Guisado de Puerco con Tomatillos (Pork Stew in Green Salsa)

 

Tomatillos may look like small green tomatoes hiding in a papery husk, but they are something very different. They are a member of the nightshade family, related to the cape gooseberry. Tomatillos, referred to as green tomatoes in Mexico, are a staple in Mexican cuisine. They are tangy and add an amazing flavor to this pork stew. Choose small, bright green tomatillos in the husk for this recipe. Peel the husk and gently wash the sticky residue off the fruit before using. 

Unfortunately, my camera battery was dead and I didn't get a picture of the finished product! 

Ingredients

1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 (3 pound) boneless pork shoulder roast, trimmed of excess fat and cut into 1-inch cubes
2 tablespoons olive oil, or more if needed
1 large onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups chopped fresh tomatillos
1 (7 ounce) can diced green chiles, drained
1-2 fresh jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped
2 teaspoons dried marjoram
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 cup water
1 pinch salt, or to taste (optional)
Garnish
sour cream
cheese
cilantro
tortillas
cooked white rice

Directions

Stir together the flour, 1 teaspoon salt, pepper, and cumin in a large ziploc bag. Place the cubed pork into the mixture, and stir well to coat the meat with the seasonings.
Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy pan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Working in batches if necessary, place the meat into the hot pan in a single layer. Pan-fry the pork until brown on all sides, about 15 minutes. Remove the pork to a bowl, and cover to keep warm.
Cook and stir the onion in the hot pan over medium heat, adding more olive oil if necessary, until the onion is translucent and beginning to brown, about 7 minutes. Return the meat to the pan and stir in the garlic, tomatillos, chiles, marjoram, chopped cilantro, and water. Check seasoning and add 1 pinch of salt to taste, if needed. Cover and simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the meat is tender, 1-2 hours.
I served this stew over steamed white rice, topped with sour cream and cilantro.