Mi Casa Stew Recipes

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 BEEF AND TOMATILLO STEW (ENTOMATADO DE RES)

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 325°F with a rack in the lower-middle position. In a Dutch oven, toss together the beef, onion, garlic, the chopped jalapeño, bay, oregano, cumin, 1½ teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Cover, transfer to the oven and cook for 2 hours.
• Remove the pot from the oven and stir in the potatoes and tomatillos. Cover, return to the oven and cook until the potatoes are tender and a knife inserted into a piece of beef meets no resistance, another 1 to 1½ hours.
• Remove and discard the bay, then taste and season with salt and pepper. Serve sprinkled with toasted pumpkin seeds, cilantro and sliced jalapeño.