When I first met Allen he wanted me to make Carne Con Chile Colorado which is meat with red chile. I didn’t really know what it was and I’d search for recipes to learn how. We didn’t have the tools then to search the Internet, I’d ask him what it was, I’d look at it and taste it at Mexican restaurants trying to figure out the ingredients. I tried to make it many times, not reaching the desired results.
Years later, I’ve finally learned how to make it. Little did I know how easy it really is. Simple. I’m sure making it many more times will improve it and I’m sure my friends in Mexico can teach me more things in cooking this dish, but I’m proud of my accomplishments and feel they will love my dish.
a favorite – authentic carne con chile colorado.
I used pork butt but I’ve seen this dish also with beef. So for the red sauce I used New Mexico red chile and ancho chile. I can find New Mexico chile in my store, but if you can’t you can order on line or you can use a California red chile.Dried chiles should be pliable and smell slightly fruity.
There are instructions in the recipe portion, but what you do to make the sauce is remove the seeds and stems from the dried chile. Then you add them to boiling or hot water and allow them to sit for about 30 minutes. After that add them to a blender along with cumin, Mexican oregano and onion, and a mixture of garlic and salt. Process until very smooth , then strain discarding any remaining skin or seeds. You can use a blender or food processor, but I really like to use my Nutribullet. It really pulverizes the chile making the straining so much easier. Here’s a link:https://amzn.to/3ek1C1G. Great for smoothies too!
One of the steps is to grind garlic and salt together in a Molcajete adding a little water to form a slurry to add to the chile puree that you can also do in the processor or Nutribullet. Here’s a link for the Molcajete. https://amzn.to/3fmnU4a.
a favorite – authentic carne con chile colorado.
I served this with refried beans and Mexican rice, along with flour tortillas. Here’s a link for those recipes: https://the2spoons.com/pinto-beans-for-refried-beans/.
and the rice https://the2spoons.com/essential-mexican-rice/
Here’s the recipe for this dish. Enjoy!
Carne con Chile Colorado
Ingredients
- 3 lbs pork cubed
- 10 New Mexico red Chile or California red chile, stems and seeds removed, or other red chile
- 2 ancho chiles, stems and seeds removed
- 1/4 cup water for the pork
- 1 tsp salt for the pork
- 2 tsp flour for the pork
- 2 cups water for the pork
- boiling water for preparing the chile
- 1 tsp salt for the red chile puree
- 4 cloves garlic for the red chile puree
- 1 1/4 tsp Mexican oregano for the red chile puree
- 1 1/2 cups water for making the chile puree
Instructions
- Remove the stems and seeds from the chile. Bring a pot of enough water to a boil just to cover the chile. Turn the water off and allow to sit for about 30 minutes. Strain pressing through with the back of your spoon, discarding any skin left behind.
- Meanwhile, add the cubed pork to a heavy pot with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 cup water. Cover and cook on low heat checking about every 10 minutes and stirring until all the pink has gone.
- While the pork is cooking make the chile puree. In a molcajeta or food processor, add salt and the garlic and make a paste. Add the oregano and crush, then 1/4 cup water to the mixture.
- Remove the chile from the water and place in a food processor, blender or I use the Nutribullet. Add the garlic, salt and oregano mixture, along with the 1 1/2 cups water. Process until smooth. Strain, pressing with the back of a spoon until just some of the skin remains. Discard the remaining skin.
- Then, remove the lid for your pork and cook uncovered for about 30 minutes, until the water has evaporated and the pork starts to brown.
- Add 2 teaspoons flour to the pork mixture, stirring to combine. Cook for a minute or so.
- Add the red chile and Stir. Add 2 cups water and cook on medium until the pork is tender.
- I add a potato or two diced, because Allen likes it with potatoes.
- Serve with refried beans, Mexican rice and flour tortillas. Pasar Bien! Enjoy!
