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american lamb tacos al pastor
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American Lamb Tacos Al Pastor

Try my edited version of the Classic Tacos Al Pastor with Lamb meat instead. Juicy, tangy and perfect for tacos!
Prep Time4 hours 15 minutes
Cook Time3 hours
Resting Time30 minutes
Total Time7 hours 45 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Servings: 8 people
Author: Derek Wolf

Ingredients

  • 6 lbs of Sliced American Lamb Leg 1/4” thick
  • 1 whole pineapple
  • Sliced crown & base off
  • 4 half slices
  • Rest is diced
  • 1/2 cup of diced white onion
  • 1/4 cup of chopped garlic cloves
  • 1/2 cup pineapple juice
  • 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons achiote paste
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp of cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 4 guajillo chiles—seeded & cut into 2in pieces
  • Cilantro chopped for serving
  • Lime wedges for serving
  • Corn Tortillas warm
  • Olive oil
  • Sea salt

Instructions

  • In a cast iron skillet, add some olive oil & chopped garlic and let cook for 2 minutes. Then add cumin, oregano, black pepper, & cinnamon and cook for 1 minute. Stir in guajillo chiles, pineapple juice, white vinegar & achiote paste and cook till it bubbles. Pull from heat & let cool.
  • Using a blender, add marinade from above & blend until liquified. Pour marinade into a tin dish, add sliced lamb leg, mix around thoroughly, season with salt & let marinade for 4 to 12 hours.
  • Using a charcoal chimney, light a fire. Once lit, push charcoal to one side of grill for indirect grilling. Temperature in grill should be around 325F.
  • Slice 1/2 inches from the base & the crown off the pineapple. Slice 4 semi circle halves from the middle of the pineapple that are 1/2in thick. Diced the rest of the pineapple for garnish.
  • Using 2 wooden skewers, push up through the bottom of the base of the pineapple. Take out the marinating lamb leg and layer one on top of another through the skewers over the base of the pineapple until all meat is on. Once done, add the crown of the pineapple to the top & place 2-3 wooden skewers through the top for added support. Place the skewered meat in a cast iron skillet with pineapple semi-circles around for added support & flavor.
  • Place skillet with skewered meat indirectly on the grill. Close lid & cook for 3 hours or until the middle of the meat registers at 145F. Make sure to maintain even temperature inside grill & rotate meat 1 or 2 times to get even cooking.
  • Once meat is done, pull off grill & let rest for 30 minutes.
  • Slice meat vertically & place on a warm tortilla with onions, cilantro & pineapples. Enjoy!

Notes

Equipment: Grill, charcoal, roasting spit or skewer, cast iron skillet & a knife.