Tomatillo sauce:
2 lbs. tomatillos, husks removed, washed
2 large jalapenos
1 large onion, cut into wedges
6 - 8 large cloves garlic, peeled
cilantro to taste
juice of 1 lime
salt to taste
Place an oven rack a few inches from the broiler. Arrange tomatillos, jalapenos, onion, and garlic on a roasting pan and place a few inches from the broiler. Broil 5-6 minutes, until they start to char. Turn over and broil another 5-6 minutes, until tomatillos are soft and blackened. Remove from oven and cool about 20 minutes. Split the jalapenos in half lengthwise and remove the seeds (reserve some seeds for a hotter sauce). Place vegetables and their juices in a blender and puree until desired consistency is reached; it should be a little chunky. Add the cilantro, lime juice, and of salt; pulse a few more times to mix. Can be made up to 3 days in advance.
Pork tenderloin:
3 Tbsp. flour
1 Tbsp. salt
1/2 teaspoon cumin
bacon grease, lard, or vegetable oil, for browning
2 lbs pork tenderloin, cut into cubes
1/4 cup Mexican-style beer
1 recipe tomatillo sauce (above)
Combine flour, salt, and cumin in a large mixing bowl. Add the pork cubes and gently toss to coat. Brown the pork in hot grease/oil, cooking one layer at a time, about 1 - 2 minutes per side. Remove with a slotted spoon, set aside, and continue with the remaining pork. Deglaze the pan with beer, scraping up any leftover browned bits as the beer bubbles. Return the browned pork cubes to the skillet and add tomatillo sauce. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil; reduce heat and simmer for 15 - 20 minutes. May be made a day or two in advance; flavor improves with time.
Serve with:
Small corn or flour tortillas
Cooked rice
Cooked beans
Chopped cilantro
Lime wedges
Adapted from The Kitchn
Versión en español: this post is also available in Spanish.
Esperanta traduko: this post is also available in Esperanto, because Dana is a language geek.
