The Escape Hatch Skillet

Name: The Escape Hatch Skillet
Ingredients: 2 lbs Boneless Pork Shoulder (Boston Butt), cut into 2-inch chunks; 1 tbsp, plus more to taste Kosher Salt; 1 tsp, freshly ground Black Pepper; 2 tbsp Olive Oil; 1 large Yellow Onion, chopped; 4 cloves Garlic, minced; 2 tsp Smoked Paprika; 1 tsp Ground Cumin; 1/2 tsp Dried Oregano; 1 (14.5 oz) can Canned Diced Fire-Roasted Tomatoes, undrained; 1 (7 oz) can Canned Chopped Hatch Green Chilies, undrained; 2 cups Chicken Broth; 1 cup Frozen Corn Kernels; 1/4 cup Fresh Cilantro, chopped (for garnish); 1 Lime, cut into wedges (for serving); 1 cup Parmesan Cheese, freshly grated (for crisps)

A robust, slow-braised pork skillet infused with the smoky essence of New Mexico, vibrant Hatch green chilies, and a medley of fire-roasted tomatoes and sweet corn. It's crowned with delicate, shattered Parmesan crisps, symbolizing Jesse Pinkman's desperate journey and the fragments of his past breaking away as he seeks freedom.

Dish
16 ingredients
9 steps
Crime

Gather these

Ingredients

2 lbsBoneless Pork Shoulder (Boston Butt), cut into 2-inch chunks
1 tbsp, plus more to tasteKosher Salt
1 tsp, freshly groundBlack Pepper
2 tbspOlive Oil
1 largeYellow Onion, chopped
4 clovesGarlic, minced
2 tspSmoked Paprika
1 tspGround Cumin
1/2 tspDried Oregano
1 (14.5 oz) canCanned Diced Fire-Roasted Tomatoes, undrained
1 (7 oz) canCanned Chopped Hatch Green Chilies, undrained
2 cupsChicken Broth
1 cupFrozen Corn Kernels
1/4 cupFresh Cilantro, chopped (for garnish)
1Lime, cut into wedges (for serving)
1 cupParmesan Cheese, freshly grated (for crisps)

Step by step

Instructions

1
Pat the pork chunks dry with paper towels and season generously with 1 tbsp Kosher salt and 1 tsp black pepper.
2
Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet (like cast iron) or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown the pork on all sides in batches until well-caramelized, about 3-4 minutes per side. Remove pork and set aside.
3
Reduce heat to medium, add chopped onion to the skillet, and cook until softened, about 5-7 minutes. Add minced garlic, smoked paprika, cumin, and oregano; cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
4
Stir in the fire-roasted tomatoes (with liquid) and green chilies (with liquid), scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Return the pork to the skillet, then pour in the chicken broth.
5
Bring the liquid to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 2.5-3 hours, or until the pork is fork-tender. Alternatively, transfer the covered skillet to a preheated oven at 325°F (160°C) and cook for the same duration.
6
While the pork is braising, prepare the Parmesan crisps: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Sprinkle grated Parmesan into thin circles or irregular shapes, leaving space between them. Bake for 5-7 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy. Let cool completely on the parchment paper; they will crisp up further. Once cool, break them into 'shards'.
7
Once pork is tender, remove from heat. Use two forks to shred the pork directly in the skillet, breaking it into smaller pieces.
8
Stir in the frozen corn kernels and cook for another 5 minutes, allowing the corn to warm through and for the flavors to meld.
9
Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve the 'Escape Hatch Skillet' directly from the pan, garnished with fresh cilantro and topped generously with the 'shattered' Parmesan crisps. Serve with lime wedges on the side.

The Inspiration

Why this dish

This recipe captures the essence of 'El Camino' by contrasting the rich, slow-cooked pork and smoky New Mexico chiles – representing Jesse's intense, gritty past and the rugged landscape – with the delicate, 'shattered' Parmesan crisps, symbolizing the breaking free from his old life and the precise, fragmented emergence of a new path. The skillet itself reflects the utilitarian, on-the-run feel, while the 'Hatch' in the name ties it directly to the iconic New Mexico setting and the theme of escape.

El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie · Crime

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