Chili Verde with Sausage and Pumpkin

Level: Easy

Yield: 4 servings

Total: 50 min

Active: 20 min

Ingredients

For the tomatillo salsa:

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

For the chili:

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

Directions

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.