CARNITAS MEETS AL PASTOR Epic Taco Mashup
This crispy pork taco is a best of both worlds situation. You get the shredded crispy pork of carnitas and the intense sweet-savory combination of al pastor. Now that I’ve combined the two, I’m not sure I can go back.
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🔪MY GEAR:
14″ NONSTICK SAUTE PAN:
BOOS BLOCK CUTTING BOARD: D
PLASTIC CUTTING BOARD: R
ESCALI DIGITAL SCALE:
HALF SHEET PAN + RACK:
IMMERSION BLENDER: 2
6.75qt LE CREUSET DUTCH OVEN: 7
MASAHIRO CHEF’S KNIFE: m
FOOD PROCESSOR: p
QUARTER SHEET PAN + RACK: x
MY FAV STAINLESS BOWL: 6
RECIPE
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PORK:
▪3.5lb/1.5kg bone in pork butt
▪8ish TBSP/100-150g of salt
Cut 2-4 deep slashes on both sides of pork. Liberally salt all sides of pork, making sure to salt into cuts. Cure uncovered in fridge for 2-24 hours.
Place pork in large roasting vessel and roast in 250F/120C preheated oven for 6-8hrs until fork tender and bone is easily removed. Alternatively, you can pressure cook on high with 2qt/2L of stock/water for 1 hour. Allow meat to rest.
TOMATILLO SALSA:
▪450g or 1lb ripe tomatillos, halved or quartered
▪125g or about 1/2c red onion, diced small
▪50g or about 1/2c poblano pepper, diced small
▪3 garlic cloves (minced or pressed)
▪5g or 3/4-1txp salt
▪50g or 1/4c water
Place ingredients in a sauté pan over medium high. When tomatillos start to become juicy, cover, reduce heat to medium, and cook for an additional 10-15min until salsa is saucy, tender, and well broken down. Allow to cool.
TORTILLA:
▪250g or about 2c dried instant masa flour
▪3g or 1/2tsp salt
▪30g or 2Tbsp lard
▪260g or 1c water, room temp
Place all ingredients except water into a food processor. Process on high while streaming in water. When ready, dough should be able to squeeze together well without crumbling apart. Transfer to a bowl, and press tortilla dough into one mass. Cover with damp towel while you measure and press tortillas.
Preheat nonstick pan over medium high. Measure about 40g sized balls and press each out into flat rounds between parchment paper (you can use anything heavy and flat if you don’t have a tortilla press). Cook for about 30sec per side, or until set. Place in a tortilla warmer (or any container with a lid to retain heat and steam).
TO FINISH AND ASSEMBLE TACOS:
▪3-4tbsp neutral oil (for cooking pork)
▪200g or 1c diced pineapple
▪Additional garnish: minced and rinsed red onion, chopped cilantro, crumbled queso fresco (or feta if you can’t find)
Shred pork into large bitesized chunks. Add oil to large preheated pan (over high heat), followed by pineapple. Once pineapple has taken on color, add in 1/2 of shredded pork. Spread pork out and press it into pan so it takes on color and crisps up. Once crisped on one side, toss and allow to continue to crisp up. Add 175g/1c of my al pastor marinade (recipe below). Toss/stir to combine and allow marinate to reduce and caramalize meat mixture.
Add meat to fresh tortilla, top with tomatillo salsa, fresh onion, cilantro, and queso fresco crumbles.
AL PASTOR MARINADE:
▪200g or 3/4c+1tbsp water
▪30g or about 2Tbsp achiote annatto paste (or ground anatto seed if you can’t find)
▪50g or 1/4c pineapple, diced
▪50g or 2Tbsp orange juice
▪8g or 3tsp Chile powder
▪3g or 1.5tsp cumin
▪20g or 1 2/3tbsp sugar
▪3g or 1tsp garlic powder
▪5g or 3/4tsp salt
▪20g 1tbs+1tsp white distilled vinegar
Place ingredients in a high-sided container and blend with an immersion blender until smooth.
#porktacos #carnitas #alpastor
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Recipe Video:
