Chilorio (Sinaloa Shredded Pork in Chilli Adobo)

• 2½ lb (1.1 kg) boneless pork leg (pierna), for shredding
• a little salt for the cooking water and salt to taste in the adobo
• 2 bay leaves (for the cooking water)
• 4 pasilla chillies, stemmed and seeded
• 4 guajillo chillies, stemmed and seeded
• 1 ancho chilli, stemmed and seeded
• about ½ cup of the chilli soaking water
• ½ white onion for the adobo (plus ¼ onion for the cooking water)
• 2 garlic cloves for the adobo (plus 1 for the cooking water)
• ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 whole cloves
• 4 black peppercorns
• ½ tbsp cumin
• ½ tbsp dried oregano
• a little oil (about 1 tbsp), for browning
• chopped coriander (cilantro), to serve
• lime wedges, to serve

Method

The cook speaks Spanish; every step is written here in English. Tap a time to watch that step in the video. For subtitles, tap CC in the video, then Settings › Subtitles › Auto-translate › English.

1. Put the pork in a pot of water and bring to a simmer, skimming off the foam. Add a garlic clove, a chunk of onion (¼ onion), a little salt and the bay leaves, and cook gently until tender enough to shred (the video gives no time; allow about 1½ hours). 0:19
2. Meanwhile soak the cleaned, seeded chillies in hot water until soft. Blend them with a little soaking water, the half onion, 2 garlic cloves, vinegar, cloves, peppercorns, cumin, oregano and a little salt until completely smooth (this adobo is not strained). 0:42
3. Lift the cooked pork out of its water and pull it apart a little so it shreds easily later. 1:21
4. Heat a little oil in a wide pot and brown the pork for a few minutes, until golden threads start to form. 1:34
5. Pour in the adobo and cook over medium heat for 10–15 minutes so the meat soaks up the sauce. 1:49
6. Shred the pork completely in the pot with two forks so every strand is coated, then serve with lime and coriander. 2:27

Tip. Serves about 6 (our estimate for 1.1 kg pork). Eaten in tacos, burritos or tostadas with a habanero and red-onion salsa; lettuce cups keep it low in carbs. Keeps a week in the fridge and freezes well.

The method is a summary in our words — the video shows every step.