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Fall Apart Tender Carne Adovada Recipe You’ll Love

Discover the secrets to making fall-apart tender carne adovada that will impress your family and friends. This mouthwatering recipe will guide you through choosing the best cuts of meat, essential spices, and cooking techniques for that perfect texture and flavor. Whether you use a slow cooker or an oven, you’ll have an authentic dish that’s sure to delight.

Ingredients

Scale
  • Meat
  • 2 pounds pork shoulder or pork butt, cut into 2-inch pieces
  • Chiles
  • 3 dried ancho chiles
  • 3 dried guajillo chiles
  • Aromatics
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • Spices and Herbs
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • Liquids
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • Other
  • Salt, to taste
  • Black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Chiles:
  2. Toast the dried ancho and guajillo chiles in a dry skillet for 2-3 minutes until fragrant.
  3. Soak the chiles in hot water for about 20 minutes until softened, then drain and set aside.
  4. Make the Sauce:
  5. In a blender, combine the soaked chiles, garlic, onion, cumin seeds, oregano, apple cider vinegar, and chicken broth. Blend until smooth.
  6. Sear the Pork:
  7. Season the pork shoulder pieces with salt and black pepper.
  8. Heat oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
  9. Add the pork in batches and sear on all sides until browned. Remove and set aside.
  10. Combine and Simmer:
  11. Return all browned pork to the pot and pour the blended chile sauce over the meat.
  12. Stir until the pork is evenly coated with the sauce.
  13. Cover and cook on low heat for 2.5 to 3 hours, stirring occasionally, until the pork is fork-tender and falls apart easily.
  14. Serve:
  15. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve hot with fresh cilantro and warm tortillas, or as desired.
  • Author: Chef Olivier