Once you try this recipe for Carne Adovada, you’ll understand why its one of New Mexico’s most celebrated dishes. If you love New Mexico cuisine, you must learn to make this at home. Amazing in flavor, and one of the easiest braised pork recipes you’ll find.
If you’re a fan of authentic New Mexico recipes, don’t miss this classic, for Stacked Enchiladas. Topped with a fried egg makes it true blue New Mexico cuisine.
About This Recipe – Why It Works
It happened sometime between the Cochinita Pibil Enchladas at Bella’s restaurant in Taos and the Carne Adovada Plate at The Shed in Santa Fe, that I knew I had fallen head over heels in love with New Mexico Red Chile Pork. Carne Adovada to be exact.
Carne Adovada is a very meaty dish, where pieces of pork roast are marinated for 24 hours in a red chile sauce, then slow-roasted in the oven. The result is possibly the most delicious food I’ve ever eaten. Pieces of pork, fork tender with the flavor of earthy, spicier, sweeter version of red chile sauce than my go-to New Mexico Red Chile Sauce I use for tamales, enchiladas and burritos.
I’ve had this dish in New Mexico about a dozen times. It’s actually about the only thing I’ll order when traveling there.
What is Carne Adovada?
A signature dish of New Mexico, Carne Adovada combines the rich deep Southwestern flavors of red chile sauce made with chunks of with slow cooked tender pork.
This red chile pork is beautiful as a stand alone dish, and absolutely amazing when used in tacos, enchiladas or burritos.
Carne Adovada marinade and sauce has a beautiful robust deeply flavored red gravy that melts around your tongue with an earthy definitive Southwestern blast. You simly can’t wait to take your next bite.
It’s a “hot but it’s not” experience. It’s divine. And the secret to a good a good Carne Adovada is using New Mexico ground red chile powder. I find this easier and more flavorful than using dried chiles.
This recipe for Carne Adovada is modeled after The Shed’s Recipe, a very popular New Mexican restaurant just off the Plaza in Santa Fe. I’ve made Carne Adovada about ten times trying to get it just as I remember from my experiences in New Mexico. I’ve studied many recipes to come up with a final method and flavor result I found to be best. Let’s take a look.
Ingredients You’ll Need
I have an arsenal of different varities, and I’ve made this pork dish with most of them. But the king of chile powders is New Mexico Chimayo, made from red chiles from the village of Chimayo. This red chile powder is a single blend rather than chili seasoning which is a blend of seasonings used to make Tex-Mex style Chili Soup. To learn more take a look at my article Chili vs. Chili.
- Onions: Yellow or sweet onions for this recipe.
- Molasses: Use regular molasses rather than black strap. Black strap molasses will impart a slightly stronger and bitter flavor to the sauce.
- Chile Powder: New Mexico Chile Powder is a must to make this an authentic Carne Adovada recipe. The heat level is of that chile powder is up to you. I use a medium heat powder.
- Coriander and Cumin: Go hand in hand in so many New Mexican, Southwestern Recipes.
- Oregano: I highly recommend you use dried Mexican Oregano if you can find it. It carries a more pungent and citrus flavor than regular oregano.
- Flour, Fat and Chicken Broth: to form that beautiful roux for the red chile gravy.
- Pork Loin Roast: Using a pork loin roast, gives us a leaner option, one where the meat will stay in more of a chunk form, nice and tender as it soaks up all of the beautiful flavor from this rich red chile sauce.
- Oil: Used to sear the pork cubes. Use a neutral oil such as canola or vegetable oil.
Recipe Ingredient Swaps
- This recipe calls for thick rich molasses. If you don’t have molasses on hand, use 1 Tablespoon brown sugar. Dark and light will work. Honey is also a good replacement for molasses.
- What if I can’t find New Mexico Chile Powder? I prefer Chimayo Chile Powder. If you simply can’t get your hands on any type of New Mexico Chile Powder, I’d use a very good quality Ancho Chile Powder or dried ancho chiles.
- If you don’t have Mexican Oregano, use marjoram.
- If you don’t have cider vinegar, use sherry vinegar, red wine vinegar, white vinegar, or white wine vinegar. Balsamic vinegar is discouraged as it would change the flavor profile of Carne Adovada.
- Oil: Use either a mild flavored olive oil.
Mexican Oregano is preferred for this recipe. It's peppery, grassy, earthy flavor is a good compliment for Mexican Food. If you don't have Mexican Oregano, substitute Marjoram. Known for its aroma and delicate flavor, its related to oregano and will bring a sweet undertone to any recipe.
Step by Step Instructions
- Step 1: Cut the pork loin roast into bite sized pieces. Heat a skillet over medium high heat, add oil and brown pork in batches as to not overcrowd. Overcrowding the chunks of pork will steam them as opposed to searing them. Make sure to get a good sear on the outside without cooking through. That sear adds flavor. Remove to a plate and set aside.
- Step 2: In the meantime make the rich red chile sauce.
How To Make The Red Chile Sauce, New Mexico Style
- Step 3: Heat a 3-6 quart Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the butter and when melted, saute the onions until tender. This should take about 5 – 7 minutes.
- Step 4: Then add the flour and stir well. Cook for a couple of minutes until flour is just starting to toast.
- Step 5: Add the chicken broth and stir well. Cook for a few minutes to thicken the consistency of gravy.
- Step 6: Add the Chile Powder, cumin, coriander and oregano. Stir to blend spices.
- Step 7 and 8: Stir to combine until blended.
- Step 9: Add the seared pork back into the sauce.
- Step 10: Stir the sauce and pork together, cover and marinate in the refrigerator overnight, or for a least 2 – 3 hours.
- Step 11:Bake covered at 350 degrees for 2 – 3 hours, or until pork is tender. Don’t over cook, pork can become dry. Stir in vinegar and molasses, cover and let steep for about 15 minutes.
Questions You Might Have
Some recipes call for the king of braised pork cuts, a pork shoulder roast. A more flavorful cut of meat, and perfect for shredded pork dishes, I found it to return a more “shredded” version than what I was looking for. And being a fattier cut, the sauce was greasier, which meant taking time to strain off the fat before serving. That’s a pain. I suggest a pork loin roast for this recipe.
There's a splash of vinegar in this recipe, but why? Vinegar is magic. And in my kitchen, it's as important as salt and pepper. Plain and simple, a splash of vinegar can brighten, balance and sharpen your food.
Absolutely yes. Just place leftovers in an airtight container and freeze. Defrost at room temperature and re-heat stovetop.
Carne Adovada is made with pork and simmered in a New Mexico Red Chile Sauce. Carne Asada is made with steak. Flank steak is commonly used, marinated, and then grilled and served with fresh vegetables such as jalapeno pepper, avocado and lime.
Tips For Success
- Pat the pork dry before searing. To get a nice golden brown crust on the pork, the dryer the meat, the better the sear.
- Don’t over crowd the pork while searing. Leave some space around each piece of pork to allow air to flow on all sided of the pieces. Over crowding the meat will cause it to steam and the texture will be compromised.
- Spicy or Mild: New Mexico Chile Powder can be hot spicy. Chose a chile powder labeled mild.
Storage
Store any leftover Carne Adovada in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Gently reheat stove top.
New Mexican Carne Adovada Recipe
I hope you give this recipe for Carne Adovada a try. It’s actually an easy fix for big return on flavor. The key to the unique balance end result flavor is adding vinegar and molasses at the end of the cooking time.
More New Mexico Recipes
And if you love Mexican food as much as we do, don’t miss my Mexican Food Category. You’ll find lots of exciting dishes including the most popular on my site for Campechana, Mexican Shrimp Cocktail.
And don’t miss one of the most famous and most popular New Mexico Recipes on my site: Hatch Green Chile Colorado Style.
If you liked this recipe, please leave a star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the recipe card below and leave a comment. I always appreciate your feedback and hearing how everything went.
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New Mexico Carne Adovada
Ingredients
- 2 ½ pounds Pork loin roast cubed
- salt and pepper to taste
- 3 Tablespoons neutral oil canola or vegetable oil
- For the gravy
- 3 Tablespoons Butter
- 3 Tablespoons Flour
- 2 Tablespoons Chile Powder New Mexico Chimayo Red. Add more if you want more heat
- 2 ½ cups Chicken Broth
- 1 large onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic chopped
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon coriander ground, dried
- 1 teaspoon Oregano Preferably Mexican
- 1 Tablespoons Molasses Not Blackstrap
- 2 Tablespoon Cider Vinegar Sherry Vinegar is a good choice here.
Instructions
- Cut pork loin roast into large bite sized pieces. Salt and pepper to taste.Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add oil. When oil is hot, add pork pieces and brown on two sides. Cook in batches as not to crowd the pork. The pork will brown better.
- Remove pork to a plate.
- Heat a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add butter. Once butter bubbles and bubbles start to subside, add onions. Cook onions, stirring, until just starting to soften, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and saute until fragrant. About 1 minute.
- Add flour and cook, stirring constantly for two minutes. Add chile powder, chicken broth and cook stirring, until gravy starts to thicken. Add cumin, coriander and oregano. Cook for 1 minutes for flavors to blend.
- Remove from heat and add browned pork.
- Stir well, cover and place in refrigerator to marinade overnight. Or for at least 2 – 3 hours before cooking.
- Heat oven to 350 degrees.
- Cook 2 – 2 ½ hours or until pork is tender.
- Remove pork from oven and stir in molasses and vinegar.
- Place the lid back on the pot and let it steep for about 15 minutes.
- Serve with lime wedges. Serve with rice, hominy or beans, flour tortillas or all. You can also top with a dollop of Sour Cream and some fresh diced sweet onions.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
New Mexico Carne Adovada … It’s What’s for Dinner
Why Trust My Recipes? I am a Culinary School Graduate and a lifelong student of home cooking. I hope to inspire you try to cook as often as you can. I’ve been cooking for 50 years, and my recipes are tried and true tested and tested and then tested again before published. To read more take a look at my About Page.
Second time making this! I always double the recipe. I’m trying it a bit different the second time. I will make it all in the morning and then braise late in the afternoon.
Hi Lea Ann,
About 2 years ago I asked about the rice and beans recipes, have you found the brand name of the canned beans yet? Also in the comments you mention to add 2 tbsp tomato paste to the rice as it is cooking and further down in the comments you say to add 2 tbsp seasoning mix to the rice; is it 2 tbsp of each to the rice or do I use the whole seasoning pkt and just add the tomato paste?
Also can the Carne adovada be cooked in sauce in the crockpot?
Thanks Katherine
Loved this recipe. I unfortunately used less pork and thus the ratio of pepper to meat was a bit higher than my wife preferred. Modified that the second time. This is one of our go to taco fillings.
I LISTION TO BOOKS AND KEEP BUSY, WHO IS MAUD DIXON AND SING THEM HOME, I’LL CHECK OUT MARTIN MARTIN, SOUNDS GOOD. M
We enjoyed this in Nogales Mexico on our honeymoon decades ago. We’ve eaten and made it many times. The main thing we found in NM style is using bay leaf in the recipe/marinade. It truly sets it off.
Thanks for the recipe. I’m glad I found your site. Formerly of NM, now in Texas, a fan.
This is one of the best dishes we’ve made, simply delicious. It’s become a regular menu item.
The flavor was fabulous, thanks for sharing Lea Ann
Love this recipe! Quick question though! In the directions at the top it says to add the molasses before cooking, but in the directions at the bottom it says to add after cooking. I have been doing it after cooking, but I’m wondering if it really matters?
Hi Angie. I made this recipe about 15 times before publishing to get it to taste just like I wanted it. I probably did it both ways. I think adding it at the end keeps the sugars from burning if the sauce gets too hot. I’m saying add it ad the end.
After scouring the internet for a copycat adovada recipe from our favorite Mexican restaurant, I think I’ve finally found the one that is most authentic! Made it today in the crock pot – delicious!
Hi and thanks for the above recipe. Once I have had a chance to make it, I will offer my comments. I like the tip regarding vinegar, I finish almost all of my savory recipes with fresh lemon juice, similar effect. Can you direct me to a recipe for the rice you show on the plate with the prorogued? It looks delicious.
Good Morning Lynne and thanks for your note.
That rice: I buy a package of Mexican rice seasoning from a local market. It’s the best ingredients I’ve found to make Spanish Rice. My goal one of these days is try to recreate it and post the recipe. And what makes it especially good is adding two tablespoons of tomato paste to the cooked rice along with the seasoning.
Please let me know how you like the Adovada and a review would be fabulous.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Lea Ann
Cooking On The Ranch
Spanish rice is very easy.
1/4cup white rice per person. (I usually make 4-6 servings
1- 8o.z. can tomato sauce
1 can chicken broth
1/2 frozen pea and carrots
1/2 onion diced
2 til so of butter.
Melt butter in skillet. I’m mid/high heat. Add onion and cook until onions are clear. Add dry rice and Brown. Once browned add chicken broth and tomato sauce. Add pea and carrots. Cook until rice absobs all the liquid.
Easy
Your recipes always inspire me to new levels! Love the layers of sweet, savory and spicy flavors in this dish, and it’s positively gorgeous!
The spice profile in this dish is splendid! I love that you use molasses as the sweetener!