My first taste of chile verde, was not from home, but from a restaurant/tortilleria, Ramonas, that my Dad did jobs for. They would hire him to repair their commercial size tortilla machines. These machines would produce thousands of dozens of tortillas everyday. Their version of pork chile verde was prepared with shredded beef and they would add potatoes as well. We would enjoy a huge burrito on their 14 flour tortillas. Soon, my Mom was preparing her version of chile verde at home and once in a while she would prepare it with pork. The pork version of chile verde is very popular in the New Mexico, prepared with their famous Hatch green chiles.
For this version of pork chile verde, I cooked the pork shoulder, low and slow, on the stove top covered with water. You could roast it in the oven as well, but the broth created from cooking it on the stove top is a key ingredient to a great tasting chile verde. And yes, I used a few tablespoons of lard to brown the pork. All in moderation, I say. The pictures show both with and without potatoes. It’s up to you. This is a big batch of pork chile verde. It freezes well!
For this version of pork chile verde. I added potatoes!! If you want to see this variation, click here! Verde
After the pork has browned, add aromatics
Love the vibrant green colors of the chile verde/tomatillo sauce when it first goes in
Pork Chile Verde
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 4 1/2 to 5 pounds pork shoulder
- * trim off some of the fat and slice into 1 1/2 inch pieces
- 2 bay leaves
- 1/2 bulb of garlic reserve other half for recipe
- Salt
- Water
- 2 tablespoons of pork lard or shortening
- 1 medium white onion diced
- 3 serranos or jalpeños diced
- 4 cloves of reserved garlic minced
- 4 cups diced green chiles previously roasted
- 1 1/2 pounds of tomatillos previously poached until soft
- 1/4 cup to 1/3 cup cilantro chopped
- 2 cups pork broth
- 2 teaspoons crushed Mexican oregano
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
Directions
- Add the pork to a large dutch oven pot. Also add the bay leaves, 1/2 bulb of garlic, 3 teaspoons of salt and enough water to cover the pork. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and continue cooking until pork is tender, about 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Skim off the top when needed.
- Remove pork from broth and let cool. Strain the broth and skim off some of the grease on top, set aside.
- In a heavy pot, preheat the 2 tablespoons of lard to medium heat for 5 minutes. Add the pork and cook until nicely browned on most sides. While pork is browning, to the blender, add the green chiles and tomatillos and blend until smooth, set aside.
- To the pork, add the onions, chile peppers and garlic and cook for another 5 minutes. Add the green chile sauce from blender, cilantro, 2 cups of pork broth, oregano, cumin, granulated garlic and pepper. Bring to a boil, taste for salt, cover and continue cooking for 1 hour. Add the masa harina slurry, stir to combine quickly and continue cooking for another 30 to 40 minutes. Serve with warm corn tortillas.
Notes
Tips~ I took a little help from the store and purchased 4(10 ounces each) cans of whole green chiles and 1 large can of tomatillos. During the winter months it’s harder to find the fresh ingredients, so I rely on the canned. And when I remember, I like to roast some extra poblanos and jalapeños and add some in at the end.
The tacos of chile verde are prepared with the no potato version! Can you tell which tortilla is store bought?
Above, a gordita! The chile verde is so chunky I had to lice the gordita all the way open!
Se ve riquisisisisimo prima, ya lo quiero hacer este domingo……peromseparare sin chile para mi amorcito.
Nos gusta mucho el chile verde de cerdo con tortillas recien hechas, jajaja…pues a quien no verdad prima! Saludos!