Description
Discover how to make authentic pozole rojo, a rich Mexican soup made with hominy, beef, and dried chiles. This step-by-step recipe delivers bold, traditional flavors with endless garnish options.
Ingredients
- 4 dried ancho chiles
- 4 dried guajillo chiles
- 2 dried pasilla chiles
- 2 lbs beef shoulder (or beef butt), cut into 2-inch chunks
- 1 large onion, quartered
- 6 garlic cloves, peeled
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 10 cups chicken broth (or beef broth)
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp Mexican oregano
- 2 tsp salt (plus more to taste)
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 2 cans (15 oz each) white hominy, drained and rinsed
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Garnishes (choose any):
- Shredded cabbage or lettuce
- Thinly sliced radishes
- Diced white onion
- Lime wedges
- Avocado slices
- Cilantro sprigs
- Dried oregano (crumbled)
- Queso fresco, tortilla strips, or salsa
Instructions
- Prepare the chiles: Remove stems and seeds. Toast lightly in a dry pan until fragrant. Soak in hot water for 20–30 minutes.
- Cook the beef: In a large pot, heat olive oil and sear beef until browned. Add onion, garlic, tomato paste, cumin, oregano, bay leaves, salt, and pepper. Pour in broth and simmer 2–3 hours, until beef is very tender.
- Make chile sauce: Blend softened chiles with some soaking liquid until smooth. Strain through a sieve to remove skins/seeds.
- Assemble: Shred cooked beef. Return to pot with hominy and chile sauce. Simmer another 30 minutes. Adjust seasoning with salt.
- Serve: Ladle pozole into bowls. Offer garnishes (cabbage, radish, onion, lime, avocado, cilantro, and queso fresco).
Notes
Vegetarian option: Replace beef with mushrooms or squash and use vegetable broth.
Make ahead: Pozole tastes even better the next day; it’s perfect for meal prep.
Freezer-friendly: Freeze up to 3 months. Reheat with extra broth if thickened.
Regional twists: Guerrero style is spicier, Jalisco style is richer (with trotters), and Michoacán style sometimes includes a boiled egg.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
- Category: Soup, Dinner
- Method: Stovetop, simmering
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 ½ cups
- Calories: 385 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 870 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 7 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg