Mexican Pork Stew (Guisado de Puerco)

This is a popular dish in our household. I made up my own recipe. I find using 500 g of pork stew meat is about right. A kilo is possible but gets a little crowded in the pan I use. A Kuhn Rikon Frypan Braiser pressure skillet. We (my wife and I) also own the 5 Qt pressure cooker for larger items and quantity.

The secret to this dish is the kind of chilies to use. i.e
New Mexican chilies, Chipotle Morita, Pasilla. I use one of each in the recipe. Cut a large onion or two preferably a Vidalia into rounds chop very coarsely toss into pan with Grapeseed oil or whatever you use (not olive pls) and caramelize the onion. Do it right its going to take time like half an hour at least. This step is crucial as it forms a base flavor for the dish. Toss the pork cubes (half inch square or so) in the onion mixture until coated and a bit brown. One teaspoon of Mexican Oregano and a couple of bay leaves, some kosher salt and crush some black pepper into the mix. Toss the whole thing around and pour some liquid ( 3\4 cup or so) into the frypan braiser.

Use whatever liquid you like but nothing too strong that will overshadow the delicate spicing. I use apple juice because apple flavoring marries so well with pork. Pressure cook for say ten minutes on 2 rings and hissing and let cool down naturally off stove. When things have subsided open up the pan and remove the chilies and bay leaves. Add garlic, couple of cloves minced. I add a table spoon of balsamic vinegar some decent stuff is preferable. This gives the dish a nice bright note and combines well with the chilies.

It's pretty watery at this stage so some thickening ( corn starch, potato starch whatever) is called for. Not too much as we like it a bit like soup. We eat it with some converted rice or better still just some nice crunchy baguette which you can use to sop up the sauce.

This dish is not hot, I repeat not hot but a combination of very interesting background flavors, some heat, smoke and je ne sais quoi.

Enjoy. Great Fall cooking and all of the above could be accomplished in a slow cooker.

thanks to Nick for letting me post