Chili Verde – Recipe

Here’s a bold and flavorful recipe for Chili Verde — a classic Mexican dish made with tender pork simmered in a vibrant green sauce of tomatillos, green chiles, garlic, and herbs. It’s savory, tangy, and mildly spicy — perfect with rice, beans, or tortillas.

🌶️ Chili Verde (Pork in Green Sauce)

🥩 Ingredients:

For the meat:

2–2.5 lbs pork shoulder or pork butt, cut into 1½-inch cubes
Salt and pepper, to taste
2 tbsp vegetable oil

For the verde sauce:

1 ½ lbs tomatillos, husked and rinsed
2–3 poblano peppers, roasted and peeled
2–3 jalapeños or serranos (seeds removed for milder heat)
1 large onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic
1 cup fresh cilantro leaves
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp dried oregano (Mexican oregano if possible)
1½ cups chicken broth
Juice of 1 lime (optional for brightness)

🔪 Instructions:

1. Roast the vegetables:

Roast tomatillos, poblanos, and chiles under the broiler or in a hot skillet until blistered and softened, about 8–10 minutes. Let cool slightly.
Peel charred skin off poblanos (optional for smoother texture).

2. Make the verde sauce:

In a blender, combine roasted tomatillos, peppers, jalapeños, onion, garlic, cilantro, cumin, oregano, and chicken broth. Blend until smooth.

3. Sear the pork:

Season pork with salt and pepper.
In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat. Sear pork in batches until browned on all sides. Remove and set aside.

4. Simmer the stew:

Return all pork to the pot. Pour verde sauce over it. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer.
Cover and cook on low heat for 1.5 to 2 hours, or until pork is tender and flavors meld. Stir occasionally.
Add lime juice near the end for a fresh, zesty finish (optional).

🍽️ Serve with:

Warm tortillas (corn or flour)
Mexican rice or cilantro-lime rice
Refried beans or black beans
Garnish with sliced radishes, avocado, chopped onions, or more cilantro

🔄 Variations:

Swap pork for chicken thighs for a lighter version.
Add cubed potatoes or hominy for a stew-like consistency.
For more heat, include a habanero or extra serranos.