Tacos al pastor are a favorite around here, and this quick version makes this delicious meal possible for a weeknight – with a little planning ahead for marination time. Traditional al pastor calls for stacking thinly sliced marinated pork shoulder onto a 'trompo,' or vertical skewer, to be grilled Shawarma style. While that is certainly an adventurous weekend project, we wanted to make al pastor a bit more accessible, because it's so delicious we want it as often as possible.

Instead of thinly sliced pork shoulder, we're using a pork secreto, and oh boy is it something special. This marbled, juicy cut earned the name "secreto" (meaning secret in Spanish) because it requires great skill to butcher properly, therefore it was often kept by the butchers due to its incredible taste & tenderness. The secreto is located between the shoulder blade and the loin – not visible to the untrained eye. This cut is best enjoyed grilled, hot and fast, which makes it excellent for al pastor. The marinade comes together quickly in the blender after boiling guajillo and ancho chiles to rehydrate them. Achiote paste gives al pastor that signature red color (from annatto seeds) and can be found at most grocery stores or online. Sweet and tangy pineapple compliments the smoky, slightly spicy flavors of al pastor perfectly, so it's in the marinade and we also grill up some pineapple to garnish the tacos with as well. It's an absolute flavor bomb. Who's hungry?? 

INGREDIENTS

• One 1915 Farm Pasture Raised Pork Secreto
• 2 dried guajillo chilis
• 1 dried ancho chili 
• 1 Tbsp achiote paste (found in Mexican section of grocery store, I get mine at HEB, the El Mexicano or El Yucateco brand. It comes in a small box)
• 1 chipotle in adobo, plus 2 tsp adobo sauce from can
• 1/4 yellow onion, plus more for garnish
• 5 cloves of garlic
• 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar 
• 8 oz. can of crushed or chopped pineapple with juice
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp cumin
• 2 tsp kosher salt
• 5-6 pineapple rings, grilled and diced, for serving 
• Warmed tortillas of your choice (white corn street taco sized is what we used here), for serving
• Salsa verde, for serving
• Yellow or white onion, finely diced, for serving
• Cilantro, finely minced, for serving
• Lime wedges

INSTRUCTIONS

Bring a small pot of water to a boil. Meanwhile, stem and seed the chilis and add them to boiling water. Continue to boil for a few minutes before turning off heat and placing lid on pot. Steam the chilis for about 10 minutes, until very soft. Remove them from water and place into large blender or food processor. 

To the same blender, add achiote paste, the canned chipotle pepper, adobo sauce, onion, garlic cloves, apple cider vinegar, canned pineapple with the juice, oregano, cumin, and salt. Blend until a pureé consistency is achieved. 

Remove pork secreto from packaging and place into a container or gallon sized bag. Pour marinade over and toss to coat completely. Marinate at least 4 hours, ideally 8 hours or overnight. 

Remove pork from the marinade, letting excess marinade drip off. Prepare pineapple rings for grilling by drying them off completely with a paper towel, then spraying or brushing with avocado oil.

Heat an outdoor grill (or cast iron skillet or griddle), to medium-high / 400°F. Grill the secreto with the fat side up for about 5 minutes until nicely seared, before flipping. Continue to cook about 5-7 more minutes on the other side, flipping more as needed, until internal temperature registers 135°F in the thickest part with a digital thermometer. Let rest for 10 minutes (carryover cooking will bring the final temp to about 140°F) before slicing against the grain, then dicing into bite sized pieces. 

Pile the al pastor onto warmed tortillas, topping with diced grilled pineapple, onion, cilantro, salsa verde, and lime wedges for squeezing. Enjoy!

We hope you love this recipe! If you’d like to share your delicious dish on Instagram, don’t forget to tag us @1915_Farm

P.S. If you can't get enough of our pasture raised pork – consider one of our new subscription boxes (ships free in TX, reduced in other states), which always allow you to add extras, like a delicious pork secreto! Choose how often you would like your subscription box delivered, add extras when you want, and pause or cancel for free anytime. We'd love to have you join the Grassroots Meat Club!