Earnies Chili Verde Recipes

TOP SECRET AWARD-WINNING CHILI VERDE

Steps:

• Fire-roast the peppers and tomatillos. You can do this on the grill, over a gas burner, or under your broiler turned on high. The goal is to char the skin of the vegetable. ROASTING THE PEPPERS AND TOMATILLOS ADDS TONS OF FLAVOR TO THEM! IT IS WORK BUT DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP!
• Place the charred vegetables in a large heat proof bowl or pan and cover with foil. The steam from the vegetables will help the charred skin come off easily. Let sit covered 15-20 minutes and then the charred skin will easily peel off the peppers and tomatillos.
• In a large (6 to 8 quart) stock pot, over high heat, brown the bacon reserving the bacon drippings.
• Next, trim off any excess fat from the pork and cut into 1 inch squares. Liberally season the pork with salt and pepper and toss with flour to coat evenly.
• DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP! THIS IS WHAT ADDS THE MOST FLAVOR TO THE CHILI VERDE! Brown the seasoned pork in small batches, in the bacon drippings, being careful not to overcrowd the pot. Remove the pork from the pot and pour off the fat drippings, leaving two tablespoons of fat. Caramelizing the meat to a rich golden-brown is a key flavor step!
• In the same pot, over a medium heat, add the chopped onion, garlic, salt, and pepper and sauté until transparent, scraping up any browned bits. Add the cumin, pork, and chicken stock, and cook simmering over medium-low heat for 1 hour.
• Place half of the peppers, one bunch of cilantro, and half of the tomatillos in to a blender or the bowl of a food processor and pulse for a chunky puree. Add the puree to the pot with the pork and stir to combine, cooking on medium-low for an additional 30 minutes.
• Roughly chop the remaining tomatillos, peppers, and cilantro. Add them to the pot, stir, and simmer for an additional 30 minutes, for a total cooking time of two hours.
• Add the lime juice and adjust seasoning to taste with salt and pepper.

VEGETARIAN CHILI VERDE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a heavy, large pot over medium heat. Add the onions, potatoes, yams, garlic, tomatillos and poblanos. Cover and sweat until the onions are tender, stirring often to prevent browning, about 8 minutes. Mix in the oregano, flour, cumin, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Add the hominy with the juices and the broth and bring the chili to a simmer.
• Place the green chiles in a processor. Using tongs, transfer strips of the poblano chile from the pot to the processor; blend just until smooth. Scrape the chile sauce into the pot.
• Cover and simmer the chili 20 minutes. Uncover and simmer until the potatoes and yams are tender and the chili is reduced to desired consistency, stirring often, 20 to 25 minutes longer. Season with more salt and pepper if desired.
• Ladle the chili into bowls. Serve with garnishes and Buttermilk and Sour Cream Corn Bread.
• Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F. Butter a 9-by-9-by-2-inch metal baking pan.
• Blend the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda in a processor for 5 seconds. Add the butter cubes. Blend until the butter is reduced to tiny pieces, 15 to 20 seconds. Whisk the buttermilk, sour cream and eggs in a large bowl to blend. Add the dry ingredients from the processor and stir until evenly moistened. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan.
• Bake the corn bread until the top is golden brown and a tester inserted into the center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Cool the bread on a rack at least 30 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

EASY CHILI VERDE

Steps:

• In a 5-qt. slow cooker, combine pork, enchilada sauce, salsa verde, green chiles and salt. Cook, covered, on low until pork is tender, 5-6 hours. Serve with rice. If desired, top with sour cream.