What is the difference between pozole and posole?

Pozole and posole refer to the same Mexican Hominy Stew. Depending on the region, you may find the soup spelled differently.

Can I make this soup in the Instant Pot?

We haven't tested a version of this soup cooked under high pressure, but if you don't have a stovetop and want to make this Vegan Pozole Rojo recipe in the Instant Pot, you can do so using the "sauté" function as you would a stovetop burner. You'll have less control over the temperature of the pot, but it will work!

Is this recipe gluten-free?

Yes. This soup is gluten-free, vegan, and oil-free when the aromatics are sautéed in broth instead of a tablespoon of olive oil.

Vegan Pozole Rojo (Mexican Hominy Stew)

Name: Vegan Pozole Rojo Recipe (Mexican Hominy Stew)
Prep time: 35 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Cuisine: Vegan
Ingredients: 5 cups water (for soaking the peppers); 3 guajillo chiles; 2 ancho chiles; 2 quarts vegetable broth; 1/2 cup finely diced white onion (1/2 medium onion); 6 cloves of garlic, finely minced; 16 oz shiitake and oyster mushrooms, sliced (we used ½ of each but feel free to use any combo or mushroom type); 1 (25 oz.) can hominy; 1 (15.25 oz.) can red kidney beans; 3 tablespoons tomato paste; 2 teaspoons dried oregano; 1 teaspoon cumin; 2 bay leaves; Salt, as needed; Thinly sliced radish; Sliced limes; Shredded cabbage; Tortilla chips or strips; Cilantro, roughly chopped; Diced red onion; Diced avocado; Vegan cheese (we use homemade parmesan)

Description

This Vegan Pozole Rojo is one of our favorite recipes when we’re craving something hearty and comforting. It’s jam-packed with dried chiles, hominy, red kidney beans, then simmered in a flavorful, vibrant broth. Top with tons of delicious, fresh toppings and dig in!

Ingredients

Soup

5 cups water (for soaking the peppers)
3 guajillo chiles
2 ancho chiles
2 quarts vegetable broth
1/2 cup finely diced white onion (1/2 medium onion)
6 cloves of garlic, finely minced
16 oz shiitake and oyster mushrooms, sliced (we used ½ of each but feel free to use any combo or mushroom type)
1 (25 oz.) can hominy
1 (15.25 oz.) can red kidney beans
3 tablespoons tomato paste
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon cumin
2 bay leaves
Salt, as needed

Serve with

Thinly sliced radish
Sliced limes
Shredded cabbage
Tortilla chips or strips
Cilantro, roughly chopped
Diced red onion
Diced avocado
Vegan cheese (we use homemade parmesan)

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Instructions

Bring 5 cups of water to a boil. In the meantime, cut the tops off of the peppers and slit them down the sides. Remove and discard the seeds. Transfer the pepper to a large heat-safe bowl and pour the boiling water over the peppers. Soak for 30 minutes.
In the meantime, prepare the remaining ingredients. In a large pot, add in a 2 tablespoons of vegetable broth. Once warmed, add in onions and garlic and saute for 2-3 minutes, or until the onions are translucent and the garlic is fragrant.
Add in the sliced mushrooms and cook for 4-5 minutes more, or until cooked down and softened. You may need to add 2-3 additional tablespoons of vegetable broth as needed to prevent burning.
Once the mushrooms have cooked down, add in the oregano, cumin, tomato paste, 2 bay leaves, hominy, and beans. Mix until uniform. Add in the remaining vegetable broth and mix through.
Once the peppers have soaked for 30 minutes, transfer them with their soaking liquid to a high-speed blender and blend for 1 minute or until smooth. Add ¾ of the red sauce into the soup mixture and mix one more time (see notes).
Bring the soup to a boil. Once it is boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer. Cover the pot and simmer for 20-25 more minutes. Remove from heat.
Serve the pozole with the remaining red sauce on the side as well as toppings of choice, such as sliced radish, limes, shredded cabbage, tortilla chips, cilantro, red onion and avocado. Add more red sauce to taste. Enjoy!

Notes

We only use about 3/4 of the “pepper sauce” that we blend up and then serve the rest on the side for our guests (or ourselves) to add when we are assembling our soup. That way, the base of the recipe is pretty mild and then the spiciness can be increased to taste.
The nutrition facts do not take into consideration the addition of toppings those may vary.

Prep Time: 35 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Category: Soup, Entree, Christmas
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Vegan, Mexican