Guajillo Pork Stew Recipes

PORK BRAISED IN GUAJILLO CHILE SAUCE

Steps:

• Put the pork in a heavy Dutch oven large enough to fit pork comfortably.
• Pour in enough cold water to cover the meat by about 2 inches.
• Add 2 tablespoons salt, bay leaf and bring to a boil.
• Boil for one hour, skimming foam off surface as necessary.
• Cut the stems off the guajillo chiles. Tap out the seeds.
• Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium heat.
• Add half the chiles and toast them in the skillet, turning with tongs, until they crisp up a bit and change color, about 4 minutes.
• Lift out chiles and repeat with remaining chiles.
• Pour enough boiling water over the toasted chiles to cover them. Soak until completely softened, about 20 minutes. Drain well.
• Wipe out the skillet with paper towels, put the onion and tomatoes cut sides down in the skillet. Cook, turning the veggies as often as necessary, until tomatoes are blackened on all sides and the onions are blackened on both flat sides.
• After the pork cooks one hour, ladle off 2 cups of the cooking liquid and pour into blender. Add onions and puree until smooth. Add chiles and tomatoes and blend until smooth.
• Ladle off another 2 cups of the cooking liquid and set aside. Drain pork, discard remaining liquid, wipe out the pot.
• Set the pot over medium-low heat and add the oil or lard. Stir in the flour and cook, stirring, 3-4 minutes.
• Pour the chili sauce into the pot slowly, stir well.
• Return the pork to a simmer, cover the pot and cook until tender, about 1 hour. While it cooks, there should be enough sauce to moisten the pork. If not, add reserved pork cooking liquid as needed.
• Serve hot over white rice or with flour tortillas.

ASADO DE PUERCO (MEXICAN PORK STEW)

Steps:

• Combine pork cubes, 1/2 cup water, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a Dutch oven. Cover and cook over medium heat for 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes. Uncover, increase heat to medium-high and cook, stirring constantly, until water evaporates. Continue cooking until the pork browns in its rendered fat, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cut tops off the dried chiles and remove seeds. Heat chiles in a large skillet over low heat until they start to soften. Do not toast. Place chiles in a bowl of hot water and soak for 20 minutes.
• Remove pork and set aside. Do not wash, wipe out, or clean the Dutch oven.
• Transfer chiles to a blender, reserving soaking water. Add cilantro, chicken bouillon, peppercorns, garlic, cinnamon stick, Mexican oregano, thyme, cumin seeds, bay leaves, and cloves. Pour in 1 cup soaking water and blend until smooth. Add 1 more cup soaking water, season with salt, and blend until completely smooth.
• Melt lard in the Dutch oven. Carefully add blended chile mixture and scrape up all browned bits. Bring to a boil and add pork. Reduce heat and cover partially, leaving about 1 inch open. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until sauce has thickened and reaches the desired consistency, 15 to 20 minutes.

MEXICAN PORK AND CHILE STEW (SLOW COOKER)

Steps:

• 1. In small bowl, mix ancho peppers, guajillo peppers and pasilla peppers. Pour enough boiling water over peppers to cover. Let stand for 20 minutes; drain peppers, discarding water.
• 2. In food processor, mix drained peppers, garlic, cinnamon oregano, cloves and cumin. add 1/2 cup of the chicken broth. Cover and process til mixture is smooth; set aside.
• 3. In large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add pork, half at a time, and cook and stir til brown. Transfer pork to 3 1/2 or 4 quart slow cooker. Add onion to skillet; cook and stir for about 6 minutes or til tender. Transfer onion to slow cooker. Add pureed pepper mixture, the remaining 2 1/2 cups broth, the raisins, orange juice and bay leaves.
• 4. Cover and cook on low heat for 6 to 8 hours or on high heat for 3 to 4 hours. Skim fat from cooking liquid. Discard bay leaves. Add chocolate, brown sugar, vinegar and salt. Stir til chocolate melts. Serve stew with warm flour tortillas. Serves 8

PORK STEW IN GREEN SALSA (GUISADO DE PUERCO CON TOMATILLOS)

Steps:

• Stir together the flour, 1 teaspoon salt, pepper, and cumin in a large bowl. Place the cubed pork into the mixture, and stir well to coat the meat with the seasonings.
• Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy pan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat until the oil shimmers. Working in batches if necessary, place the meat into the hot pan in a single layer. Pan-fry the pork until brown on all sides, about 15 minutes. Remove the pork to a bowl, and cover to keep warm.
• Cook and stir the onion in the hot pan over medium heat, adding more olive oil if necessary, until the onion is translucent and beginning to brown, about 7 minutes. Return the meat to the pan and stir in the garlic, tomatillos, chiles, marjoram, chopped cilantro, and water. Check seasoning and add 1 pinch of salt to taste, if needed. Cover and simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the meat is tender, about 1 hour. Skim excess fat off the stew before serving in bowls, garnished with a dollop of sour cream and a cilantro sprig on each bowl.

GUAJILLO SPICED PORK AND POTATOES (PUERCO Y PAPAS AL GUAJILLO)

Steps:

• Spread the potatoes over the bottom of a slow cooker and top with the pork.
• Set a medium (8 inch) skillet over medium heat. When it is hot, toast the chili pieces a few at a time, pressing them against the hot surface with a spatula until they are aromatic and lightened in color underneath - about 10 seconds per side. (If you see more than a whiff of smoke, they are burning). Transfer the toasted chilis to a blender jar.
• Add the tomatoes with their juice, garlic, oregano, Worcestershire sauce, a generous 1 ½ tsp salt and 1 ½ cups water. Blend until as smooth as possible. Strain the mixture through a medium mesh strainer directly into the slow cooker, over the meat and potatoes. Stir to mix thoroughly.
• Set the lid in place and slow cook on high for 6 hours.
• Gently stir the stew - the sauce may look slightly broken, but it will come together with gentle stirring. If the sauce seems too thick, stir in a little water. Taste, and add more salt, if needed.
• Serve in bowls, sprinkled with the cilantro and onion. A stack of warm corn tortillas is the perfect accompaniment.
• Variations:.
• Pork and Potatoes al Guajillo as a Soft Taco Filling:.
• Cook the dish as directed above, but cube the potatoes rather than leaving them in larger wedges. Coarsely shred the pork with two forks. Leave the sauce quite thick. Serve with a dozen warm tortillas for everyone to make soft tacos.