Pork Chile Verde

Directions

• Roasting: Place a comal over medium to medium-high heat, then roast the poblanos and jalapeños until charred/blackened on all sides. Transfer into a zip-lock bag, close and allow them to sweat for about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, roast and cook the tomatillos (char/blacked.) Then, remove from the heat and allow them to cool down. 
• Remove the peppers from the bag. Peel the now loosened skin, by hand (use kitchen gloves.) Then, remove the stem and seeds. Note: for an added kick of heat, leave the seeds on one or more jalapeño. 
• Make the green salsa: Transfer the prepped peppers, cooled tomatillos, and 1 cup of the chicken broth into a blender. Process until smooth. Set aside until needed. 
• Prep the pork: using kitchen paper towels, pat the pork shoulder dry. Trim off excess chunks of fat. Then, dice into small bite size pieces. Season with salt and black pepper. Mix it in thoroughly, making sure every piece is well coated.
• Make the stew: to make the stew, place a large pot over medium-high heat and pour in the oil. Once hot, brown the meat. Note: brown it in batches to prevent sweating, which is caused by overcrowding the pot. Once the meat is ready, remove from the pot. 
• Lower the heat to medium-low. On the now empty pot, sauté the onion. Add oil as needed through out the cooking process. Once the onion has slightly softened, stir in the garlic, and spices. Cook and toast the spices for a couple of minutes. Meat goes back into the pot with all of its juices. Pour in the salsa. Swirl the remainder 1/2 cup of the broth in the blender, to get the last bit of salsa. Pour into the pot and stir to combine. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Then, lower to medium-low to reach a gentle simmer. Add the bay leaves. Cover the pot and allow it to cook for 45 minutes or until the meat is fork tender and the salsa has thickened. 
• Finishing touches: Once the stew is ready. Add the cilantro and cheese. Cook for an additional 2 minutes uncovered,  for the cheese to soften. Stir in salt to taste. Serve with Mexican- style rice and beans. Drizzle a touch of lime juice, and chopped cilantro. ENJOY!!!