A seafood twist on a classic recipe, Salmon al Pastor Pineapple Burrito Bowls are prepared with the same marinade used in tacos al pastor, served with rice and lots of delicious fixings.

A closeup of the salmon showing the al pastor sauce garnished with cilantro

“Al pastor” (which translates to Shepherd Style) are slices of pork marinated in a sauce made with dried peppers and spices.

What is al pastor sauce/marinade made of?

Dried Guajillo and Ancho Chile peppers are softened, then blended with pineapple juice, vinegar, cloves, oregano, cumin and paprika.

What does al pastor sauce taste like?

A little sweet from the pineapple with a perfect balance of smokiness and mild spice from the peppers and spices.

A piece of salmon on a fork

Al pastor pork is marinated in the delicious sauce then cooked vertically. Obviously we’re not vertically cooking salmon, so roasting is the next best method.

To drive home the pineapple flavors, I like to serve with a fresh pineapple salsa. An easy shortcut for this is store bought Pico de Gallo. Just add the cubed pineapple from a can of pineapple chunks (the juice is used in the marinade).

Salmon al pastor bowl viewed from overhead

The marinade is not spicy. To add spice, add a dried chili pepper in with the other peppers or a fresh jalapeño into the blender. The range of flavors of the sauce pair so well with the salmon.

The Mexican celebration of Cinco de Mayo  is coming and this recipe could just be the perfect meal to serve. The salmon would also be tasty served inside corn tortillas – taco style.

The Mexican celebration of Cinco de Mayo  is coming and this recipe could just be the perfect meal to serve. The salmon would also be tasty served inside corn tortillas – taco style.

A filet of salmon on rice with avocado, salsa, corn and lime wedges

Salmon al Pastor Serving Suggestion:

I like to serve over rice with lots of sides like onion, avocado, salsa, pineapple, corn, cilantro and lime wedges.

More Mexican recipes:

Yield: 4

Salmon Al Pastor PIneapple Burrito Bowls

Fresh corn, avocado slices, salsa and salmon in a bowl

Fresh salmon cooked in 'al pastor' sauce serve in a bowl with rice, onion, corn, avocado and pineapple salsa

Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • For the marinade:
  • 4 dried guajillo peppers, remove stem and seeds
  • 1 dried ancho Chile pepper, remove stem and seeds
  • ½ cup (118 ml) pineapple juice from can of pineapple chunks
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) white vinegar
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 1 tablespoon dried cumin
  • 2 teaspoons Spanish paprika
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • For the salmon:
  • 4 salmon filets (4 ounces/114 grams each) * see note
  • 2 cups (500 grams) cooked white rice
  • White onion, chopped
  • Avocado slices
  • Your salsa of choice
  • Chopped pineapple from the can
  • Fresh corn
  • Fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 4 lime wedges

Instructions

  1. For the marinade:
  2. Bring a pan of water to a boil. Remove from the heat and add the peppers. Soak until they start to soften. Drain and add the peppers to a blender along with the pineapple juice, vinegar, garlic, oregano, cumin, paprika and salt. Blend until smooth.
  3. For the salmon:
  4. To a roasting pan, add the salmon and pour over the marinade. Marinate for 1 hour at room temperature.
  5. Preheat oven to 425°F/220°C.
    Roast the salmon, uncovered for 15 minutes if your salmon pieces are thick, 10 minutes for thinner. Remove from the oven and allow to rest while you build the bowls.
  6. Divide the rice between 4 bowls. Place the salmon on top of the rice. Top with the chopped onion, avocado, salsa, pineapple, corn, cilantro, and lime wedges.

Nutrition Information

Yield

4

Serving Size

1

Amount Per Serving Calories 735Total Fat 37gSaturated Fat 7gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 27gCholesterol 143mgSodium 1277mgCarbohydrates 71gFiber 11gSugar 21gProtein 58g

This nutrition calculation is provided by Nutronix that is only a guideline and not intended for any particular diet.