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All Things Considered => General Discussion--Food Related => Topic started by: LowSlowFoShow on September 03, 2017, 12:53:47 PM

Title: Al Pastor Tacos - 1st attempt
Post by: LowSlowFoShow on September 03, 2017, 12:53:47 PM
My wife and I celebrated our 10-year anniversary in Mexico last month and had some amazing al pastor tacos.  I knew without a rotating vertical cooker it wouldn't be the same but I decided to give it a go anyways.  I bought a 6.5 lb pork butt, sliced it thinly then put it in a marinade overnight.  The next day I cut up a pineapple, sweet onion and layered them using a wood skewer to hold it all together.

 [ Invalid Attachment ]

I smoked it @ 250 for 3 hours then bumped it up to 400 for the last hour.  I forgot to get a photo of the final product but it was pretty tasty. 
Title: Re: Al Pastor Tacos - 1st attempt
Post by: GREG-B on September 03, 2017, 01:03:40 PM
What held that masterpiece in a vertical position?   I've seen similar things done but it had a long bolt secured to an inverted pie plate to stabilize it.   They were trying to emulate the gyro concept.   Not unlike this I'm sure.   I woulda brought beer ya know!! [ Invalid Attachment ]
Title: Re: Al Pastor Tacos - 1st attempt
Post by: pmillen on September 03, 2017, 01:11:33 PM
(https://8mnedq-ch3301.files.1drv.com/y4mvj5ZvO-rfgsflOdst6Fru8bOJQgKzgsx_stC3vr-QMlBpK45jktGT6TM9mi6EcePfdSgEaiUSFDRMSpix98JoNQm4PXMNBZiTAlNxE6udkKUDvBoMX1TFK0YhdviW_qgNp492_JmyyutrvhEQRTxKoka3huft0nesPubJIhthvRJmm8wSP8SSQw9L65fNSopTIcBBbsMrvbUQOEh4EW6Yw?width=224&height=224&cropmode=none)
"Who is this Al Pastor I keep hearing about?"
Title: Re: Al Pastor Tacos - 1st attempt
Post by: Queball on September 03, 2017, 01:47:26 PM
This was "FMT's" version a few years back that he did on a FEPG500. Pretty nifty! Maybe he'll chime in on his technique.
Title: Re: Al Pastor Tacos - 1st attempt
Post by: Bentley on September 03, 2017, 02:34:16 PM
That is impressive, and yes, the ones in Tijuana, Rosarito and Ensenada that I have always had were cooked on a vertically heated spit, but who cares, and theirs is usually electric, so you got em with hardwood.

The only difference they might have on you is the carving off as it get done with a little of that char!

You did a Fine job!
Title: Re: Al Pastor Tacos - 1st attempt
Post by: LowSlowFoShow on September 03, 2017, 02:58:18 PM
What held that masterpiece in a vertical position?  [ Invalid Attachment ]

Gravity mostly!  I stuck a wood skewer to the bottom of the pineapple and loaded the meat / onion / pineapple on one by one.  It did fall over a few times but stayed put for the most part.  Towards the end I leaned it up against the back of the grill - next time I would start like that to avoid it toppling.
Title: Re: Al Pastor Tacos - 1st attempt
Post by: TLK on September 03, 2017, 04:27:17 PM
That looks really good!
Title: Re: Al Pastor Tacos - 1st attempt
Post by: Free Mr. Tony on September 03, 2017, 05:53:11 PM
That looks like a nice stack of pork. Those tacos make my mouth water at their very mention.

Queball, that is actually my gyro loaf. My pastor meat looked very similar to LSFS. Except he one upped me, and left the greens on.

This was mine on the 500
(https://i.imgur.com/ktELOx2l.png)
Title: Re: Al Pastor Tacos - 1st attempt
Post by: Quadman750 on September 03, 2017, 11:44:35 PM
Great idea,looks good
Title: Re: Al Pastor Tacos - 1st attempt
Post by: pz on September 04, 2017, 11:30:30 AM
I'd love to try something like a gyro stack of meat, but have not figured out a way to do it on the cookers I have. 

I've never heard of al Pastor tacos, but they sound like something I'd like.
Title: Re: Al Pastor Tacos - 1st attempt
Post by: Quadman750 on September 04, 2017, 11:34:50 AM
I think you would have to have it over a open flame or direct flame which some pellet grills have & rig up a rotisserie
Title: Re: Al Pastor Tacos - 1st attempt
Post by: Bentley on September 04, 2017, 12:09:08 PM
Cant help you with the traditional spit cooking...but the Gryo is pretty easy! 

I'd love to try something like a gyro stack of meat, but have not figured out a way to do it on the cookers I have. 

Gryo Sandwiches (https://pelletfan.com/index.php?topic=262.msg1838#msg1838)
Title: Re: Al Pastor Tacos - 1st attempt
Post by: pz on September 04, 2017, 03:41:36 PM
That looks really delicious!

Thanks for posting, Bentley  :)
Title: Re: Al Pastor Tacos - 1st attempt
Post by: DMAXNAZ on October 07, 2017, 08:42:21 PM
Looks very tasty!