Pepian-Style Pork Stew with Roasted Chilies and Spices
A hearty Guatemalan pork stew slow-cooked in a rich, smoky sauce of roasted tomatoes, chilies, and toasted spices. This latin american-inspired pork ready in about 170 minutes pairs chiles dried pasilla chiles, chiles dried ancho chiles, quartered medium tomatoes for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds, cut into 2-inch cubes pork shoulder
- 2 chiles dried pasilla chiles
- 2 chiles dried ancho chiles
- 3, quartered medium tomatoes
- 1 medium, quartered white onion
- 4 garlic cloves
- 1, 2 inches cinnamon stick
- 4 whole cloves
- 1/4 cup pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Step 1: Toast 2 dried pasilla chiles, 2 dried ancho chiles, 1/4 cup pepitas, 1 cinnamon stick, and 4 whole cloves in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-4 minutes until fragrant and slightly darkened.
- Step 2: Remove chiles from skillet, discard stems and seeds, then soak them in 1 cup hot water for 20 minutes until softened.
- Step 3: While chiles soak, roast 3 quartered medium tomatoes, 1 quartered white onion, and 4 garlic cloves under a broiler for 10 minutes until charred and softened.
- Step 4: Blend the softened chiles with roasted tomatoes, onion, garlic, toasted pepitas, cinnamon, cloves, and 1 cup soaking water until smooth.
- Step 5: Heat 3 tablespoons vegetable oil in a heavy pot over medium-high heat. Brown 2 pounds cubed pork shoulder for 5 minutes until golden on all sides.
- Step 6: Pour the blended sauce over the pork and add 3 cups chicken broth. Stir well and season with 2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon black pepper.
- Step 7: Cover and simmer on low heat for 2 hours until pork is tender and sauce is thickened.
- Step 8: Serve the pepian pork stew with steamed rice or warm corn tortillas.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Pepian-Style Pork Stew with Roasted Chilies and Spices take to make?
Total time is about 170 minutes (40 min prep + 130 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Pepian-Style Pork Stew with Roasted Chilies and Spices?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep chiles dried pasilla chiles from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Pepian-Style Pork Stew with Roasted Chilies and Spices?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Pepian-Style Pork Stew with Roasted Chilies and Spices for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 6 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 6). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Pepian-Style Pork Stew with Roasted Chilies and Spices?
Latin American pork like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
