Easy, delicious pork in tomatillo salsa! With or without the nopales, the recipe yields a tender pork that always pairs well with tomatillo salsa and warm tortillas!
Course Main Course, Pork
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 6Servings
Ingredients
2poundspork shouldersliced into large cubes
1teaspoonsalt
1teaspoongarlic powder
1teaspoonpepper
oil
1/2white oniondiced
2-3clovesof garlicminced
3cupsof water or low sodium chicken brothwarmed
1teaspoonoregano
2bay leaves
*2 cups of cooked nopalesif adding
1 1/2poundstomatillo
3jalapeños
1/2white onion
2clovesof garlic
Big handful of cilantro
salt to taste
Instructions
Season the pork with salt, garlic powder and pepper. Let sit for a few minutes.
Preheat 4 tablespoons of oil in a large, heavy skillet to medium for a few minutes.
Brown the pork as best you can on all sides in the hot oil.
Pour in 3 cups of warm water. Stir well, scraping the bottom of pan to get all those bits of flavor off the bottom. Cover with tight lid and continue cooking at heat right below medium for about 45-60 minutes or until the liquid evaporates.
While pork is cooking, add your tomatillos, jalapeños, onion and garlic to a pot of simmering water. Simmer for 10 minutes or just until tomatillos turn from bright green to olive green.
Using a slotted spoon, transfer salsa ingredients to the blender. Add cilantro and salt to taste. Blend on high until very smooth. Set aside.
Once all the liquid has evaporated from the pork, add the diced onion and garlic. Saute for 2 minutes. Pour in the salsa. Stir in the oregano and bay leaves. Reduce heat. If adding nopales, add them in right now. Cover and cook at a steady simmer for 20 minutes.
Notes
This stove top method of cooking the pork is perfect for preparing carnitas too! Once all the liquid evaporates, just add a few tablespoons of pork manteca and fry the pork for a few more minutes! Ready to eat!