100% REAL MEXICAN POZOLE
COMPOSITION
1 1⁄2 pounds of pork shoulder
2 peeled garlic cloves
1 tablespoon of powdered cumin
1 finely sliced onion
2 sliced garlic cloves
2 tablespoons of oil
1⁄2 teaspoon black pepper
1 and a half teaspoons of cayenne
2 tablespoons of chili powder from California
1 spoonful of salt
1/4 teaspoon of oregano
4 cups washed and drained canned white hominy
3 -5 cups of pork broth from the shoulder’s cooking
1 cup of sliced green chilis from a can (optional)
salt
2 entire fresh jalapenos, chopped (if desired)
3 whole ancho chiles, stemmed and seeded (optional garnish)
DIRECTIONS
- Preparing this recipe is easy.
- Prepare the onion, peel and chop the garlic, finely chop the two garlic cloves, mince the jalapeños and green chilies, if using, and drain and rinse the hominy.
- For the garnish section, I boil my ancho chiles in a separate tiny pot (see below).
- You can now begin cooking.
- Just cover the meat with a small amount of lightly salted water in a large saucepan.
- Add the two peeled garlic cloves, 1/2 chopped onion, cumin, pepper, and oregano.
- Over medium heat, bring to a boil, skim off any froth that rises, lower heat, cover, and simmer for forty-five minutes.
- Take out the meat and broth, setting aside.
- Add the chopped onion and garlic to the oil and sauté until they become transparent.
- Stir for one minute after adding the remaining spices.
- Add the cubed pork, which has been set aside, to the pan.
- Add the canned hominy, green chilies, and jalapenos (optional), and stir. If there isn’t enough pig broth, add chicken stock (I prefer to add it anyway for flavor; measure out two to four cups).
- Simmer, covered, until the hominy and pork are soft, 45 to 60 minutes.
- Simmer, uncovered, for a maximum of sixty minutes or until the onions and chiles are well mixed into the stock.
- Pour the stew into soup bowls, season with salt, and degrease.
- Making this recipe is really worth the effort because it is excellent.
The following garnishes are always served:
- Lots of wedges of lime or lemon.
- Cut radishes.
- Chopped cilantro.
- Shredded (not red) cabbage.
- Freshly made or prepackaged corn tortillas.
- Put ancho chiles in the blender with 1 1/2 cups of water, 1 clove of garlic, approximately 2 teaspoons of diced onion, and about 1 tablespoon of salt and pepper when they are soft from boiling—this takes about 15 minutes. After blending this thin, I strain it to remove the liquid’s “pulp”. If the pulp is too spicy for you, you can discard it. I add the pulp to the soup since I enjoy the flavor. If preferred, place the leftover liquid in a serving dish and let visitors pour it into their bowls. Take caution! It is warm!