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The Sippin’ Chef: Tacos al Pastor + Merlot
January 15, 2023
New year, new resolution: Eat and drink more of whatever you enjoy – and if that means pairing your favorite tacos al pastor with Merlot, so be it. It’s time for another rendition of The Sippin’ Chef, where we take you into our kitchen to try to add a little something new to your culinary repertoire (or at least give you an excuse to sip some delicious wine while you poke at things in the pot). With no further ado, here’s our take on tacos al pastor + Merlot.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs pork tenderloin
Marinade
- 4 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 tsp oregano, dried
- 1/2 tsp, cumin
- 1/3 cup pineapple juice
- 1/4 cup white vinegar
- 2 tbsp achiote paste (or you can substitute harissa)
- 2 canned chipotle chile peppers (note that it’s 2 peppers and not 2 cans!)
- Salt & pepper, to taste
Fixin’s
- 6 small white corn tortillas, grilled (or heated)
- lime wedges (to squeeze over just before serving)
Salsa
- 1/2 red onion, diced
- 1 small jalapeño, seeded and diced
- 1 tomato, diced
- 3 rings of canned pineapple, diced
- handful of cilantro, chopped (fresh)
- 1/2 lime, juiced
- Salt, to taste
Steps
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Butterfly slice your pork without slicing all the way through. Open up and press flat inside a large ziploc. Set aside.
- In a medium saucepan, combine the achiote paste, spices, vinegar and pineapple juice. Bring to a boil, stirring to combine. Blend with a hand mixer or use a Food processor to mix until smooth. Let it cool completely. Pour the cooled sauce into the bag and over the pork. Seal & refrigerate for at least 1 hour (or up to 24).
- Meanwhile, prep the salsa by mixing the ingredients in a bowl. Cover and set aside.
- Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place the pork, pineapple rings and onion under the broiler (about 6 inches away from the heat). Cook until cooked through. You’ll probably want to pull the pineapple and onion out earlier or they’ll burn.
- Heat your tortilla shells, spoon in the pork, pineapple and onion. Top with salsa and spritz off with a bit of fresh lime. Voilà!
And that’s it. But be warned: Once you try this recipe, you’re done for. Don’t forget to pair these tacos al pastor with your favorite Merlot! The rich flavors of the meat couple so well with the oaky sweetness of our 2018 Merlot Reserve Mailbox. You’ve got to try it to see for yourself.
If you try it, let us know, send us a pic, tag us, whathaveyou. We’d love to hear from you!