Chili al Pastor

Directions

1. Chili al Pastor
2. Preheat oven to 350º F. Start a pot of water to boil.
3. Trim excess fat from the pork shoulder, and cut into approximately 1-inch chunks. Transfer the chunks to a medium to large bowl. Zest one of the oranges. Sprinkle the orange zest over the pork chunks, and set the 2 oranges aside. Sprinkle the cumin, salt, pepper, and cloves over the pork chunks. Toss well to evenly coat with the seasonings; allow to rest at room temperature for 45 minutes.
4. Remove and discard the stems and seeds from the chiles. Roast the chiles in the oven for 4 to 5 minutes, until you can start to smell them. Remove from the oven and place in a bowl. Cover with 2 to 3 cups of water, and allow to steep for 15 or more minutes to soften. Turn off the oven.
5. Dice the onion and set aside (you should have 2 to 2 ½ cups of diced onion.) Mince the garlic and set aside (you should have about 4 teaspoons.) Juice the oranges into a 2 cup glass measure and set aside (you should have between ¾ and 1 cup.)
6. Heat oil in a 6-quart Dutch oven or stock pot over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the pork chunks, and cook stirring every 3 or so minutes until nicely browned with no pink remaining. Reduce heat to medium, and add diced onion and minced garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally until the onion is translucent. Add the diced tomatoes (including the juice), bay leaves, and oregano. Reduce heat to maintain a simmer.
7. Remove the chiles from the soaking water, and transfer them to the blender. Add enough of the soaking water to the orange juice to make 2 cups total, then add the juice mixture to the blender. Pulse several times, then blend until smooth, scraping down the sides of the blender once. Pour the chile purée into the pork mixture.
8. Gently simmer the chili until the pork is tender, stirring occasionally. This will take about 2 hours. At this point you can cool and refrigerate the chili until you are ready to serve it, then gently reheat. Otherwise lower heat as much as possible, and proceed with making the polenta and caramelizing the pineapple. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and lime juice, and thin with water if needed just before serving.
9. To serve: Place a wedge of polenta into each bowl. Divide chili evenly amongst bowls. Divide caramelized pineapple evenly amongst bowls (you should have about ¼-cup per serving.) Garnish with cilantro, onion, and lime wedges. Enjoy!

1. Polenta and Caramelized Pineapple
2. Bring 3 cups of water and 1 teaspoon kosher salt to a boil. Gradually stir in the polenta and reduce the heat to low. Partially cover the pan to help prevent spattering. Stir frequently until the polenta mixture is thick and cooked through, about 20 to 30 minutes. Oil a medium bowl, and transfer the cooked polenta to the bowl. Immediately spread into an even layer. Allow to set up at least 10 minutes, then turn onto a cutting board and slice into 6 wedges. (NB: because polenta brands vary, make sure to check your package's instructions. Follow them for using 1 cup dried polenta if the proportions are much different from the directions I've given.)
3. While the polenta water is coming to a boil, trim the pineapple, then cut it into quarters and remove the core. Cut each quarter lengthwise into thirds, then crosscut into ½-inch thick chunks. Toss the pineapple chunks with sugar. Once the polenta is cooking, heat 1 tablespoon of canola oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high, until it shimmers. Add the pineapple chunks to the skillet in a single layer. Cook, stirring occasionally until the chunks have softened and caramelized, about 7 to 8 minutes. Transfer to bowl, and set aside.