Carne en su Jugo (Braised Beef in a Tomatillo Broth)

Ingredients

Beef Cheek:

• Rumba Meats® Beef Cheek (1 package, about 1½ to 3 pounds)
• 4 slices thick-cut bacon, diced
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1-pound (about 12) tomatillos, husked, rinsed
• 2 jalapeno peppers, stemmed
• 1 cup chopped white onion
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 cup rough chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon ground cumin
• ½ teaspoon dried Mexican oregano
• 4 cups beef or chicken broth, divided

Toppings:

• 1 (15-ounce) can pinto beans, simmered until warm, sliced avocado, thinly slice radishes, chopped cilantro

Instructions

Pan Fry Instructions:

1. Trim beef cheek meat and cut into bite-size pieces.
2. In a Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed soup pot, fry bacon until crisp, stirring occasionally. Using a slotted spoon, remove bacon and set aside.
3. Add cheek meat pieces to Dutch oven and cook on medium heat, stirring occasionally, until beef starts to release its juices, about 10 minutes
4. While beef is cooking, heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add tomatillos and peppers and cook, turning occasionally, until peppers and tomatillos are starting to char and burst, about 5 minutes. Transfer tomatillos and peppers to a blender bowl. Add onion, garlic, cilantro, salt, cumin, oregano, and ½ cup chicken broth. Blend until smooth.
5. Add pureed tomatillo mixture and remaining 3½ cups broth to Dutch oven and stir to blend. Partially cover with lid and simmer over low heat for 2 hours until cheek meat is tender and reaches an internal temperature of 160°F. Taste and adjust seasonings, if needed.
6. Serve carne en su jugo ladled into wide shallow bowls. Top each bowl with warm pinto beans, reserved diced bacon, and choice of fresh toppings such as sliced avocado, sliced radishes and chopped cilantro. Serve with warm tortillas and fresh lime wedges, if desired

Instant Pot Instructions:

1. Trim beef cheek meat and cut into pieces.
2. Heat oil in a skillet. Add tomatillos and peppers and cook until charred. Transfer to a blender, add onion, garlic, cilantro, salt, cumin, oregano, and ½ cup chicken broth. Blend until smooth.
3. Set instant pot on sauté mode. Add bacon and cook until crisp. Remove and set aside. Add cheek meat and cook until beef starts to release its juices. Add tomatillo mixture and 2½ cups broth. Close lid, select pressure cooker setting and cook for 45 minutes on high pressure with full natural release until cheek meat is tender and reaches an internal temperature of 160ºF.
4. Serve topped with pinto beans, bacon, and fresh toppings.

Slow Cooker Instructions:

1. Trim beef cheek meat and cut into pieces.
2. Heat oil in a skillet. Add tomatillos and peppers and cook until charred. Transfer to a blender, add onion, garlic, cilantro, salt, cumin, oregano, and ½ cup chicken broth. Blend until smooth.
3. Cook bacon in a skillet until crisp. Remove and set aside. Add cheek meat and cook until beef starts to release its juices. Transfer beef to slow cooker. Add tomatillo mixture and 2½ cups broth, Cover and cook on low setting for 8 hours until beef cheek is tender and reaches an internal temperature of 160°F.
4. Serve topped with pinto beans, bacon, and fresh toppings.