Chicharrones en Salsa Verde

Name: Chicharrones en Salsa Verde
Yield: 6-8 servings
Ingredients: 8 oz. chicharrones, broken into 1” pieces (about 6 cups), divided; 2 Tbsp. lard, bacon fat, or vegetable oil; 3 jalapeños or serrano chiles, seeds removed if desired, finely chopped; 5 garlic cloves, finely grated; 1 large white onion, finely chopped, divided; ½ tsp. freshly ground black pepper; 1½ tsp. kosher salt, plus more; 1 lb. tomatillos, husks removed, rinsed, chopped; Refried beans (for serving); 12–16 warm small corn or flour tortillas; Chopped cilantro and lime wedges (for serving)

By Rick Martinez

October 9, 2020

Plated chicharrones in a tortilla with black beans cilantro and onions

Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Prop Styling by Allie Wist

Crunchy chicharrones are ideal for soaking up bright tomatillo salsa, taking on an ultimate crispy-gone-soggy chewy texture. Every brand of chicharrones is different, sopping up more or less of the sauce, so you may need to add more or less water to achieve saucy-clingy consistency. If you can’t find tomatillos, use 4 cups chopped cored plum tomatoes (about 8 medium) to make a salsa roja instead.

Recipe notes

Tomato Aguachile

Juicy peak-season tomatoes make the perfect plant-based swap for aguachile.

Spicy Eggplant Frittata

Silky Japanese eggplant and fiery serrano chile unite in this no-fuss frittata that’s brunch-ready, dinner-worthy, and wildly good.

Sweet and Spicy Zucchini

A punchy vinaigrette of preserved lemon and hot chile animates seared zucchini. A simple solution for summer's most prolific vegetable.

Jalapeño Popper Skillet Tacos

Roasted poblanos, jalapeños, and red onion are coated with a melty sauce—warm with the flavors of pepper jack, and stabilized with a block of cream cheese.

Crispy Salmon With Avocado Sauce

You’ll want to put this creamy (but dairy-free) green sauce on everything and it’s particularly sublime under crispy-skinned salmon.

Turkish-Style Eggs and Tomatoes

This riff on çılbır marries garlicky yogurt, fried eggs, and spiced butter with summer tomatoes.

Green Beans With Tahini Sbagliato

An accidental recipe (sbagliatio means mistaken in Italian) yields a delicious herby tahini dressing that is excellent poured over lightly blanched green beans.

Juicy Bison Burger With Cucumber–Red Onion Slaw

Upgrade any cookout—or keep the cooking on the stovetop—with these smashed cast-iron bison burgers, then stack with lemon mayo and a crisp cucumber-onion slaw.