Mexican · main
Tacos al Pastor
Tacos al Pastor reads umami 8.1, richness 6.4 and sourness 5.7 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Mexican main, about 2 hr 30 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.
The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10
- Umami & Savory — 9.3 / 10
- Sweet & Fruity — 6.5 / 10
- Sour & Bright — 7.1 / 10
- Bitter & Earthy — 2.2 / 10
- Rich & Fat — 6.5 / 10
- Aromatic & Spice — 4.3 / 10
The measured notes (of 18)
Umami 8.1 · Richness 6.4 · Sourness 5.7 · Salinity 5.2 · Sweetness 5.1 · Fruity 4.7 · Citrus 4.5 · Marine & Briny 4.0 · Herbaceous 3.5 · Allium 3.5 · Heat 3.1 · Funk & Ferment 3.0 · Warm Spice 2.0 · Earthy 1.9 · Floral 1.6 · Bitterness 1.0 · Smoke 1.0 · Nutty 0.5
What's in it (14)
- 2 lbs pork shoulder thinly sliced
- 4 dried guajillo chiles
- 2 dried ancho chiles
- 2 tbsp achiote paste
- 1/2 fresh pineapple
- 1 white onion
- 4 cloves garlic
- 3 tbsp white vinegar
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp oregano
- salt to taste
- 12 corn tortillas
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro
- 2 limes
Time & effort: about 2 hr 30 min (30 min active) · effort: involved
Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 281.7 kcal, 11 g protein, 10.6 g fat, 36.9 g carbs
Dietary: Contains meat · Contains seafood — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.
How it's cooked (3 steps)
- Blend rehydrated chiles with achiote, garlic, vinegar, cumin, and oregano into a marinade and coat the pork slices; marinate at least 4 hours.
- Stack marinated meat on a vertical spit with pineapple on top and cook until caramelized on the edges.
- Shave thin slices onto warm corn tortillas and top with diced onion, cilantro, pineapple, and lime.
Dishes with a similar flavor shape
- Sheet-Pan Tandoori Salmon and Vegetables — Indian
- Grilled Salmon with Maple Glaze — American
- Mediterranean Baked Salmon with Olives and Capers — Mediterranean
- Asian Nachos With Pecorino, Cheddar & Shrimp — Fusion
- Cajun Shrimp and Sausage Skillet — Cajun/Creole · Cajun
Keep reading: what umami, richness, sourness mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.
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Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.