Ingredients

  • 2 ancho chiles
  • 2 dried chipotle chiles
  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 (3 to 5 pound) bone-in pork shoulder
  • Salt and pepper
  • 2 onions, chopped
  • 1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 4 sprigs thyme
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 (28-ounce) can whole tomatoes, drained and hand crushed
  • 1 orange, halved
  • 1 lime, halved
  • Corn tortillas, recipe follows
  • Avocado, sliced thin, for garnish
  • Radishes, sliced thin, for garnish
  • Tomatillo Salsa Verde, for garnish, recipe follows
  • 4 cups masa harina
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups warm water
  • 2 teaspoons honey
  • 1 pound tomatillos, husked and rinsed
  • 1 jalapeno, stemmed
  • 1 small Spanish onion, quartered
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 bunch fresh cilantro leaves, coarsely chopped
  • 1 lime, juiced

Method

  • Put the chiles into a small bowl and cover with hot water; set aside.
  • In a large heavy bottomed pan with a tight fitting lid, heat 3 tablespoons olive oil.
  • Generously season the pork with salt and pepper.
  • Brown the meat well on both sides, about 5 minutes per side; remove the meat and set aside.
  • Add the onion, pepper, garlic, cumin, thyme, and bay leaf; fry until softened, about 5 minutes, scraping up the browned bits in the pan.
  • Stem and seed the soaked chiles reserving the soaking liquid; hand tear them into the pot.
  • Return the meat to the pan along with any accumulated juices.
  • Top the meat with the tomatoes.
  • Pour in the chili soaking liquid, straining out any seeds, until it almost covers the meat; add water if you need more liquid.
  • Squeeze the orange and lime juices into the pot and add the rinds.
  • Bring the liquid to a boil, reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for about 1 1/2 hours, or until the pork is very tender.
  • Remove the meat to a platter and cover to keep warm.
  • Strain the braising liquid and reserve.
  • Shred the pork.
  • Add some of the reserved braising liquid if the meat is dry.
  • Take a tortilla and place about 2 tablespoons of the mixture on top.
  • Garnish with the avocado, radishes, and Salsa Verde; fold the sides up and serve.
  • Put the masa harina in a bowl and mix in the salt.
  • Add about 1 cup warm water and mix with your hands; add more water as needed until the dough comes together.
  • Knead for a few minutes to smooth the dough out.
  • The dough should be firm and springy and should not stick to your hands.
  • Test by forming a small disk, if it cracks around the edges you need more water.
  • Place a piece of heavy plastic (like from a garbage bag) onto a tortilla press.
  • Form a 1 1/2-inch ball of dough and place it in the center of the press.
  • Top with another piece of plastic, close the press, and push the lever down to form the tortilla.
  • (Alternately, the dough balls can be rolled between plastic sheets with a rolling pin.)
  • Open the press and remove the top layer of plastic.
  • Carefully peel the tortilla off the bottom plastic and place it onto a hot, ungreased cast iron skillet; cook for about 1 to 2 minutes per side.
  • Remove the tortilla and place it on a clean tea towel; keep it covered to keep it soft and pliable.
  • Continue until you have used up all the dough.
  • Yield: 20 (6-inch) tortillas
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 40 minutes
  • Bring a pot of water to a boil and add the tomatillos, jalapeno, onion, garlic, and 1 tablespoon salt.
  • Reduce the heat and simmer gently for 5 to 10 minutes until the tomatillos are soft but have not burst.
  • Add the cooked vegetables to a blender with the cilantro leaves and lime juice.
  • Pour in 1/4 cup of the reserved cooking liquid and process to a coarse puree.
  • Taste and adjust seasoning with more cilantro, lime juice, or salt.
  • Yield: 2 cups