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A bustling street taco stand in Mexico City at sunset.

Tacos Mexico: 7 Surprising Facts You Didn’t Know About Mexican Tacos


  • Author: tom af

Description

Discover the rich history, top types, and best places to enjoy tacos Mexico. Learn how to make authentic tacos with traditional ingredients!


Ingredients

Scale

🌮 Authentic Tacos Mexico – Tacos al Pastor Recipe

📝 Ingredients

For the Meat Marinade:

  • 2 lbs pork shoulder (thinly sliced)
  • 3 dried guajillo chilies, seeded and soaked
  • 2 tbsp achiote paste
  • 1 cup pineapple juice
  • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tbsp oregano
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • 1 tbsp olive oil

For the Tacos:

  • Corn tortillas (warmed)
  • 1 cup pineapple chunks
  • ½ cup white onion, finely chopped
  • ½ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 1 lime, cut into wedges
  • Salsa roja or salsa verde (for serving)

Instructions

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. Prepare the Marinade

  1. In a blender, combine guajillo chilies, achiote paste, pineapple juice, vinegar, garlic, oregano, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper. Blend until smooth.
  2. Pour the marinade over the thinly sliced pork and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours (overnight is best).

2. Cook the Pork

  1. Heat a large skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat.
  2. Add olive oil, then cook the marinated pork in batches, ensuring a slight charred caramelization on the edges.
  3. Once cooked, remove from heat and let it rest for 5 minutes before chopping into bite-sized pieces.

3. Assemble the Tacos

  1. Warm the corn tortillas on a dry skillet until soft and pliable.
  2. Add a generous scoop of the chopped al pastor pork to each tortilla.
  3. Top with pineapple chunks, chopped onions, and fresh cilantro.
  4. Serve with lime wedges and salsa on the side.

Notes

💡 Notes & Tips

  • For extra authenticity, cook the pork on a vertical spit or grill over charcoal.
  • If you don’t have achiote paste, substitute with 1 tsp paprika + 1 tsp annatto powder.
  • Want a milder version? Reduce the number of guajillo chilies.
  • Pair it up! Serve with Mexican street corn (elote) and a cold horchata or margarita.