I can relate. Grew up in the LA region and the cooking was influenced by all corners of Mexico and Latin America but the New Mexico flavors are uniquely delicious. And now you’re living in god’s country. Lived in Eugene for five years. Wonderful!
Thanks for the tip about a spritz of citrus & I think you’re probably right, preserved lemons would probably work.
As often as I ate a bowl of GCS I never saw a tomato swimming around in there.
I guess this is a question for Jaymes. Why no tomatillos, but yes to tomatoes? Just curious. Looking at several recipes, looks to me like a typical anything goes strain of stew cooking regarding veg (e.g. Using what’s at hand, seasonally.)
I would think that was because the tomatoes would turn the green chili either red or brown.
1 Like
Yes. I’m saying I never had a bowl of GCS that was either red or brown. ??
Sorry I don’t think I was clear. Looking at the recipes linked above, some use or mention tomatoes. And I can’t recall being served a bowl with tomatoes as an ingredient. But these are authoritative recipes for sure. So was just wondering about Jaymes’s take.
Ha. I usually say, “If you’re feeding little kids or yankees…” but decided to be nice.
It’s all just a matter of preference. I’ve lived in Arizona, New Mexico, Southern California, Texas - all along the US/Mexico border - and have traveled fairly extensively throughout Mexico and it’s been my experience that, although some of it is tradition, mostly it’s just what you like. I think you’re absolutely correct that Green Chile Stew is a “typical anything goes strain of stew cooking” with green chiles always added to the stew pot. I’d say tomatoes are common, but not “required.” And, as I said above, I’ve noted that tomatillos are not the rule in New Mexico, but you do usually see them elsewhere.
When I was cooking at home while raising my family we had so many versions of Green Chile Stew that my kids got to where they didn’t want to eat regular ol’ American beef stew. Said it didn’t have enough flavor. So I’d throw in a few cans of green chiles and everybody was happy.
4 Likes
Ok, good chili weather up here in Pittsburgh. Made a batch w/quarter cup Frontera fire roasted tomatillo. Hmmm. Maybe fresh tomatillos (flamed) would have been less aggressive. Maybe I overdid it. But the acidic hit kind of swamped the special flavor of the green chilis. Had to rebalance w/some very brown bone jelly & more garlic/thyme.
Have to admit I used beef brisket. It’s what I had. 
Next plan to make same w/o tomatillos & try preserved lemon garnish. But my lemons are cooking & won’t be ready till mid-April. Maybe BBQ Boy has already given it a shot.
And of course corn bread.
1 Like
I have only just started playing with Chili Verde. I made the Chicken version of this -
It was delicious and will make again, I definitely want to try the pork version. Love me some piggy. I shredded some softened corn tortillas and mixed that in after it came out of the pressure cooker. Could use more heat and more acid, squeeze of lime would probably work great.
1 Like
Jarred and canned salsas in general tend I think to be more acidic, which isn’t necessarily a problem when you cook them. Tomatillos themselves even fresh are pretty acidic. I can see where that would be a problem if combining them with a more subtle green chile. I feel like every batch of green chile I make ( and we make it about twice a month) is different because the chiles whether fresh or jarred/canned blend differently every time wih the other ingredients.
We always make this with chunks of pork shoulder or pork neck bones. I’ve done it with chicken and beef and it was fine but there’s something about green chile and pork together that can’t be improved upon. One of our favorite variants is to add potatoes or white hominy. Then it’s a meal in itself.
4 Likes
Made the pork version over the weekend. It was just as delicious as the chicken, only porkier. 
The recipe calls for 4 lbs of pork butt and, for me, that was too much. The ratio of sauce to pork was out of balance. Next time I’ll use 3.
2 Likes
I went back and looked at the chicken recipe and it calls for 3 lbs of bone-in thighs. That has to work out to around 2 1/2 lbs of meat. Will try 2 1/2 to 2 3/4 lb pork next time.
1 Like
I love it @bbqboy. I keep this one a lot simpler than my regular garbage pail kinda ground beef chili. My best success with chile verde has come with chicken (i take the skin off the thighs but the crispy skin cooked separately makes for a nice garnish at the end). Oh, and a blender full of jalapenos, chicken broth and garlic! Roasted Hatch chiles if you gottem. maybe a glug of silver tequila. Can take or leave the tomatillos personally, i know that’s probably sacrelig. I like cilantro to garnish. maybe some white beans if I have them.
Are you ready for some football?
1 Like
Among my faves.
Mine is like this, only I also include a roasted tomatillo to it.
I’ve only made it with pork. Maybe it’s time to expand to chicken.
2 Likes
2 Likes
