Leave a comment June 11, 2017 Editor

We are on a beef kick here at Rendezvous. Our go to cut for the grill as of late has been the Tri Tip. Grilling this meat to perfection, however, requires a bit of practice. The best place to start is with a good seasoning.

RELATED: 21 Essentials for Traeger Owners: http://bit.ly/TraegerEssentials

You can’t go wrong with Traeger’s Santa Maria Tri Tip recipe.

But if you want to try your hand at rub-making, give this Mexican Dry Rub a try.

If you like it on beef, try it on chicken and pork too. We love this recipe so much, we keep a small batch of this rub mixed and ready to go in our pantry.

Pro-tip: This rub can pack a punch. If you are keeping several pre-mixed rubs on hand, a label is a must.

If you’re grilling or smoking the Tri-Tip, a good char and crust will provide lots of flavor. But this cut is very easy to overcook. When in doubt, use a meat thermometer.

RELATED: Digital Thermometers Buying Guide: http://bit.ly/BestThermometers

Here’s a helpful “how to” from Traeger on carving up your creation (once you’ve tented it, and let it rest appropriately):

How to Carve a Tri Tip by Traeger Grills

Here’s what the result should look like:

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♨️This is one awesome looking Tri Tip! So Tender and Juicy 💦💦💦. • #CertifiedGrillLover | 📹: @rendezvousbbq "🔥💨Traegered Tri Tip💨🔥Juicy, tender, and great smoky flavor. My new cimitar sliced through like buttah. Had to cut the vid short to grab some paper towels…swamped my kitchen table with steak juice. Again. Family was pleased. Plating presentation coming next. . 🎥@rendezvousbbq 🔪@dalstrong 📋@cairnswoodcraft 💨@traegergrills 🍖@costco . 1⃣ 1 hr smoke bath @ 180F. 2⃣ Turn up 350F until IT of 135F. 3⃣ Tent with foil, rest 20 mins. 4⃣ Sliced.

A post shared by Grill Lovers (@grill_lovers1) on Feb 13, 2018 at 5:00am PST

Tacos Al Pastor on the Grill

2 Comments June 11, 2017 Editor

While vacationing on Kauai a few years back, we stopped at a food truck called Al Pastor. The truck is named for the vertical rotisserie method they use to cook the pork.

The first go round, we went for the “fish taco,” which is hawked on sandwich boards all over the islands. It was grilled, a little mushy, and ultimately underwhelming. Not ones to give up, the next time we were passing by, we stopped in and ordered the truck’s eponymous dish: Tacos Al Pastor.

The three tacos were devoured in minutes, and left us wanting more. Soon we were wondering: Could we make those at home on the grill?

Related Post: 21 Essentials for Traeger and Pellet Grill Owners

Looking into vertical rotisserie grills online, we were less than impressed. Industrial-sized kitchen options abounded, but the in-home selection was a little thin — even QVC could do better. So for our first go round, we went with the bamboo skewer. But all that meat is too much for one skewer.

Doing some more browsing, we found the Brazilian Gaucho Skewer ($39.95). Made from stainless steel, it’s a durable accessory — easy to clean, and no fuss set up.

Our friend Bennie Kendrick recently gave the Trompo King a spin, and it looks like a decent (though more expensive at $79.99) option as well.

These were our results using the Super Skewer:

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Here’s the recipe we followed, enjoy from our friends at Tasty!

Here is what you’ll need!

Homemade Al Pastor
Serves 10-12

INGREDIENTS
5 pounds boneless pork shoulder
3 tablespoons achiote paste
2 tablespoons guajillo chili powder
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon oregano
1 tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon pepper
¾ cup white vinegar
1 cup pineapple juice
1 pineapple, skinned and sliced into 1-inch rounds
1 thick wooden skewer, trimmed to the height of your oven
10-12 small corn tortillas
1 white onion, chopped finely
1 cup cilantro, chopped finely
1 cup salsa of your choice

PREPARATION
Preheat oven to 350°F/180°C.
Slice the pork shoulder into about 1-cm slices, then transfer to a large dish or bowl.
In a bowl, combine the achiote powder, chili powder, garlic powder, oregano, cumin, salt, pepper, vinegar, and pineapple juice, mashing and stirring until smooth with no lumps.
Pour the marinade over the pork, then toss the pork slices to make sure that they are all coated on all sides. Wrap the dish/bowl in cling film then marinate the pork for at least 2 hours, up to 3-5 days in the refrigerator.
On a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or foil, place down a slice or two of the pineapple. Take a wooden skewer and push it directly in the middle of the pineapple.
Remove the pork from the fridge and push the slices through the skewer, layering one after the other until there is a 1-inch gap at the top. Push another pineapple slice on top.
Bake for about an hour and a half, until slightly charred on the outside and deep red.
Rest the meat for about 10 minutes, then carve off thin slices of the pork.
Slice off thin pieces of the roasted pineapples as well.
To assemble and serve, place some pork on the tortillas, followed by a few pieces of pineapple, a sprinkle of onions, a pinch of cilantro, then a small spoonful of the salsa.
Enjoy!