Salsa Verde Braised Pork Recipes

SALSA VERDE BRAISED PORK

Steps:

• Trim excess pork fat. Put meat in a large casserole or Dutch oven with salsa, onion, broth, cumin seeds, coriander seeds, and oregano. Bring to a boil over high heat; reduce heat, cover, and simmer until meat is very tender when pierced, about 3 hours.
• Preheat oven to 375°. With 2 wide spatulas, transfer meat to a rimmed baking pan. Bake until richly browned, 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, skim and discard fat from pan juices. Boil juices, stirring, until reduced to 2 3/4 cups, 8 to 10 minutes.
• With 2 forks, tear meat into large shreds. Add to pan and stir in chopped cilantro. Season with salt. Spoon into a serving bowl and sprinkle with cilantro leaves. Serve with tortillas and more salsa verde.
• Slow-cooker Salsa Verde Pork: Put trimmed pork in a slow cooker (5 to 6 qt.) and turn heat to high. In a pan, bring salsa, onion, broth, cumin seeds, coriander seeds, and oregano to a boil. Pour over pork, cover, and cook until meat is very tender when pierced and registers at least 165° on an instant-read thermometer, at least 7 or up to 9 hours. Continue recipe with step 2, using a large pot for step 3.

TOMATILLO PORK BRAISE WITH PICKLED CHILIS (PUERCO EN SALSA VERDE

Steps:

• Scoop the tomatillos into a slow cooker and spread them in an even layer. Scatter on the garlic, jalapenos and half of the cilantro. Sprinkle evenly with 1 ½ tsp salt.
• In a large bowl, combine the pork and Worcestershire sauce, mixing until the cubes are well coated. Distribute the meat over the tomatillo mixture. Cover and slow cook on high for 6 hours.
• With a pair of tongs, remove the pork to a bowl. Tip or ladle the sauce mixture into a blender and add the remaining cilantro. Cover loosely and blend until smooth; return the mixture to the slow cooker. Stir in the drained beans, taste and add salt as necessary; Stir in a little water if the sauce has thickened beyond the consistency of a light cream soup. Add a little sugar if the sauce is too tart. Return the meat to the pot, let everything warm through and serve.
• Variations:.
• This dish can be cooked in a Dutch oven instead of the slow cooker. In a medium large (4 to 6 quart) heavy pot or Dutch oven, layer the tomatillos, flavorings and meat as described above. Cover with the sauce, set the lid in place and braise in a 3000F oven for 2 ½ to 3 hours, until the pork is completely tender. Complete the dish as described above.
• The beans can be replaced with potatoes or small sweet turnips (cut into wedges) or carrots (2 inch lengths cut into sticks). Toss them with a little salt and place them on top of the sauce ingredients before layering in the pork. Take them out with the meat while you finish the sauce.
• Add a big handful of spinach to the blender when pureeing the sauce; a few Tbsp of Mexican Crema or heavy cream works magic on this spinach enhanced sauce. Epazote may be used in place of the cilantro.
• This dish is perfect made with 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs. Or replace the pork shoulder with 1 inch pieces of beef chuck; double the cilantro and use 2 poblanos. The beef will benefit greatly from browning before slow cooking.
• Either brown the cubed pork in a little oil in a single layer in a large skillet, or spread it out on an oiled baking sheet (with sides) and slide it close up under a broiler. Slide the browned meat into the slow cooker.

PORK IN SALSA VERDE

Steps:

• In small bowl, mix the cumin, half the garlic and the salt.
• In medium bowl, combine the pork with the cumin mixture and toss well to coat the meat with seasonings. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let stand at room temperature for 2 hours or refrigerate overnight.
• Heat the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat.
• Add the onion and the remaining garlic and cook until softened, about 3 - 4 minutes.
• Scape the mixture into a blender or food processor.
• Add the jalapeno peppers, tomatillos, chicken broth and oregano. Puree until smooth 1 -2 minutes.
• Spray the same large nonstick skillet with veggie cooking spray and heat over medium-high heat.
• Add half the pork cubes to the skillet and cook, turning, until browned on all sides, 5 - 7 minutes.
• With a slotted spoon, remove the meat to a plate and brown the remaining pork.
• Return all the meat to the skillet.
• Add the tomatillo puree and simmer until the sauce is thickened, 8 - 10 minutes.
• Stir in the cilantro and serve.

BRAISED PORK WITH SALSA VERDE

Steps:

• In a 3 1/2 -4 quart slow cooker place onion and pork. Top with tomatoes, salsa, broth, garlic cumin and pepper.
• Cover and cook on low setting for 6 - 6 1/2 hours or on high heat for 3 hours. Serve with hot cooked brown rice and top each serving with cilantro.

ROAST PORK BUTT WITH SALSA VERDE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200 degrees. Season the pork with 3 1/2 tablespoons of salt and 1/4 cup black pepper, rubbing it in well on all sides. Roast the pork, covered, until the internal temperature reaches 195 degrees, 9 to 10 hours. While the pork is roasting, prepare the salsa verde.
• In a blender or food processor, working in batches if necessary, combine the olive oil, 6 tablespoons of the vinegar, parsley, oregano, garlic and pepper flakes. Process to a purée, and transfer to a mixing bowl. Season with salt, ground black pepper and more vinegar to taste.
• To serve, pull the pork apart with tongs or forks or slice it. Serve with the salsa and a salad of bitter greens.