Asado De Bodas Wedding Stew With Pork Food

ASADO DE PUERCO (MEXICAN PORK STEW)

Steps:

• Combine pork cubes, 1/2 cup water, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a Dutch oven. Cover and cook over medium heat for 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes. Uncover, increase heat to medium-high and cook, stirring constantly, until water evaporates. Continue cooking until the pork browns in its rendered fat, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cut tops off the dried chiles and remove seeds. Heat chiles in a large skillet over low heat until they start to soften. Do not toast. Place chiles in a bowl of hot water and soak for 20 minutes.
• Remove pork and set aside. Do not wash, wipe out, or clean the Dutch oven.
• Transfer chiles to a blender, reserving soaking water. Add cilantro, chicken bouillon, peppercorns, garlic, cinnamon stick, Mexican oregano, thyme, cumin seeds, bay leaves, and cloves. Pour in 1 cup soaking water and blend until smooth. Add 1 more cup soaking water, season with salt, and blend until completely smooth.
• Melt lard in the Dutch oven. Carefully add blended chile mixture and scrape up all browned bits. Bring to a boil and add pork. Reduce heat and cover partially, leaving about 1 inch open. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until sauce has thickened and reaches the desired consistency, 15 to 20 minutes.

ASADO DE BODAS (WEDDING STEW WITH PORK)

Steps:

• Heat a heavy skillet over med-high heat.
• Add the chiles and toast on both sides, turning occasionally and pressing down with a spatula, until they soften and blister.
• Remove from the pan.
• Place in a heatproof bowl and pour the hot water over them.
• Soak for 15 minutes, stirring once.
• Drain, reserving 1 cup of the soaking liquid.
• In a blender, combine the chiles and the reserved soaking liquid, garlic, and salt and puree until perfectly smooth.
• In a small skillet over medium heat, toast the cumin, clove, and peppercorns until fragrant, stirring frequently so they don't burn.
• Let cool completely and grind in a spice grinder.
• Place the pork in the bottom of a 5-quart slow cooker and sprinkle with the ground spices.
• Add the onion, marjoram, bay leaf, and cinnamon.
• Pour the chile puree over the meat and add the water.
• Stir well; cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours, stirring once or twice, until the meat is tender and the sauce is thick and fragrant.
• Remove and discard the bay leaf and cinnamon stick.
• Stir in the vinegar, brown sugar, orange zest, and chocolate; serve hot with simple white rice and warm flour tortillas.