Ingredients:
Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1/2 lb (1 heaped cup) lentils, brown if available
1/2 small White onion
Sea salt to taste
The pork:
1 pound Boneless stewing pork, cut into 1-inch cubes
Sea salt to taste
The seasoning and final cooking:
5 small Chilies anchos, cleaned of veins and seeds and Lightly toasted
1/4 pound Tomatoes, broiled
1 clove Garlic - peeled and roughly chopped
1/4 Teaspoon Dried oregano, Mexican if possible
1 Whole clove
1 1/2 Inch cinnamon stick
1 Tablespoon Melted lard or safflower oil
1 medium Plantain (about 8-oz), -peeled and cut into 1/4 Inch cubes
2 medium Thick pineapple slices, peeled, cored, cut into Small triangular wedges |
Preparation:
The lentils: Run the lentils through your hands to
make sure there are no stones or other foreign bodies
in them. Rinse them in two changes of water and put
into a pan. Add onion, salt to taste, and enough water
to come about 2 inches above the surface of the
lentils. Set over medium heat and bring to a fast
simmer. Continue simmering until the lentils are quite
soft ~ about 3 hours, depending on their age. Keep a
pan of near-boiling water on the side, ready to add if
necessary.
Put the pork pieces into a pan; add salt to taste and
water to cover. Bring to a fast simmer and continue
simmering until the pork is tender but not soft -
about 25 minutes. Strain, reserving the broth, and set
broth and meat aside.
Cover the dried chilies with boiling water and leave
to soak for about 15 minutes, until the chilies have
softened and become fleshy. Drain and put into a
blender with 1 cup of the reserved pork broth, the
broiled tomatoes, garlic, oregano, clove, and
cinnamon; blend until smooth, adding more broth only
if needed to release the blades of the blender.
Heat the lard in a small frying pan, add the blended
ingredients, and fry over medium heat, stirring and
scraping the bottom of the pan, until reduced and well
seasoned - about 4 minutes. Add to the lentils and add
the pork, remaining broth, plantain, and pineapple;
simmer together for about 30 minutes. Adjust salt and
add water if necessary. The mixture should be like a
thick soup. |