Recipe(tried): Green Chile Pork Stew, Pinto Beans

This is a delicious stew, the fennel is an unusual addition. With it, we had flour tortillas and Cole slaw. I keep Roasted New Mexico Green Chiles in my freezer.

Green Chile Pork Stew
6-8 servings

3 to 3 1/2 pounds boneless pork butt, WELL trimmed
1 tablespoon cooking oil
1 cup chopped onion
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 cups water
2 (14 1/2 ounce each) stewed tomatoes
6 or 7 Roasted, Peeled New Mexico chiles or 2 cans (4ounce each) chopped green chiles
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons dried oregano (preferrably Mexican oregano)
2 teaspoons fennel seed
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 1/2 cups cubed peeled potatoes (about 2 medium baking potatoes)
pinto beans (see below) or use canned, rinsed and drained pinto beans
1/4 cup chopped cilantro (optional)

Cut pork into 1 inch cubes, cutting away excess fat as needed. Brown the cubes in the oil in a heavy skillet on medium heat in batches, transferring each batch to a dutch oven as they are browned.

When all pork is well browned and removed, add the onions and garlic to the skillet and saute for 3 minutes. Add to the browned pork in dutch oven. Discard any excess grease accumulated during the process.

Deglaze skillet with some of the 3 cups of water, adding it to the dutch oven along with the remaining water, tomatoes, chilies, and seasonings. Bring to a boil over medium heat then place in a 325 degree oven and bake for 1 hour.
Add potatoes and bake for 1 hour more, or until meat and potatoes are tender.

Remove from oven and add the cooked or canned pinto beans, and enough bean liquid to achieve a consistency you desire. Add salt to taste and simmer for 20 minutes. Add the cilantro.

Pinto Beans

1 cup dried pinto beans
1/2 small onion, cut in 2 (remove before adding beans to stew)
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 teaspoon sugar

Wash and soak pinto beans for 4-6 hours. Discard soaking liquid and place beans in a 3 quart sauce pan with remaining ingredients and approximately 4 cups water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 1-2 hours until tender.