Chilorio is a stewed pork guisado from the state of Sinaloa on the Mexican Pacific coast. The first thing you will notice is its striking crimson red color. I remember trying it for the first time as a sample from a restaurant in my hometown of Puerto Vallarta. It was wrapped in a flour tortilla and I marveled at the deep flavors and stunning color. Chilorio is a perfect match with breakfast potatoes to bring you back to life after a long night. Also try it tucked into some flour tortillas and tightly rolled for the best Northern-style burrito lunch.
| Level: | Easy |
| Total: | 2 hr |
| Active: | 45 min |
| Yield: | 6 to 8 servings |
Ingredients
- 2 pounds pork butt or shoulder roast
- 1 yellow onion, halved
- Kosher salt
- 1 ounce guajillo chiles (about 6 medium), stemmed and seeded
- 1 cup canned tomato puree or strained tomatoes
- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 4 cloves garlic, peeled
Instructions
- Put the pork, onion and 1 tablespoon salt in a large Dutch oven or stockpot and add enough water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cover and cook until the meat is tender and falling apart when pierced with a fork, 1 to 1 1/2 hours depending on your cut of meat. Transfer the meat to a bowl and reserve 2 cups of the cooking broth. Discard the remaining broth and onions, rinse the pot and return it to the stove.
- Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine the chiles and enough water to cover by about 1 inch. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, pressing on the chiles to submerge them. Remove from the heat, cover and let stand until the chiles are fully softened and pulpy, 15 to 20 minutes.
- Using a slotted spoon, transfer the chiles to a blender; discard the soaking water. Add the tomato, vinegar, oregano, cumin, garlic and 2 cups reserved broth. Puree until completely smooth.
- Return the cooked pork to the reserved pot and pour the salsa over the meat. Mix until the meat is completely covered. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Season with 1 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring often to encourage the meat to fall apart into shreds, until the sauce thickens and the meat absorbs most of the sauce, about 20 minutes. Adjust the seasoning to taste.
- Serve the chilorio with flour tortillas or breakfast potatoes for a hearty brunch.
Nutrition Facts
| Serving Size | 1 of 8 servings |
| Calories | 247 |
| Total Fat | 14 g |
| Saturated Fat | 5 g |
| Carbohydrates | 8 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 4 g |
| Protein | 21 g |
| Cholesterol | 70 mg |
| Sodium | 420 mg |
Reviews
Rave reviews from all in the family, including grandchildren. Plenty for seconds!
My family loved it, we used it in burrito shells. Super easy and flavorful. Will make again