I am so happy to share this recipe with you since it’s a classic recipe in many homes and one that will have you wiping your plate with a tortilla and leaving it squeaky clean. Of course, that’s only if you love green sauce and pork. This meal is known as “Entomatado”, meaning something made with tomatoes or tomatillos; others may know it as “Pork in Green Sauce” or even as “Chile Verde” in some areas of the State of Guerrero in the West Coast. The State of Guerrero is home to the famous Port of Acapulco.
Pork in Tomatillo Sauce
One of the most common changes to this recipe is the type of peppers used for the sauce. If you go south to the Peninsula of Yucatan, the sauce will include their own chile verde, a very mild pepper that is widely available in that area. In central Mexico or the East Coast it will be the serrano or jalapeño peppers, and in the northern states is where the Chile Verde grows: a long, mildly hot pepper that’s also used in the southern states of the USA and known there as the Anaheim pepper. There is also the sauce that includes Chipotle peppers, they could be the dried form or the canned version, also a very popular combination.
So here’s the recipe, you can decide which peppers to use depending on your taste and what’s available in your area.
How to make Pork in Tomatillo Sauce
DIRECTIONS:
- Heat oil over medium-high heat in a large pot, add the pork meat seasoned with salt and pepper, plus the bay leaf, and cook. Stir frequently to brown the pieces of meat on all sides. About 6-8 minutes. (Please check the ingredients list below)
- Add 1 cup of water and reduce heat to simmer (covered) for about 20 minutes.
- While the meat is cooking, roast the tomatillos, peppers, onion, and garlic on an ungreased griddle over medium heat. Toss to evenly roast them. About 12-15 minutes. The garlic will take less time, so be sure to remove promptly. Remove the tomatillos, peppers, and garlic once they’re soft and blackened, and place in a bowl covered with aluminum foil to cool for 3-5 minutes. Peel garlic cloves. If you are adding the cinnamon and cloves, slightly toast them too, they will take just a few seconds.
- Place the roasted tomatillos, peppers, garlic, onion, cinnamon, cloves, oregano, and the released juices into blender or food processor. Puree until you have a chunky mixture.
- Add the tomatillo mixture to the pot. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to a simmer. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook, stirring frequently until meat is tender. This step will take about 45 minutes or more.
Serve warm with rice or corn tortillas and garnish with chopped cilantro or cilantro leaves.
PORK IN TOMATILLO SAUCE
Ingredients
- 2 Tbs. of lard or vegetable oil
- 1 Lb. of Pork ribs cut into small chunks
- 1 Lb. of Pork loin or butt cut into chunks
- 1 cup of water
- 1 Bay Leaf
- 1 Lb. of Tomatillos
- 4 Serrano Peppers Read note above about substitutions
- ½ of a medium sized white onion
- 3 garlic cloves unpeeled
- ½ teaspoon of Mexican Oregano
- ½ inch of a cinnamon stick optional
- 2 cloves optional
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Cilantro leaves to garnish optional
Instructions
- Heat oil over medium-high heat in a large pot, add the pork meat seasoned with salt and pepper, plus the bay leaf, and cook. Stir frequently to brown the pieces of meat on all sides. About 6-8 minutes.
- Add 1 cup of water and reduce heat to simmer (covered) for about 20 minutes.
- While the meat is cooking, roast the tomatillos, peppers, onion and garlic on an ungreased griddle over medium heat. Toss to evenly roast them. About 12-15 minutes. The garlic will take less time, so be sure to remove promptly. Remove the tomatillos, peppers and garlic once they’re soft and blackened, and place in a bowl covered with aluminum foil to cool for 3-5 minutes. Peel garlic cloves. If you are adding the cinnamon and cloves, slightly toast them too, they will take just a few seconds.
- Place the roasted tomatillos, peppers, garlic, onion, cinnamon, cloves, oregano and the released juices into blender or food processor. Puree until you have a chunky mixture.
- Add the tomatillo mixture to the pot. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to a simmer. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook, stirring frequently until meat is tender. This step will take about 45 minutes or more.
Serve warm with rice or corn tortillas and garnish with chopped cilantro or cilantro leaves.
Notes
Nutrition
Some of the many recipes using Tomatillos are: Chicharron in Salsa verde, Chicken Tamales in green sauce, Enchiladas verdes and Avocado Salsa.
¡Buen provecho!
Mely,
kiki
Hi, I am glad you are posting these great recipes. My spouse who is Mexican can cook butt I need to learn and he isn't a great teacher, so this is great. He makes his version of this recipe but I am trying to follow yours with some things left out (optional stuff). Hope he likes it, I don't have tomatillos but I'm improvising with salsa verde. Thanks again.
OVANDO
The commercial brands have a lot of vinegar, which in my opinion ruins the true flavor, but then again I'm a native son and love the puro recipe
Nessa T
This is on my stove as I write this and I am so excited! I taste tested the chile verde after blending it and it is spicy! I added diced potatoes with the sauce at the end. I can't wait to eat it. I just hope it isn't too hot for my son. Thanks so much for all your recipes! 👏🏽
Steve
I was thinking of making tamales with this pork. When you say pork ribs do you mean those boneless ribs or should I use spare or baby back ribs. Thanks for all of the recipes
mmartinez
Hello Steve,
This dish can be done with spare or baby back ribs, and even with pork tenderloin and pork shoulder meat cut into cubes.
Martha
I made this for family gathering pot luck and it was the hit. Everyone loved it and were licking their fingers. I did add slices (rajas) of roasted chile poblano. It was delicious and I recommend this recipe.
mmartinez
Hello, Martha
Thank you for trying the Pork in tomatillo recipe. I'm so glad you and your family like.
Mariela Garcia
Delicious! This will be my go to recipe for Chile Verde.
Blanche
This recipe is EXCELLENTE!! I'd never made this before so I was very nervous but it tasted just the way my abuelita made it. It's WONDERFUL. MUCHISIMAS GRACIAS!!
mmartinez
Hello Blanche,
Thank you for trying the recipe. I'm so glad to know you like it and that it brought back happy memories.
Rich
This is a wonderful recipe! I’ve made it at least three times and we just love it. So simple, but so good.
Thank you for posting it!
James Wise
This is a delicious dish- I made it with Highlander peppers 2 was ago and a mix of Poblano,Highlander and Serrano peppers today. Outstanding! Thank you.
Gabriela J.
Mely,
You never disappoint! This dish was so simple and delicious served it with white rice, black beans, corn tortillas with cilantro and white onion for garnish.
Mely Martínez
Hello Gabriela,
Wow, I bet with all those side dishes the Pork in Tomatillo meals was a success in your home. Thank you for trying the recipe.