Chile Verde

Total Time: 2 hrs 30 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 2 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 2 teaspoons whole cumin seeds
• 1 whole clove
• 1 teaspoon whole black peppercorn
• 10 tomatillos, husked and washed (about 12 ounces total)
• 2 fresh jalapeno chilies, stemmed (use serrano chilies if you like it spicier)
• 8 fresh anaheim chilies, roasted, seeded, and diced, see cook's notes
• 4 large garlic cloves
• 2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 2 tablespoons fresh lard or 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 1/2 lbs boneless lamb shoulder, cut into 3/4-inch cubes
• 2 large fresh poblano chiles, roasted, seeded, and diced, see cook's notes
• 1/2 onion, finely diced
• 1/2 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth mixed with 1/2 cup water
• 1 dried bay leaf
• mexican crema or sour cream

Recipe

• 1 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 (see cook's notes).
• 2 place the tomatillos and jalapenos in a small saucepan and cover with cold water. bring to a boil and simmer 5 minutes, or until barely soft. drain immediately and place in a food processor along with the anaheim chilies, garlic and salt. pulse until smooth.
• 3 heat the lard (or oil) in a large skillet over medium-high heat and, working in batches, brown the lamb on one side without stirring the meat, then turn and brown on the other side. return all the lamb to the skillet and add the poblanos and onion and cook, stirring, until the onions are soft, about 5 minutes. add the ground spices and cook, stirring, for an additional 2 minutes, until the spices are fragrant. transfer the lamb mixture to a 5-quart slow cooker.
• 4 return the skillet to the stove and reduce heat to medium. add the contents of the food processor to the pan and cook, stirring, until the salsa is thick and begins to stick to the pan. add the water (or broth) and bay leaf to the pan and simmer, stirring once or twice, for 5 minutes. stir into the lamb in the slow cooker, cover, and cook on low 2 hours, or until the lamb is tender. serve hot with a bowl of mexican crema or sour cream alongside.