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Pork Pastor Skewers plated over rice in blue bowl.
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3 from 5 votes

Pork Pastor Skewers

Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Paleo (if modified), Whole30 (if modified)
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Marinating2 hours
Servings: 5
Author: Alex Snodgrass

Ingredients

For the Pastor Sauce:

  • 2 cups medium-diced pineapple
  • 1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons ancho chile powder (see note)
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon fresh oregano leaves
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • ¼ cup freshly squeezed lime juice
  • ¼ cup freshly squeeze orange juice
  • ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

For the Pork:

  • 2 pounds pork tenderloin excess fat removed and cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

For the Skewers:

  • Ten 6-inch skewers (if wooden, pre-soak for 15 minutes)
  • 1 cup medium diced pineapple

For the Bowls:

  • 1 cup prepared cilantro-lime rice (sub cauliflower rice for paleo and Whole30)
  • Pickled red onions
  • Guacamole
  • Fresh cilantro leaves
  • 1 lime cut into wedges

Instructions

Marinate the Pork:

  • In a high-speed blender, combine all of the pastor sauce ingredients and blend until smooth. Reserve 1 cup of the sauce and store in the fridge until ready to use when cooking and serving the pork.
  • To a large bowl, add the cubed pork, salt, and pepper with the remaining pastor sauce. Cover and marinade in the fridge for at least 2 hours.

Assemble the Skewers:

  • Next, thread the pork and pineapple onto the skewers. Hold two skewers side by side, parallel to one another, upright and carefully thread the pork and pineapple onto the skewers. I like to do 3 to 4 cubes of pork, then a pineapple cube, then repeat. Using two skewers together makes it easier to flip and less likely to spin or slither off.

Grill the Skewers (Gas-Grill Method):

  • Heat grill over medium-high heat (350-400℉) and oil the grill grates. To do this, dip a wadded paper towel in a little avocado oil and, using tongs, wipe the oil evenly over the grate. Be careful not to use too much oil, because that's a sure fire way to start a good flare-up—a little goes a long way here.
  • Place the pork skewers directly on the preheated grill grates. Line up the skewers side by side without overlapping. Cook the pork skewers, brushing with ½ cup of the reserved sauce (saving the rest for serving) every so often, for 3 to 4 minutes. Flip the skewers and grill another 3 to 4 minutes on the other side, painting with sauce. When done, the edges will be slightly charred and the middle of the pieces should be soft, juicy, and cooked through.

Grill the Skewers (Weber XL Searwood Method): 

  • Add Mesquite pellets to the grill and preheat to 375℉ 
  • Place the pork skewers directly on the preheated grill grates. Line up the skewers side by side without overlapping. Cook the pork skewers, brushing with ½ cup of the reserved sauce (saving the rest for serving) every so often, for 3 to 4 minutes. Flip the skewers and grill another 3 to 4 minutes on the other side, painting with sauce. When done, the middle of the pieces should be soft, juicy, and cooked through. 

To Serve:

  • Serve over cilantro-lime rice and drizzle with a bit of the remaining pastor sauce. Add a scoop of guacamole alongside the skewers. Top with pickled red onions, a little cilantro and a wedge of lime!

Notes

Ancho Chile Note: Ancho chile powder packs a punch of heat. If you want milder, use 1 teaspoon.