Pork Shoulder Chile Verde

Ali Clarke and Santos Loo
Ali Clarke and Santos Loo
May 2, 2023
Chile verde is a stew from Northern Mexico that typically slowly cooks pork in a sauce made of green chiles, tomatillos, and cilantro. The green sauce is tangy and mild, despite all of the chiles used, and it complements the rich, tender pork perfectly. Every part of this recipe, from searing the meat and roasting the vegetables to braising the meat in the sauce is done in the Anova Precision Oven, so all you really need to do is hit the start button and lunch or dinner is ready to go. Serve the chile verde with rice, beans, or turn any leftovers into tacos or a burrito. Notes: Despite the variety of peppers used in this recipe, the chile verde is very mild in flavor. If you’d like a bit spicier sauce, keep the seeds in the peppers. Pick a pork shoulder that has a nice fat cap still on. Look for a fat cap ¼- to ½-inch thick. The fat will add a rich flavor and texture to the pozole as it cooks. This recipe uses Diamond Crystal kosher salt.
Serves
4
Prep Time
00:45
Cook Time
01:30
Pork Shoulder Chile Verde
0
34
Ingredients
1 lb
tomatillos (about 8 medium), husks removed and rinsed
2
poblano peppers (about 8 oz), cut in half lengthwise, stem and seeds removed
2
Anaheim peppers (about 6 oz), cut in half lengthwise, stem and seeds removed
1 large
jalapeño (about 2 oz), cut in half lengthwise, stem and seeds removed
1 medium
yellow onion (about 8 oz), peeled and cut into quarters
1 head
garlic (10 to 12 cloves), peeled and left whole
¼ cup
plus 2 Tbsp vegetable oil
2 Tbsp
tomato paste
3 Tbsp
kosher salt
2.5 lb
boneless pork shoulder with a ¼- to ½-inch-thick fat cap, cut into 1-inch chunks
1 cup
(about 2 oz) packed cilantro leaves and stems
1 cup
lager beer
½ cup
low-sodium chicken stock
1 Tbsp
Mexican or Italian oregano
2 tsp
ground cumin
2 tsp
ground coriander
1 tsp
freshly ground black pepper
Optional toppings: Fried tortilla chips or strips and cilantro leaves
Steps

1. Preheat the Oven

Rack
Place one oven rack in position 4 and one in position 1.
Sous Vide Mode: Off
Steam: Off
Temp: 400°F
Heat: Top, Rear

2. Prepare the Aromatics

In a large bowl, toss together the tomatillos, chiles, onion, garlic, and ¼ cup vegetable oil until evenly combined. Spread out evenly on the Anova sheet pan.
Prepare the Aromatics

3. Prepare the Meat

To the same bowl, toss together the pork shoulder pieces, remaining 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, tomato paste, and 2 tablespoons salt until evenly combined. Spread out on a quarter sheet pan.
Prepare the Meat

4. Roast the Aromatics and Meat

Rack
Place the meat on the top rack and the aromatics on the bottom rack, and roast for 20 minutes, or until the aromatics soften and the meat is charred in spots. Remove the meat from the oven and leave the vegetables to continue roasting.
Roast the Aromatics and Meat
Sous Vide Mode: Off
Steam: Off
Temp: 400°F
Heat: Top, Rear
00:20 Timer

5. Strain the Liquid from the Meat

Set a fine mesh strainer over a medium bowl. Remove the pork pieces to a plate and strain the liquid from the sheet pan into the bowl. Place the pork back on the sheet pan, placing the charred side down. Reserve the liquid for later.
Strain the Liquid from the Meat

6. Maintain Oven Temperature

Rack
Sous Vide Mode: Off
Steam: Off
Temp: 400°F
Heat: Top, Rear

7. Finish Roasting the Meat and Aromatics

Rack
Place the meat back in the oven on the top rack and roast for 10 more minutes, or until the peppers and garlic soften and begin to char, the tomatillos burst and the meat is charred in spots on the second side. Remove the aromatics and meat from the oven.
Finish Roasting the Meat and Aromatics
Sous Vide Mode: Off
Steam: Off
Temp: 400°F
Heat: Top, Rear
00:10 Timer

8. Adjust the Oven Temperature

Rack
Remove the oven rack in position 4.
Sous Vide Mode: Off
Steam: Off
Temp: 325°F
Heat: Top, Rear

9. Make Chile Verde Sauce

Add the roasted chiles, onions, and garlic to a blender along with the cilantro, beer, and stock. Blend until smooth.
Make Chile Verde Sauce

10. Assemble the Chile Verde

To a heatproof pot or 5- to 7.5-quart Dutch oven (approximately 10 inches wide and 4 inches deep) add the roasted meat, strained liquid, blended chile verde sauce, remaining 1 tablespoon salt, oregano, cumin, coriander, and black pepper. Stir to evenly combine.
Assemble the Chile Verde

11. Braise the Chile Verde

Rack
Cover the pot with a lid and braise for 1 hour, or until the pork is tender but still holds its shape, and the sauce thickens slightly and turns a deep green color.
Braise the Chile Verde
Sous Vide Mode: Off
Steam: Off
Temp: 325°F
Heat: Top, Rear
01:00 Timer

12. Serve

Divide the chile verde between four bowls and add any toppings you may desire.
Serve
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