Chili Verde with Sausage and Pumpkin
1 1/2 pounds tomatillos (6 to 8 medium)
5 serrano or 10 jalapeno peppers, stemmed (plus seeds, if you can take the heat)
3 cloves garlic, peeled
1 large white onion, peeled and sliced 1/2 inch thick
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 large yellow onion, roughly chopped
1 pound sausage meat (mild or hot)
1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano (preferably Mexican), crumbled
3 cloves garlic, very finely chopped
1 15-ounce can hominy
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro, plus more for topping
2 cups chopped peeled sugar pumpkin or butternut squash (about 8 ounces)
Kosher salt
Thinly sliced serrano or jalapeno peppers, for topping
Instructions:
Make the tomatillo salsa: Preheat the broiler. Remove the husks from the tomatillos, then rinse the tomatillos under warm water to remove any stickiness. Dry with a paper towel. Put the tomatillos, chiles, garlic and sliced onion on a rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with the olive oil and sprinkle on 2 teaspoons or so of salt. Broil a few inches from the heat, turning everything once, until the tomatillos are softened and slightly charred, about 7 minutes. Let cool to room temperature.
Transfer the broiled vegetables to a blender; add the cilantro and puree until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
Make the chili: Heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven or large saucepan over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until just translucent, about 4 minutes. Add the sausage and cook, stirring and breaking it up, until browned, about 10 minutes.
Spoon out and discard the excess fat, leaving 1 to 2 tablespoons in the pot. Stir in the oregano and garlic and cook, stirring, about 3 more minutes.
Stir in the tomatillo salsa, hominy (including the liquid), cilantro and pumpkin. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to medium low and simmer, covered, until the pumpkin is tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Taste and season with salt, if necessary. Top with cilantro and chiles.
