Whole animals, commonly veal, bull, cow, or mutton, or pieces of meat, were skewered with a “spit” or “estaca” (stake) and placed over an open fire to be roasted.

[10] 19th century Mexican writer Domingo Revilla wrote in 1844 and 1845, respectively, that the “banquet” at the herraderos was reduced to asados al pastor and barbacoa of whole calves (veal), bull or mutton,[11] and explained that asados al pastor were more common in Tierra Adentro or the Bajío region, western Mexico, and beyond, while barbacoa was more common in the Mezquital and Apan valleys and surrounding areas in central Mexico.

The Levantine version of doner, called shawarma, was brought to Mexico in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by a wave of Lebanese immigrants, mainly Christians who have no religious dietary restrictions on eating pork.

[14] Pork is marinated in a combination of dried chilies, spices, pineapple, and typically achiote paste, then slowly cooked with charcoal or gas flame on a vertical rotisserie called a trompo (lit.

Guajillo chile, garlic, cumin, clove, bay leaf, and vinegar are common ingredients, with cinnamon, dried Mexican oregano, coriander, and black peppercorns found in many variants.

[15] Meat is thinly sliced off the spit with a large knife into a small corn tortilla and served with finely chopped onions, cilantro, and diced pineapple.