Asado de Puerco (Mexican Pork Stew)

by

Description

An authentic Mexican pork stew made with dried chiles, no chili powder here! The guajillo chiles add a very smoky flavor while the ancho chiles add a touch of smoky sweetness. To add another level of flavor, we always top our puerco asado with sliced onions marinated in fresh lemon juice.

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ pounds pork shoulder, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • ½ cup water
  • ½ teaspoon salt, or more to taste
  • 4 dried guajillo chile peppers
  • 4 dried ancho chile peppers
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1 tablespoon chicken bouillon granules
  • 10 whole black peppercorns
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • ½ inch stick Mexican cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon dried Mexican oregano
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 whole cloves
  • 1 tablespoon lard

Instructions

  1. Combine pork cubes
  2. 1/2 cup water
  3. and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a Dutch oven. Cover and cook over medium heat for 20 minutes
  4. stirring every 5 minutes. Uncover
  5. increase heat to medium-high and cook
  6. stirring constantly
  7. until water evaporates. Continue cooking until the pork browns in its rendered fat
  8. 15 to 20 minutes.
  9. Meanwhile
  10. 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.
  11. Remove pork and set aside. Do not wash
  12. wipe out
  13. or clean the Dutch oven.
  14. Transfer chiles to a blender
  15. reserving soaking water. Add cilantro
  16. chicken bouillon
  17. peppercorns
  18. garlic
  19. cinnamon stick
  20. Mexican oregano
  21. thyme
  22. cumin seeds
  23. bay leaves
  24. and cloves. Pour in 1 cup soaking water and blend until smooth. Add 1 more cup soaking water
  25. season with salt
  26. and blend until completely smooth.
  27. 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
  28. leaving about 1 inch open. Simmer
  29. stirring occasionally
  30. until sauce has thickened and reaches the desired consistency
  31. 15 to 20 minutes.

Prep Time: 20 mins

Cook Time: 55 mins

Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins

Servings: 6

Leave a Comment