Spicy Pork Stew with Peppers and Potatoes

Chipotles and roasted sweet peppers give this zesty pork stew a Southwestern flavor.

• 3 lb. boneless pork shoulder, trimmed of excess fat and cut into 1-1/2- to 2-inch pieces
• 3 Tbs. grapeseed oil or vegetable oil; more as needed
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1 medium yellow onion, coarsely chopped (about 1 cup)
• 2 medium celery stalks, coarsely chopped (about 1/2 cup)
• 1 medium carrot, coarsely chopped (about 1/3 cup)
• 2 medium cloves garlic, minced
• 1 Tbs. chipotles in adobo, minced
• 1 tsp. cumin
• 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
• 1 cup beer (any kind)
• 2-/12 cups homemade or lower-salt store-bought chicken broth
• 2 cups peeled diced white potatoes (1-inch dice)
• 2 cups halved or quartered shallots (leave whole if small)
• 2 cups chopped roasted, peeled red peppers (1-inch pieces)
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Position a rack in the bottom third of the oven and heat the oven to 325°F.

Spread the pork on paper towels to dry for 10 to 20 minutes before browning. (You can use this time to chop the onion, celery, and carrot). If the meat is very wet, pat it dry.

In a 6-quart Dutch oven or other heavy-duty pot, heat the oil over medium to medium-high heat until shimmering hot. Season about one-third of pork with salt and pepper and arrange it in a single layer in the pot (there should be at least 1/2 inch of space between the pieces). Brown well on at least 4 sides, adjusting the heat as necessary; each batch should take about 10 minutes to brown. Transfer the pork to a large bowl or rimmed baking sheet as it browns and repeat with the rest of the pork, seasoning with salt and pepper before browning. Once all of the pork is browned, remove the pot from the heat to let it cool for a few minutes.

Pour all but 2 Tbs. of the fat from the pot. (If there is not enough, add oil to equal 2 Tbs.) Return the pot to medium heat, then add the onion, celery, and carrot. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper, and cook, stirring often and scraping the bottom of the pot with a wooden spatula, until the vegetables begin to soften, 5 to 6 minutes. Stir in the garlic, chipotles, cumin, and oregano and cook, stirring occasionally, until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes.

Add the beer, stirring with the wooden spatula to dissolve any browned bits on the bottom of the pot. Raise the heat to medium high and boil to reduce by about half, 5 to 8 minutes. Add the chicken broth and 1-1/2 cups water. Bring to a boil.

Return the pork to the pot along with any accumulated juice. Lower the heat to maintain a simmer.

Crumple a 12x16-inch piece of parchment, then flatten it out. (Crumpling makes for easy handling.) Place the parchment directly on the surface of the stew, allowing the ends to come up the sides of the pot. Cover and put in the oven.

After 30 minutes of stewing, add the potatoes and shallots to the pot. Cover with the parchment and lid, return to the oven. After another 30 minutes, add the peppers. Cover with the parchment and lid, return the pot to the oven, and cook until the pork is fork-tender, 1/2 to 1 hour more.

Stir in the cilantro. Degrease the stew by laying a clean paper towel over the surface of the stew and gently pushing it into all the bumps and dips, then quickly peeling it off. Repeat as necessary with more paper towels. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve.