Colm O'Gorman's Sunday Roast: Mexico and the Middle East meet in this Pork al Pastor

"...slices of pork are marinated in spices and pineapple and then grilled on a vertical spit, before being sliced thinly and served in soft corn tortillas with sauces and relish..."

Fri, 28 Apr, 2023 - 02:00

Colm O’Gorman

This week’s Sunday Roast recipe draws inspiration from Mexico, or to be precise from a Mexican dish that itself draws inspiration from Lebanon. Tacos al Pastor were invented in the early 1900s following the arrival of Lebanese immigrants to Mexico.

The dish uses the same technique to cook the meat as a shawarma; slices of pork are marinated in spices and pineapple and then grilled on a vertical spit, before being sliced thinly and served in soft corn tortillas with sauces and relish. They are delicious, a real favourite of mine, and I love them even more as an example of how food styles and flavours travel and influence the creation of new dishes in new countries.