Here’s a treat for Cinco de Mayo that happens to be vegan: Tacos Al Pastor

Al pastor is a dish from central Mexico that is an adaptation of shawarma, the spit-grilled meat brought by Lebanese immigrants to Mexico. Shawarma is similar to Turkish döner kebab and the Greek gyros.

The dish— Mexican street food—is made from thinly sliced pork that has been seasoned with chiles and pineapple, and roasted on a vertical spit.

This vegan version from McCormick replaces the meat with nutty, roasted butternut squash and a slew of seasonings.

The tacos are layered in corn tortillas with pineapple, crunchy cabbage or radishes, a squeeze of fresh lime, and an optional onion garnish.

Prep time is 20 minutes, cook time is 35 minutes. Calories per serving: 130.
 
 
RECIPE: BUTTERNUT SQUASH TACOS AL PASTOR

Ingredients For 10 Tacos

[1] Butternut squash tacos with a layering of flavors (photo courtesy McCormick).

[2] Butternut squash (photo courtesy Good Eggs).

 
Preparation

1. PLACE one oven rack in lowest position and another rack in highest position. Preheat the oven to 450°F.

2. MIX the oil, spices, 1-3/4 teaspoons of the salt, and the pepper in a large bowl with wire whisk. Add the squash and toss to coat evenly. Arrange the squash in single layer on parchment-lined shallow baking pan. Set aside.

3. ARRANGE the pineapple slices in single layer on a separate parchment-lined shallow baking pan. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons of the lime juice.

4. PLACE the pan with squash on lowest oven rack. Place the pan with pineapple on highest oven rack. Roast 30 to 35 minutes or until squash is tender and lightly browned, stirring the squash and flipping the pineapple halfway through cooking. Meanwhile…

5. TOSS the cabbage with the remaining 2 tablespoons of lime juice and 1/4 teaspoon salt in large bowl. Set aside.

6. REMOVE the squash and pineapple from the oven and let them cool slightly. Chop the pineapple into bite-size chunks.

7. TO SERVE: Layer the squash and pineapple in warm corn tortillas. Top with the cabbage or radishes and the chopped white onion.
 
 
MORE WAYS TO USE RADISHES

Serve them at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Plus a recipe for Cucumber Radish Salad.
  

[1] Beefeater pink gin produces eye-catching pink cocktails. It gives your favorite cocktails something extra (photo by Greyson Tarantino; all photos courtesy Beefeater).

[2] Pink & Soda.

[2] Pink French 75.

[3] We can get around this cause!

Beefeater Pink Gin is a vibrant new strawberry gin from Beefeater London.

Created by master distiller Desmond Payne MBE, it’s based on the classic award-winning Beefeater Dry recipe and flavored with strawberry.

In a marketplace of flavored spirits, it’s the first gin in the U.S. to be naturally flavored with hints of strawberry.

The sweet strawberry aroma and flavor are joined by the classic Beefeater finish of soft juniper and citrus.

This is an enjoyable gin for neat sipping: It’s more fun gin than serious gin, with a lovely, rosy aesthetic.

Beefeater Pink was created with cocktails in mind, and it’s ready to party.

Pink is trending in wine and spirits categories, first with rosé wines, and now in the gin category.

 
It’s time to treat your taste buds to the pink trend, and the flavor of Beefeater Pink Gin.

Mother’s Day is coming up, and plan ahead for Valentine’s Day. There’s a special rose cocktail recipe below.

If you can’t find Beefeater Pink locally, you can buy it online at Reserve Bar, if your state allows mail order alcohol.
 
 
PINK COCKTAILS

You can use Beefeater pink in these Classic Gin Cocktails or for a warm-weather treat, Gin & Lemonade .

There are a number of Beefeater Pink cocktails and boozy milkshakes to check out on the brand’s website.

Recipes include Frozen Pink Daiquiri, Pink & Soda, Pink Mimosa, Pink Punch, Pink Spritz and Strawberry Lemonade.
 
 
HOW ABOUT A PINK PARTY?

With all of the drink options, you’re ready for a Drink Pink party. Here are two takes on a Pink Party menu:

 
 
RECIPE: THE DESERT ROSE PINK GIN COCKTAIL

Ingredients Per Drink

 
Preparation

1. MAKE the rose syrup. Combine in a small pot, 2 parts granulated sugar to one part water and 1 part dried rose bud tea. Stir the mixture and place it on the stove over medium heat.

Stir regularly until the sugar has dissolved. Do not boil! Cool the mixture and strain.

2. MEASURE all ingredients into a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake until cold. Strain into a coupe or martini glass and garnish with edible flowers.

Gin is one of the more complex spirits, in terms of the layering of botanicals (herbs, fruits and spices). Each brand of gin has its own proprietary recipe.

Gin begins with a neutral grain spirit imbued with select blend of botanicals; the conventional ones are listed here.

What’s In Your Gin?

 
And for Beefeater Pink:

There are different types of onion jam, also called marmalade. Simple caramelized onions can fill the bill. Or add balsamic, honey, red wine to the onions. You can bacon to make bacon jam. The recipe below adds tomato.

Sauté sliced onions to the consistency of jam (actually, it’s more like preserves or marmalade), and voilà: a condiment to serve with many everyday dishes, or a chunky sauce. Serve it with:

 
 
This recipe is courtesy of DeLallo Foods.
 
 
RECIPE: EASY TOMATO-ONION JAM

Ingredients For 4-6 Servings

 
Preparation

1. HEAT the oil in a skillet over medium high heat. Add the onion and sauté until golden-brown, about 6-8 minutes.

2. ADD the tomatoes to the skillet and sauté for 6-8 minutes. Add the tomato purée and cook for 5 minutes. Then turn the heat to low and simmer until the mixture thickens to a jam-like consistency, about 20-minutes.

3. SERVE as desired. If you put it in the fridge, warm it briefly in the microwave before using.

[1] Tomato-onion jam makes a chunky topping for pasta (here, fusilli).

[2] Here, it tops a tricolor bruschetta, with ricotta and guacamole (both photos courtesy DeLallo).