Classic Beef Tacos al Pastor
Achiote-and-chile-marinated beef seared until charred at the edges, piled onto warm corn tortillas with pineapple, onion, and cilantro.
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Ingredients
- 2 lbthin-cut beef sirloin or flank steak
- 3dried guajillo chiles, stemmed and seeded
- 2dried ancho chiles, stemmed and seeded
- 2 Tbspachiote (annatto) paste
- 1/2 cuppineapple juice
- 1/4 cupwhite vinegar
- 4 clovesgarlic
- 1 tspground cumin
- 1 tspdried oregano, preferably Mexican
- 1 tspkosher salt
- 1 cupfresh pineapple, diced small
- 12corn tortillas
- 1/2 cupwhite onion, finely diced
- 1/2 cupcilantro, chopped
- 2limes, cut into wedges
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Method
- 1
Toast the guajillo and ancho chiles in a dry skillet 30 seconds per side until fragrant, then soak in hot water 15 minutes until soft.
- 2
Blend the softened chiles with achiote paste, pineapple juice, vinegar, garlic, cumin, oregano, and salt into a smooth marinade.
- 3
Coat the beef thoroughly in the marinade and refrigerate at least 2 hours, ideally overnight.
- 4
Sear the beef in a very hot cast-iron skillet or on a grill, 2-3 minutes per side, until charred at the edges and cooked through.
- 5
Rest the beef 5 minutes, then chop into small bite-sized pieces, mixing in a handful of the diced pineapple to caramelize in the residual heat.
- 6
Warm the tortillas on a dry comal or skillet until pliable and lightly toasted.
- 7
Fill tortillas with the chopped beef, top with diced onion, cilantro, and more pineapple, and serve with lime wedges.
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