A Complete Information Guide to Tacos al Pastor Origin – Mexican Cuisine (Mexican Street Food)

Guide to Tacos al pastor origin. Discover the history, health benefits, tips, and recipes of this delicious Mexican street food. They are perfect for any occasion, whether it’s a family dinner, a party with friends, or a quick snack on the go. Read on to know more about Tacos Al Pastor.

Everything you need to know about this delicious Mexican street food, from its history to its health benefits.

Tacos al pastor are one of the most popular and iconic dishes of Mexican cuisine. They are made with thinly sliced, marinated pork, grilled to perfection, and served with grilled pineapple, onion, cilantro, salsa, and lime juice on corn tortillas. They are juicy, crispy, spicy, sweet, and tangy all at once. They are also easy to make at home with some simple ingredients and techniques.

But where did tacos al pastor come from? How did they become so popular? What are the secrets to making them authentic and delicious? In this blog post, we will answer all these questions and more. We will explore the history, health facts, tips, and recipes of tacos al pastor, and show you how to enjoy this amazing Mexican street food in your own kitchen.

The History of Tacos al Pastor

Tacos al pastor have a fascinating origin story that involves immigration, adaptation, and innovation. The dish is based on the lamb shawarma that was brought to Mexico by Lebanese immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Shawarma is a preparation of spit-grilled meat that originated in the Ottoman Empire and spread throughout the Middle East and beyond. The Lebanese version used lamb meat seasoned with spices and served on a flour tortilla or pita bread (pan árabe).

In the 1920s, in the state of Puebla, some Mexican-born descendants of Lebanese immigrants started to experiment with the shawarma recipe and adapted it to the local ingredients and tastes. They replaced lamb with pork, which was more widely available and acceptable for Christians who had no religious dietary restrictions. They also added a marinade made with dried chilies, achiote paste, pineapple juice, vinegar, and other spices and aromatics. This gave the meat a distinctive red color and a complex flavor that balanced heat, sweetness, acidity, and earthiness.

The pork was then cooked on a vertical rotisserie called a trompo (spinning top), which was similar to the shawarma spit but smaller and more portable. The trompo was topped with an onion and a pineapple, which dripped their juices over the meat as it rotated in front of a gas fire. The outer layer of the meat got crispy and charred, while the inner layer stayed juicy and tender. The cook shaved off thin slices of the meat with a knife and caught them in a tortilla. This new creation was originally known as tacos árabes (Arab tacos), and it was a hit among the locals.

As tacos árabes moved from Puebla to Mexico City and other regions, they evolved further into tacos al pastor (shepherd-style tacos). The flour tortillas were replaced with corn tortillas, which were more common and cheaper. The onion and pineapple were chopped into small pieces and served as toppings along with cilantro, salsa, and lime juice. The marinade ingredients varied depending on the region or the cook’s preference. Some added more chilies for spiciness, some added more pineapple for sweetness, some added more vinegar for tanginess.

By the 1960s, tacos al pastor became one of the most popular street foods in Mexico City and throughout the country. They were cheap, fast, filling, and delicious. They also represented a fusion of cultures and cuisines that reflected Mexico’s diversity and identity.

Health Benefits of Tacos al Pastor

Tacos al pastor may not be very low in calories, fat, or sodium, but they do have some health benefits that make them worth enjoying in moderation. Here are some of them:

Pork is a good source of protein, which helps build and repair muscles, tissues, and organs. It also provides iron, zinc, selenium, phosphorus, vitamin B12, niacin, thiamine, riboflavin, and pantothenic acid.

Pineapple is rich in vitamin C, which boosts immunity and fights infections. It also contains bromelain, an enzyme that helps digest protein and reduce inflammation.

Onion is high in antioxidants, which protect cells from damage caused by free radicals. It also has antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties.

Cilantro is loaded with vitamin K, which helps blood clotting and bone health. It also has antibacterial, antifungal, and antiseptic effects.

Salsa is made with tomatoes, which are high in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that may lower the risk of some cancers. It also contains vitamin A, which supports vision and skin health.

Lime juice is rich in vitamin C, which boosts immunity and fights infections. It also helps balance pH levels and detoxify the body.

Is Tacos Al Pastor Healthy?

That depends on your definition of healthy, but generally speaking, tacos al pastor are not very low in calories, fat, or sodium. According to some sources, one taco al pastor can have between 150 to 339 calories, 6.8 to 15 grams of fat, and 511 to 800 milligrams of sodium . However, they also provide some protein, fiber, vitamin C, and potassium from the pork, pineapple, onion, cilantro, and salsa .

Make Tacos Al Pastor Healthy

Enjoy your tacos in moderation and balance them with other healthy foods. Here are some Tips and alterations by which you can make the tacos al pastor healthy:

• Use leaner cuts of pork, such as pork tenderloin or loin chops, and trim off any excess fat.
• Use less salt in the marinade and salsa, or use low-sodium versions of the ingredients.
  Use whole wheat or corn tortillas instead of white flour tortillas, or use lettuce leaves as a low-carb alternative.
• Add more vegetables to your tacos, such as shredded cabbage, lettuce, radishes, tomatoes, or avocado.
• Use less cheese or sour cream, or use low-fat or non-dairy versions of them.

Calories in Tacos Al Pastor

According to Nutritionix , one taco al pastor (186 grams) has 224 calories. This may vary depending on the ingredients and cooking methods you use.

Tacos Al Pastor Recipe

The Recipe for Tacos al Pastor
Now that you know the history and health benefits of tacos al pastor, you may be wondering how to make them at home. The good news is that you don’t need a trompo or a gas fire to recreate this delicious dish. You can use a grill pan, a cast iron skillet, an oven, or even a rotisserie attachment for your grill or oven. The key is to slice the pork very thinly, marinate it well, and cook it until crisp and juicy.

Here is a simple and easy recipe for tacos al pastor that you can try at home. It serves 6 people and takes about 5 hours to prepare, including 4 Hours of marinating time.

Serving Suggestions

If you want to make your tacos al pastor more fancy and impressive, you can try some of these upscaled serving suggestions:

Serve them on mini tortillas as appetizers or hors d’oeuvres for a party or a special occasion.
Add some cheese, such as queso fresco, cotija, or Monterey Jack, and melt it on top of the pork before serving.

Make a taco salad by tossing some lettuce, tomatoes, corn, black beans, and tortilla chips with a creamy cilantro dressing and topping it with the pork and pineapple mixture.

Make a taco pizza by spreading some salsa over a pizza crust and sprinkling it with cheese. Then bake it until the cheese is melted and add the pork and pineapple mixture on top. Cut into slices and serve with sour cream and guacamole.

Make a taco bowl by layering some cooked rice, beans, corn, cheese, salsa, sour cream, and guacamole in a large bowl. Then add the pork and pineapple mixture on top and garnish with cilantro and lime wedges.

Best Season to have Tacos Al Pastor

Tacos al pastor can be enjoyed all year round, but they are especially delicious in summer when fresh pineapples are in season. They are also great for outdoor grilling and picnics. So next time you wish to go out don’t forget to carry Ingredients for the Al Pastor Tacos.

Notes

Here are some notes that you may find helpful when making tacos al pastor:

• You can adjust the spiciness of the marinade by adding more or less chilies or hot sauce according to your taste.
• You can use fresh or canned pineapple for this recipe, but fresh is better as it has more flavor and juice.
• You can store the leftover pork in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days or in the freezer for up to three months. Reheat it on the stove or in the microwave before serving.

FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions about Tacos Al Pastor

Conclusion

Tacos al pastor are a delicious and satisfying Mexican street food that you can easily make at home. They are a fusion of cultures and cuisines that reflect Mexico’s diversity and identity. They are also healthy and nutritious when enjoyed in moderation and balanced with other foods. They are perfect for any occasion, whether it’s a family dinner, a party with friends, or a quick snack on the go.

We hope you enjoyed this blog post and learned something new about tacos al pastor. If you did, please share it with your friends and family who might also love this dish. And if you have any questions or comments, please leave them below. We would love to hear from you.

Thank you for reading and happy cooking!