Pork Chile Verde

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 every day. 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.

Choose whatever cooking method works best for you!

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

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!

Pork Chile Verde

Pork Chile Verde is one of those low and slow recipes that once it’s done, you will be so happy you invested the time!

4.67 from 3 votes

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Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Mexican

Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 3 hours hours 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 3 hours hours 35 minutes minutes

Servings: 8 Servings

Ingredients

Ingredients

• 4 pounds pork shoulder/butt trim off some of the fat and slice into 1 1/2 inch pieces
• 3 bay leaves
• 1/2 bulb of garlic reserve other half for recipe
• Salt, to taste
• Water, enough to cover pork generously
• 3 tablespoons pork lard or cooking oil of your choice
• 1 lb. of tomatillos previously poached in simmering water until soft and they change in color.
• 4 cups diced green chiles previously roasted, cleaned and diced, Anaheim or hatch. See Notes.
• 1 medium white onion diced
• 3 serranos or jalpeños diced
• 4 cloves of reserved garlic minced
• 1/3 cup chopped cilantro
• 2 cups pork broth
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1 1/2 teaspoons crushed Mexican oregano

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 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 3 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 roasted green chiles, tomatillos and 1 tsp of salt. Blend on high until smooth. Set aside.
• To the pork, add the onions, fresh chile peppers and garlic. Saute for another 5 minutes. Add the green chile sauce from blender, cilantro, 2 cups of pork broth, cumin, granulated garlic and pepper. Bring to a boil, taste for salt, cover and continue cooking for 40 minutes or until pork is very tender. Taste for salt. Mix in the crushed oregano and cook for another 5 minutes. Serve with warm corn tortillas.

Notes

To Roast Green Chiles- Wash 10-12 fresh Anaheim or Hatch green chiles, Dry them and then add a light coat of oil all over the surface of the peppers. Place them on a baking sheet 6 inches under broiler for 8-9 minutes per side. Transfer roasted peppers to a plastic bag or in a clean kitchen towel. After 10 minutes, remove blistered skins, stems and seeds. Dice or slice as desired. If using the air fryer, peppers will roast at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Turn as needed.

To thicken the chile verde you could mix in 3 tbsps of masa harina to the green chile sauce in the blender. Adds a tasty flavor of maiz. In some chile verde recipes it is common to add 1 or 2 Roma tomatoes blended with the green chile sauce.

 

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