Tacos with Pork in Green Sauce (Tacos de cerdo en salsa verde)

Tender pork shoulder slowly simmered in a vibrant green sauce made from fresh tomatillos, chiles, and aromatic spices. This authentic Mexican dish creates flavorful tacos with meat that's perfectly braised until it can be easily shredded.

6 servings

2 hr 50 min

Published October 4, 2025

Ingredients

•1½ pounds tomatillos
•2 whole serrano or jalapeño chiles
•1 teaspoon cumin seed
•3 whole allspice berries
•1 whole clove
•3 cloves garlic
•½ cup cilantro
•1½ teaspoons salt
•3 pounds pork shoulder
•2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Cooking Instructions

1.
In a 3-quart saucepan, cover the tomatillos and chiles with cold water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer the vegetables uncovered, turning occasionally, until the tomatillos are tender and khaki-green all over but still intact, about 15 minutes. Reserve the cooking liquid.
15 min
2.
Heat the cumin, allspice berries, and clove in a small, dry skillet over medium heat, shaking the pan or stirring the spices until they are fragrant and the cumin is a few shades darker, about 1 minute.
1 min
3.
Put the spices in a blender along with 1 cup of the tomatillo cooking water and blend until the spices are ground. Using a slotted spoon, gently lift the tomatillos and chiles out of the remaining cooking water and put them in the blender along with the garlic, cilantro, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Blend until smooth.
5 min
4.
Pat the pork dry and season with the remaining 1 teaspoon salt. Heat the oil in a wide, heavy 4- to 5-quart pot over medium-high heat and brown the pork in batches without crowding, turning occasionally, about 8 minutes per batch.
24 min
5.
Return all the meat to the pan and add the tomatillo sauce. Bring to a simmer, stirring to coat the meat, then reduce the heat. Simmer the pork, covered, stirring occasionally, until the meat is tender and the sauce is thickened, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. If necessary, continue to cook uncovered to thicken the sauce. Shred the meat with two forks.
120 min
6.
Make tacos with the accompaniments.
5 min

Cooking Instructions

In a 3-quart saucepan, cover the tomatillos and chiles with cold water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer the vegetables uncovered, turning occasionally, until the tomatillos are tender and khaki-green all over but still intact, about 15 minutes. Reserve the cooking liquid.

15 min

Heat the cumin, allspice berries, and clove in a small, dry skillet over medium heat, shaking the pan or stirring the spices until they are fragrant and the cumin is a few shades darker, about 1 minute.

1 min

Put the spices in a blender along with 1 cup of the tomatillo cooking water and blend until the spices are ground. Using a slotted spoon, gently lift the tomatillos and chiles out of the remaining cooking water and put them in the blender along with the garlic, cilantro, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Blend until smooth.

5 min

Pat the pork dry and season with the remaining 1 teaspoon salt. Heat the oil in a wide, heavy 4- to 5-quart pot over medium-high heat and brown the pork in batches without crowding, turning occasionally, about 8 minutes per batch.

24 min

Return all the meat to the pan and add the tomatillo sauce. Bring to a simmer, stirring to coat the meat, then reduce the heat. Simmer the pork, covered, stirring occasionally, until the meat is tender and the sauce is thickened, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. If necessary, continue to cook uncovered to thicken the sauce. Shred the meat with two forks.

120 min

Make tacos with the accompaniments.

5 min