Costillas de Puerco en Salsa Verde (Pork Ribs in Green Sauce)
Pork ribs braised until falling off the bone in tangy green sauce, served with warm tortillas to mop it up.
Made with Green enchilada sauce and Corn tortillas from masa harina. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time2 hr 15
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £4.44 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Season the ribs with the salt. Heat the oil in a large casserole over a high heat and brown the ribs in batches for 3 to 4 minutes a side. Lift out onto a plate.
10 min - 2
Add the onion to the pan and fry for 4 minutes until softened, scraping up any browned bits.
4 min - 3
Return the ribs and add your ready made green enchilada sauce (see the base recipe) and the water. Bring to a simmer, cover with a lid and cook gently for 1 hour 15 minutes.
75 min - 4
Add the potatoes, push them under the liquid and cook, covered, for 30 minutes more until the potatoes and ribs are completely tender.
30 min - 5
Skim off any fat from the top. Taste and adjust the salt. If the sauce is thin, cook uncovered for 5 minutes to thicken.
5 min - 6
Warm the corn tortillas in a dry pan or wrapped in foil in the oven. Serve the ribs and sauce in bowls, scattered with coriander, with the tortillas on the side.
Tips
- Brown the ribs well first. The sauce tastes deeper and richer with that browned base.
- Keep the heat low and the lid on. Boiling hard makes the ribs tough and stringy.
- Chill leftovers and lift off the set fat before reheating, for a cleaner, lighter sauce.
Storing and freezing
Cool within 2 hours and keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. Freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat until steaming hot all the way through.
Questions
Can I cook the ribs in a slow cooker?
Yes. Brown the ribs, then cook on low with the sauce and water for 7 to 8 hours, adding the potatoes for the last 2 hours. Cooking times vary between machines.
Can I use pork shoulder instead of ribs?
Yes. Use 1 kg diced pork shoulder and cook for about 1 hour 30 minutes. It makes a classic puerco en salsa verde.
Is this dish dairy free and gluten free?
Yes. It has no dairy, gluten or egg, as long as your tortillas are pure corn and the sauce was made with gluten free stock.
More made with green enchilada sauce
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.