Salsa Verde Braised Pork

Braising the pork—simmering it for a long time in liquid under cover, with browning for flavor—makes it fork-tender. Prep and Cook Time: about 4 hours.

Yield: Makes 6 servings

Ingredients

• 3 1/2  pounds  bone-in pork shoulder (aka pork butt)
• 1  bottle (15 oz.) salsa verde
• 1  medium onion, finely chopped
• 3  cups  reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 2  teaspoons  cumin seeds
• 2  teaspoons  coriander seeds
• 1  teaspoon  dried oregano
• 1/2  cup  chopped fresh cilantro, plus some leaves
• Salt

Preparation

1. Trim excess pork fat. Put meat in a large casserole or Dutch oven with salsa, onion, broth, cumin seeds, coriander seeds, and oregano. Bring to a boil over high heat; reduce heat, cover, and simmer until meat is very tender when pierced, about 3 hours.

2. Preheat oven to 375°. With 2 wide spatulas, transfer meat to a rimmed baking pan. Bake until richly browned, 30 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, skim and discard fat from pan juices. Boil juices, stirring, until reduced to 2 3/4 cups, 8 to 10 minutes.

4. With 2 forks, tear meat into large shreds. Add to pan and stir in chopped cilantro. Season with salt. Spoon into a serving bowl and sprinkle with cilantro leaves. Serve with tortillas and more salsa verde.

Note: Nutrition analysis is per serving.

Slow-cooker Salsa Verde Pork: Put trimmed pork in a slow cooker (5 to 6 qt.) and turn heat to high. In a pan, bring salsa, onion, broth, cumin seeds, coriander seeds, and oregano to a boil. Pour over pork, cover, and cook until meat is very tender when pierced and registers at least 165° on an instant-read thermometer, at least 7 or up to 9 hours. Continue recipe with step 2, using a large pot for step 3.

Nutritional Information

Calories:

571 (63% from fat)

Protein:

36g

Fat:

40g (sat 14)

Carbohydrate:

16g

Fiber:

0.8g

Sodium:

1101mg

Cholesterol:

147mg