Tacos al Pastor (Pork and Pineapple Tacos)
Red chilli marinated pork roasted until charred, served with sweet pineapple in corn tortillas and a fiery salsa.
Made with Salsa taquera (roasted chile de arbol salsa) and Corn tortillas from masa harina and Al pastor marinade. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time1 hr plus marinating
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £3.30 a head
- Oven240°C (220°C fan)
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Put the pork slices in a bowl with your ready made al pastor marinade (see the base recipe). Rub in well, cover and chill for at least 4 hours, or overnight.
240 min - 2
Heat the oven to 240°C (220°C fan) and put a rack over a roasting tin. Lay the pork slices on the rack in one layer, overlapping a little. Keep the raw marinade away from the cooked food.
- 3
Roast the pork for 20 to 25 minutes, turning once, until the edges are charred and the meat is cooked through with no pink. Add the pineapple wedges for the last 8 minutes.
25 min - 4
Rest the pork for 5 minutes, then chop into small pieces and keep warm.
5 min - 5
Warm the ready made corn tortillas (see the base recipe) in a dry pan for 20 seconds each side.
- 6
Fill with pork and pineapple, onion and coriander. Serve with lime wedges and your ready made salsa taquera (see the base recipe) on the side.
Tips
- Slice the pork thinly. Thin slices char at the edges while staying juicy, similar to meat shaved from a spit.
- For extra char, finish the pork under a hot grill for the last 3 minutes.
- Salsa taquera is hot. Let each person add their own.
- Always discard leftover raw marinade. Do not use it as a sauce.
Storing and freezing
Keep cooked pork in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheat until steaming hot all the way through. Freeze cooked pork for up to 2 months.
Questions
Do I need a spit to make tacos al pastor?
No. Thin slices roasted on a rack at high heat or cooked on a hot griddle give a very similar result at home.
Where does al pastor come from?
It is a Mexico City street food that developed from shawarma brought by Lebanese immigrants, adapted with local chillies, achiote and pineapple.
Are these tacos gluten free?
Yes, with corn tortillas. Check the label on any achiote paste, as some contain wheat.
More made with salsa taquera (roasted chile de arbol salsa)
Aguachile Rojo de Camarón (Red Chilli Prawn Aguachile)
GFDFEFMulitas de Carne Asada (Steak and Cheese Corn Tortilla Sandwiches)
NFEFEmpanadas de Frijol y Queso (Fried Masa Turnovers)
GFEFNFMulitas de Barbacoa (Sonoran Style Beef and Cheese Sandwiches)
EFNFSee every dish made with salsa taquera (roasted chile de arbol salsa)
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.