Carne Adovada is a traditional Mexican stew featuring tender pork simmered in a rich, smoky red chili sauce. This recipe brings the comforting flavors of home-cooked Mexican cuisine to your table, perfect for family dinners or a satisfying weeknight meal.
The Roots of Flavor
The dish is deeply rooted in border and Mexican adobo traditions, where slow-cooked meats are simmered in chili-based sauces. While often associated with New Mexico, its origins trace back to generations of slow-cooked pork, tomatoes, tomatillos, and carefully chosen dried chilis. The result? A flavor that builds over time, creating a succulent, deeply satisfying dish.
Why This Recipe Works
This recipe is designed to be approachable and forgiving, ensuring big flavor with minimal effort. The key lies in the balance of smoky, spicy chilis, the brightness of tomatillos and vinegar, and the slow-cooked tenderness of pork. This makes each bite memorable and creates leftovers that taste even better the next day.
Key Ingredients & Their Role
- Pork Shoulder: Provides rich, tender, and juicy meat that absorbs the chili sauce beautifully.
- Guajillo & Arbol Chilis: Form the backbone of the red chili sauce, delivering smoky, earthy, and mildly spicy notes.
- Vinegar: Cuts through the richness of the pork, adding tang and brightness to the overall flavor profile.
How to Make Carne Adovada: A Step-by-Step Guide
- Cook Chilis & Tomatoes: Simmer guajillo chilis, roma tomatoes, and tomatillos in water until tender (8-10 minutes).
- Blend the Sauce: Combine cooked ingredients with arbol chilis, garlic, vinegar, salt, oregano, cumin, and cloves; blend until smooth and strain.
- Brown the Pork: Season pork shoulder chunks with salt and pepper and sear in batches until golden brown.
- Simmer Together: Pour the sauce over the pork, add onion, bay leaves, and broth; simmer until tender (1 hour to 1 hour 45 minutes).
Adaptability & Tips
- Chili Swaps: Ancho chilis can be substituted for guajillo chilis for a sweeter, milder sauce.
- Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days; rewarm with a splash of broth to maintain tenderness.
- Make-Ahead: Blend and strain the chili sauce a day or two in advance for deeper flavor development.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this hearty stew with warm tortillas, rice, pickled red onions, or sliced avocado for a complete and satisfying meal. This dish is ideal for family dinners, taco nights, or meal prepping.
Carne Adovada delivers authentic Mexican flavor with tender pork and a smoky-tangy sauce. It’s a comforting, versatile meal that’s sure to become a new favorite.
