacos Al Pastor is much harder to find, although they become more common in American cities with large Mexican populations. The method of cooking and serving the tacos al is unique in the fact that the meat is cooked on the spit and then shakes or cuts at the moment of serving. Cooking taco meat in spitting style does not normally occur outside Mexico and counter -formalization of the pineapple on the top of TACO makes the most elusive taco, which much confuse with similar but different dishes.

The way of cooking is similar to the way Gyro or Shawarma is being prepared. It is assumed that the style of Al Pastora was developed due to the influence of Lebanese immigrants into Mexico. Over time, the method of meat preparation has changed from something similar to Lebanese Shaware, which you can find today in Taco restaurants all over Central Mexico.

Unlike the Shawarma meat, which is usually lamb, al pastor is pork marinated in a mixture of vinegar, various chilli and other herbs and spices. Pork is allowed to marinate anywhere from a few hours to a few days and then folded on a vertical spit and cooks using a gas flame. There is a set recipe to create a marinade for Al Pastor meat and many restaurants protect their recipe as an important secret.

tacos al pastor is usually served with a thin slice of pineapple, along with coriander, onion and salsa. The whole pineapple usually rests at the top of the meat during the roast and then it is allowed to release bromelain, the enzyme pineapple contains which meat defines the breaking of its proteins. When the bowl is served, the pineapple slice of the pineapple and located on the Taco, where it provides a sweet and spicy accessory to the taste profile.

This meal should not be confused with Adobada which means "marinated" in SpanishNo. Adobada tacos meat is often a marinated recipe similar to the meat of Al Pastor. Adobada tacos is usually made of pork, but the meat does not boil on the spit or tacos dressed pineapple slices. These last two features identify authentic Tacos Al Pastor.