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Pork Chile Verde

Pork chile verde: tender chunks of pork shoulder braised in a tangy roasted tomatillo, poblano, jalapeño and cilantro sauce. A hearty stew for bowls, burritos and tacos.

By Tasty Nest Recipes Editorial TeamPublished

2 hr 55 min total About 8 cupsIntermediate

Plate of pork chile verde in green sauce with Mexican rice and refried beans

Photo: joshuaheller · CC BY 2.0. Illustrative photo; your results may look different.

About this recipe

Chile verde is a much-loved Mexican-American stew of pork simmered in a vibrant green sauce of tomatillos and green chillies. Charring the vegetables under the broiler first gives the sauce a smoky depth.

The pork shoulder becomes fork-tender after a long braise, and the sauce thickens as it cooks. Serve it in bowls with rice and beans, in burritos or with warm tortillas.

Equipment you'll need

  • Rimmed baking sheet
  • Blender
  • Large Dutch oven

Tips for success

  • Choose firm, bright green tomatillos with husks that fill out the fruit.
  • If the sauce is too thin at the end, simmer uncovered for 15 minutes.
  • If the sauce is too tart, add a pinch of sugar.

Substitutions and variations

  • Use chicken thighs instead of pork and simmer for 45 minutes (to 165°F / 74°C).
  • Use Anaheim or Hatch chiles instead of poblanos.
  • Cook in a slow cooker on low for 7 to 8 hours after browning the pork.

Storage and reheating

To store: Refrigerate for up to 4 days. Freeze for up to 3 months.

To reheat: Reheat on the stove over medium heat until steaming hot throughout, adding broth if it has thickened.

Recipe

Pork Chile Verde

Pork chile verde: tender chunks of pork shoulder braised in a tangy roasted tomatillo, poblano, jalapeño and cilantro sauce. A hearty stew for bowls, burritos and tacos.

Prep
25 min
Cook
2 hr 30 min
Total
2 hr 55 min
Yield
About 8 cups
Level
Intermediate

Ingredients

Tick off ingredients as you gather them.

Green sauce

Pork

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Char the vegetables

    Heat the broiler. Arrange the tomatillos, poblanos, jalapeños, onion and garlic on the baking sheet and broil for 5 to 7 minutes per side, until blackened in spots and soft. Let cool slightly.

  2. Step 2: Blend the sauce

    Peel and seed the poblanos, stem the jalapeños (seed them for less heat) and peel the garlic. Blend with the tomatillos, onion, cilantro, cumin and oregano until smooth.

  3. Step 3: Brown the pork

    Season the pork with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in the Dutch oven over medium-high heat and brown the pork in batches, 6 to 8 minutes per batch.

  4. Step 4: Braise

    Return all the pork to the pot, add the green sauce and broth and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover partially and simmer for 2 hours, stirring occasionally, until the pork is very tender and the sauce has thickened.

  5. Step 5: Finish

    Stir in the lime juice, adjust the seasoning and serve with tortillas, rice, radishes, cilantro and lime.

Cuisine: Mexican-American · Course: Dinner

Estimated nutrition per serving

Calories
410
Protein
42 g
Fat
22 g
Carbs
12 g
Fibre
3 g
Sugars
6 g

Approximate values estimated from typical nutrition data for the listed ingredients, excluding optional toppings and serving suggestions. Actual values vary with brands, portion sizes and substitutions. Not verified by a dietitian or laboratory analysis.

tastynestrecipes.com/recipes/chile-verde

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