POZOLE ROJO is a must-make authentic Mexican soup recipe!

pork

🥗Healthier: chicken breast

💰Cheaper: chicken thighs

Chicken thighs are generally less expensive and can be more flavorful.

chili peppers

🥗Healthier: fresh jalapeños

💰Cheaper: dried chili flakes

Dried chili flakes are often cheaper and can be used to adjust spice levels.

Trim excess fat from the pork shoulder and cut it into chunks about 3 inches in size.

Add the pork to a large stock pot along with one white onion (sliced in half) and one whole head of garlic.

Add three bay leaves, two teaspoons of kosher salt, and about 10 cups of water to the pot.

Bring the water to a boil, then reduce the heat to a gentle simmer, skimming off any foam that rises to the top.

Simmer the pork uncovered for 1.5 to 2 hours until the meat is fall apart tender.

While the pork is simmering, prepare the red chili sauce by removing the stems and seeds from six dried guajillo chilies and four dried ancho chilies.

Rinse the chilies in a colander and add them to a small pot with enough water to cover them (about 4 cups).

Bring the chilies to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes until soft.

Roast four garlic cloves and half of a white onion under the broiler for 4 to 6 minutes until slightly charred.

Transfer the softened chilies to a high-powered blender, add one cup of the leftover water from soaking the chilies, the roasted garlic cloves, and the onion.

Add two teaspoons of Mexican oregano and one and a half teaspoons of kosher salt to the blender and blend until smooth.

Drain and rinse two cans of white hominy in a colander.

Once the pork is cooked, remove the onion and garlic from the pot and discard them. Shred the pork using two forks.

Add the shredded pork back to the pot along with the hominy and red chili sauce, stir, and let it simmer for another hour, partially covered.

Ladle the soup into bowls and top with shredded cabbage, radish, white onion, cilantro, diced avocado, and fresh lime juice.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary