Quesadilla Al Pastor
4 quesadillas
This quesadilla al pastor recipe is the perfect appetizer for parties and game day! Flavorful al pastor meat is sandwiched with cheese between two tortillas and cooked to perfection.
Ingredients
- 8 large flour tortillas
- 3 ⅓ cups shredded cheese (such as Oaxaca, Monterey Jack, or Chihuahua cheese)
For al pastor meat
- 2 pound pork shoulder (cut into small cubes)
- 3 guajillo chilies
- 1 ancho chile (or 1 chipotle in adobo pepper)
- 1 pasilla chile (or 1 chipotle in adobo pepper)
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 ½ teaspoon oregano
- ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
- ½ teaspoon black peppercorns
- 1 bay leaf
- ½ cup pineapple juice
- 1 cup fresh pineapple (diced)
- 1 large onion (sliced)
- 3 Tablespoons olive oil (+ more to cook the quesadillas)
Instructions
Make al pastor meat
- Clean the chilies with a damp kitchen towel and remove the stems and seeds. Place in a large bowl and cover with hot water. Soak for 10 minutes.
- Drain and place chiles in a blender along with all the spices. Add ½ cup of water and the pineapple juice. Blend to make a sauce.
- Place the meat in a bowl and add the sauce. Toss to coat well.
- Cover the bowl with cling film and allow to marinate for at least 2 hours or overnight in the refrigerator.
- In a large pan heat the oil over medium-high. Add the marinated pork and cook for 5 minutes.
- Then add the onions and cook stirring constantly for about 15 minutes or until the meat is nicely cooked through.
- Stir in the diced pineapple and cook for half a minute. Turn off the heat and set aside.
Make the quesadillas
- Heat a skillet or griddle over medium heat. Brush with a bit of oil and place one tortilla on the heated skillet and sprinkle with some shredded cheese evenly over the tortilla.
- Spoon some cooked al pastor pork on top of the cheese and then sprinkle with more cheese on top.
- Place another tortilla on top to form a quesadilla.
- Cook the quesadilla for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until the tortilla turns golden brown and the cheese melts.
- Repeat this process for the remaining tortillas and ingredients.
- Once the quesadillas are cooked, remove them from the skillet and slice them into wedges or halves.
- Serve quesadillasr with your desired toppings such as salsa, guacamole, or sour cream.
Nutrition Information
Serving: 1 quesadilla al pastor | Calories: 859kcal | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 55g | Fat: 47g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 19g | Cholesterol: 166mg | Sodium: 1147mg | Potassium: 1018mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 4093IU | Vitamin C: 30mg | Calcium: 622mg | Iron: 6mg