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three vegan al pastor tacos
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Cauliflower Vegan Al Pastor Tacos

Sweet, tangy al pastor sauce cooked with cauliflower for an easy and delicious vegan taco! A perfect option for Taco Tuesday’s or Meatless Monday's!
Prep Time10 minutes
35 minutes
Total Time45 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: al pastor, cauliflower, mexican, pineapple, tacos, vegan
Servings: 6 tacos
Calories: 104kcal
Author: Elise Shivamber

Ingredients

  • 1 Head Cauliflower
  • 6 Corn Tortillas

Vegan Al Pastor Sauce

  • 5 Dried California Chiles
  • 1 Cup Diced Fresh Pineapple
  • 1 tablespoon White Wine Vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon White Sesame Seeds
  • ¼ teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
  • 2 Cloves Garlic
  • 1 teaspoon Dried Oregano
  • 2 Cloves
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • ¼ Cup Water

Instructions

  • Pre-heat the oven to 450ºF.
  • Cut the cauliflower by removing the leaves, cutting the head in half and cutting off the core. Pull apart the cauliflower florets and place into a large bowl.
  • Blend all al pastor sauce ingredients together until smooth.
  • Pour the al pastor sauce over the cauliflower florets. Mix together in the large bowl until cauliflower florets are entirely covered with the sauce.
  • Place the sauce-covered cauliflower florets onto a lined cookie sheet / baking tray. Make sure to spread the cauliflower florets evenly on the tray.
  • Roast the cauliflower for 25-minutes.
  • After the cauliflower roasts for 25-minutes, turn on the oven to broil for a final 5-minutes. Remove from the oven.

Assemble the Tacos Al Pastor

  • Heat the corn tortillas. I prefer to heat the tortillas directly over an open flame until charred on both sides (about 1-minute each side). Other options: place a stack of tortillas in aluminum foil in the oven until warmed (about 3-5 minutes) or toast individually in a skillet on the stovetop until warmed (about 3-5 minutes).
  • Add a few spoonfuls of cauliflower al pastor into the corn tortillas.
  • Top with salsa, avocado, jalapeños, or coleslaw.

Notes

CALIFORNIA CHILES. California chiles are mild, dried Anaheim chiles. A substitute is New Mexican chiles (a little more spicy). For a spicier al pastor, you can substitute for dried guajillo chiles.
PINEAPPLE. This is what makes al pastor what it is. You need pineapple to balance out the chiles and add a beautiful sweetness. I purchased pre-cut pineapple chunks, but you can also use fresh pineapple and dice it into chunks.
SPICES. Oregano, cinnamon and salt add a sweet and savory seasoning to this al pastor sauce. If you want to experiment, you can also add a pinch of ground ginger. If you can't find oregano, substitute for dried basil.
GARLIC. Feel free to omit if you're not a fan.
WATER. If your blender has a tough time blending the sauce, add an extra tablespoon of water.

Nutrition

Calories: 104kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 430mg | Potassium: 377mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 17IU | Vitamin C: 60mg | Calcium: 62mg | Iron: 1mg