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Slow-Cooker Braised Pork with Salsa

Winter 2004, The Essential EatingWell Cookbook (2004)

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With just a few ingredients, you can produce a full-flavored, meltingly tender pork stew in your slow cooker. Serve over quinoa or rice.



READER'S COMMENT:
"This is the first recipe I've made in a while that my whole picky family loved! It's not often everyone at the table agrees that something is good. I served it win taco shells with fat free sour cream and light cheddar. This will be a...

Makes: 8 servings, generous 3/4 cup each

Active Time:

Total Time:

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds boneless pork shoulder, or butt
  • 1 1/2 cups prepared tomatillo salsa, (see Ingredient Note)
  • 1 3/4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds, or ground cumin
  • 3 plum tomatoes, (1/2 pound), thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro, divided
  • 1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream

Preparation

  1. Trim and discard pork surface fat. Cut meat apart following layers of fat around muscles; trim and discard fat. Cut into 2-inch chunks and rinse with cold water. Place in a 5- or 6-quart slow cooker. Turn heat to high.
  2. Combine salsa, broth, onion and cumin seeds in a saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Pour over the meat. Add tomatoes and mix gently. Put the lid on and cook until the meat is pull-apart tender, 6 to 7 hours.
  3. With a slotted spoon, transfer the pork to a large bowl; cover and keep warm. Pour the sauce and vegetables into a large skillet; skim fat. Bring to a boil over high heat. Boil, skimming froth from time to time, for about 20 minutes, to intensify flavors and thicken slightly. Add the pork and 1/4 cup cilantro; heat through.
  4. To serve, ladle into bowls and garnish each serving with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkling of the remaining 1/4 cup cilantro. Oven method: Total: 3 hours Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine pork, salsa, 1/2 cup chicken broth, onion, cumin seeds and tomatoes in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish; cover snugly with foil. Bake until the pork is pull-apart tender, about 2 1/4 hours. Skim fat. Uncover and bake until the meat begins to brown, about 15 minutes more. Stir in 1/4 cup cilantro. Ladle into bowls, garnish with sour cream and remaining cilantro.

Tips & Notes

  • Make Ahead Tip: Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat on the stovetop, in a microwave or in the oven.
  • Ingredient Note: Tomatillo salsa (sometimes labeled salsa verde or green salsa) is a blend of green chiles, onions and tomatillos. It is sold in supermarkets.

Nutrition

Per serving: 276 calories; 15 g fat ( 6 g sat , 7 g mono ); 104 mg cholesterol; 6 g carbohydrates; 27 g protein; 1 g fiber; 211 mg sodium; 413 mg potassium.

Nutrition Bonus: Zinc (27% daily value), Potassium (24% dv).

Carbohydrate Servings: 2

Exchanges: 1 vegetable, 4 lean meat


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