• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
In Krista's Kitchen
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Fourth of July Recipes
  • Dinner
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Fourth of July Recipes
    • Dinner
    • Recipes
    • About
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Dinner

    Pozole Rojo

    Published: Dec 2, 2021 · Modified: Apr 10, 2024 by Krista Stechman · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

    Sharing is caring!

    • Facebook
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    pozole rojo
    pozole rojo

    Pozole Rojo is a traditional Mexican dish that will really wake up your taste buds. It's a stew made of pork, dried chiles and hominy. Although it can also be made with chicken or vegetarian style if you like.

    Pork Pozole Roja in a bowl topped with radish, cilantro and lime.

    Pozole is one of those "good for the soul" dishes. It has a flavor combo that's hard to beat. Although, I'm partial to Mexican cuisine, if you haven't tried it yet you should!

    It's rich, cozy and got a kick! Spicy food is my jam! If you're not a fan of spicy you can just tone it down on the chile de arbol or leave them out completely.

    I've heard that certain people eat Pozole Rojo on Christmas or Christmas Eve as a tradition. I eat it all year round but now that I think of it that sounds like a lovely tradition.

    Looking for more dinners? Try my Pork Sugo, Garlic Chicken Pasta or Easy Chicken Pot Pie Casserole!

    Jump to:
    • What is Pozole Rojo?
    • Can I freeze Pozole Rojo?
    • Ingredients you'll need
    • Equipment you'll need
    • Tips for the best Pozole Rojo
    • How to make Pozole Rojo
    • Pozole Rojo

    What is Pozole Rojo?

    Pozole Rojo is a traditional Mexican dish made of pork, broth, dried chiles, spices and hominy. Sear the pork then simmer it until tender with the other ingredients.

    Chicken can be used instead of pork. To make the pozole vegetarian leave out the meat and use vegetable broth.

    pozole rojo in 4 bowls

    It is typically garnished with thinly sliced cabbage, radishes and lime. Other toppings are sometimes added like avocado, cilantro or tortilla chips.

    Pozole simmers for about 2 hours before being ready to eat. It depends on the size of the pork. Serve this dish hot. Pozole Rojo is naturally gluten free.

    Can I freeze Pozole Rojo?

    Yes, absolutely! Pozole freezes beautifully. Cool the pozole down completely then store it in an airtight container.

    Freeze the Pozole Rojo for up to 3 months. When you're ready to use it, thaw it in the fridge for 1-2 days then heat it in a pot over the stove top. Once you've thawed the Pozole Rojo do not re-freeze it.

    a pot of pozole rojo

    Ingredients you'll need

    • Pork Shoulder - This cut of meat is delicious and a bit fatty
    • Onions - Onions give great flavor to any soup
    • Garlic - Fresh garlic is best here
    • Kosher Salt - Salt brings out the flavor in all the ingredients
    • Black Pepper - I prefer course ground pepper
    • Cumin - This gives the pozole a little smokey flavor
    • Oregano - I usually prefer fresh herbs but I like to use dried oregano
    • Hominy - Hominy comes from yellow or white maize, essentially field corn. Check out Food Network's post for more info about it
    • Guajillo Chile - A dried non-spicy chile with lots of good flavor
    • Chile de Arbol - A dried very spicy chile with great flavor
    • Chicken Base - I like to add a bit of chicken base for an extra depth of flavor. This one is my favorite
    • Bay Leaf - I add bay leaf to pretty much all my soups, pozole is no different
    • Cabbage - Thin sliced cabbage on top of Pozole Rojo for some crunch
    • Lime - A squeeze of lime into your bowl of Pozole Rojo is the best
    • Radish - Thin sliced radishes are a tradition and really delicious on top of pozole
    • Cilantro - An optional pozole topping
    • Avocado - An optional pozole topping
    all ingredients

    Equipment you'll need

    • Dutch Oven - The Pozole Rojo will need to simmer for hours
    • Food Processor or High Speed Blender - After the peppers are boiled then they need to be blended
    • Sharp Knife - For cutting veggies and meat
    3 bowls of pozole with cabbage, radish, lime, avocado and cilantro

    Tips for the best Pozole Rojo

    • Use pork shoulder for the best flavor
    • Simmer the pork long enough that it gets tender. Nobody wants chewy pork in their pozole
    • Make a big batch then freeze some for later use
    • Don't go easy on the salt
    • I suggest using the peppers in the recipe. Most local grocers should carry them, even Walmart. If you try using something else then it won't taste the same.
    • It's a great Christmas Even meal
    • FYI This will stain your Tupperware or ceramic dishes from a potter
    salt, pepper, bay leaf, cumin and oregano

    How to make Pozole Rojo

    Heat a Dutch oven over medium - high heat, drizzle in some oil then add the seasoned pork chunks. Sear the pork for several minutes until golden brown then stir around and continue to sear until brown all over.

    Remove the stems and seeds from the dried peppers. Begin boiling the peppers in a small pot of water for about 10 minutes then blend them in a food processor or blender until smooth.

    Remove the pork from the pan then add a little more oil if needed. Sauté the onion over low - medium heat until it comes translucent then add the minced garlic and cook 1 more minute.

    Put the pork back in the pot then add the chicken stock, blended peppers, bay leaf and hominy. Simmer the pork for 2-3 hours checking tenderness every 45-6 minutes.

    Meanwhile, thinly slice the cabbage, radish and cut limes. Set aside until serving pozole.

    Once the pork is tender then adjust seasonings if necessary. Serve the Pozole Rojo hot and add toppings. Enjoy!

    bowl of pozole rojo with all the toppings

    If you make this Pozole Rojo recipe please leave me a rating and/or review!

    If you want all the newest recipes sent straight to your inbox then don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter! I would absolutely love you to leave me a rating or review at the bottom of this post if you make this Pozole Rojo recipe! I love hearing feedback from everyone. Please tag me in any Instagram photos if you make my recipes, I love to see what you’re cooking! Follow along on Instagram!

    Check out my desserts to go with dinner!

    Pork Pozole Roja in a bowl topped with radish, cilantro and lime.

    Pozole Rojo

    Krista Stechman
    Pozole Rojo is a traditional Mexican Stew made with pork, dried chiles and hominy then topped with cabbage, radish and limes
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 20 minutes mins
    Cook Time 2 hours hrs
    Total Time 2 hours hrs 20 minutes mins
    Course dinner
    Cuisine mexican
    Servings 8 people
    Calories 235 kcal

    Equipment

    • Dutch Oven
    • Knife
    • food processor or blender

    Ingredients
      

    For the Pozole Rojo

    • 2 lbs pork shoulder cut into ½ inch cubes
    • 1 tablespoon cumin
    • 2 teaspoon kosher salt divided
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper
    • 2 teaspoon oregano dried2
    • drizzle olive oil
    • 1 large onion small dice, about 2 cups
    • 8 cloves garlic minced
    • 2 qt chicken stock
    • 2 bay leaf

    Dried Chile Blend

    • 12 guajillo peppers stemmed and seeded
    • 5-8 chile de arbol
    • 2 cups water

    Toppings

    • 2 cups cabbage finely shredded
    • 8 radish thinly sliced
    • 3 limes cut into wedges

    Instructions
     

    Making the Pozole Roja

    • Mix together the cumin, salt (only 1 tsp), pepper and oregano. Season the pork cubes with it
    • Heat a Dutch oven over medium - high heat until very hot then add a drizzle of olive oil, wait 10 second then add the pork. Let sear for several minutes until golden brown then stir and continue searing until browned all over
      pork shoulder cubes being browned in a pot
    • Remove the pork from the Dutch oven and set aside
    • Drizzle a small amount of olive oil into the same pan then add the onions over low - medium heat until translucent
    • Stir in the minced garlic and a pinch or two of salt then cook for 1 more minute
    • Add the pork back into the pot along with the chicken stock and bay leaves. Stir in the pepper blend and hominy, cover and simmer about 2 hours
      pork, onions and garlic simmering in stock with spices
    • Once the pork is tender check the seasonings and adjust if needed (more salt, etc.)
      a pot of pozole rojo with a ladle lifted out of the pot
    • Serve hot and top with cabbage, radish and lime
      a bowl of pozole rojo with all the toppings

    Making the Pepper Blend

    • Seed and stem the guajillo peppers then add them to a small sauce pot with the chile de arbol and water and a couple pinches of salt
      a pot with water, chile de arbol and guajillo chile
    • Bring to a boil then simmer covered for 10 minutes
    • Pour the whole mixture into a blender and blend until smooth
      guajillo and chile de arbol blended up

    Toppings

    • Thinly slice the cabbage, radishes and cut the limes into wedges. Set aside until needed

    Notes

    Make pozole up to 4 days in advance. Reheat on the stove. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 235kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 21gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 53mgSodium: 988mgPotassium: 714mgFiber: 4gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 1536IUVitamin C: 19mgCalcium: 63mgIron: 3mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    More Dinner Recipes

    • Chicken Shawarma Bowl with yellow rice, zhug sauce, tahini sauce, tomatoes and romaine.
      Chicken Shawarma Bowl
    • Braised pork shoulder on a plate shredded into larger chunks.
      Juicy Braised Pork Shoulder
    • Thai Green Curry with shrimp, rice and eggplant in a bowl.
      Easy Green Curry Shrimp (Thai Shrimp Curry)
    • Marry Me Chicken Tortellini in a bowl topped with basil.
      One Pan Marry Me Chicken Tortellini

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Tammy Cruse

      April 19, 2022 at 10:19 am

      5 stars
      This soup is addicting! Spicy & delicious!

      Reply
      • admin

        April 19, 2022 at 8:22 pm

        One of my favorites too!

        Reply
    5 from 3 votes (2 ratings without comment)

    Leave a star rating and review, ask a question or share a helpful tip! Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    pozole rojo
    pozole rojo
    krista standing in a white kitchen with a white shirt on holding a white pan of blondies facing the camera smiling

    Welcome to In Krista's Kitchen where you'll find delicious dinners and desserts with restaurant flavor that you can make in the comfort of your home. You can find dinners, desserts, sides, brunch recipes and breakfast recipes for any occasion. I'm here to help you create meals and desserts packed with flavor! These recipes range from easy to slightly more experienced home cooks. I'll give tips and tricks and am always available through email to answer any cooking questions you have!

    More about me →

    Fourth of July Recipes

    • A slice of Peanut Butter Pretzel Pie with Chocolate Ganache and flaky sea salt on a stack of plates.
      No Bake Peanut Butter Pretzel Pie
    • A slice of No Bake Chocolate Pie on a plate with a fork.
      No Bake Chocolate Pie
    • Deviled Eggs with Relish topped with bacon and green onions.
      Deviled Eggs With Relish
    • Spicy Mac and Cheese on a plate, topped with pepper and a fork.
      Spicy Mac And Cheese
    • Banana Pudding Cheesecake Squares topped with whipped cream and Nilla Wafers.
      Banana Pudding Cheesecake Squares
    • Strawberry Galette cut into triangles with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.
      Strawberry Galette
    See more Fourth of July Recipes →

    Dinners

    • A pork burger on a brioche bun with special sauce, onion, pickle and lettuce.
      The Ultimate Pork Burger Recipe
    • Loaded Steak Nachos recipe topped with sour cream, salsa, guacamole and jalapenos.
      Loaded Steak Nachos Recipe
    • Falafel on a pita with schug sauce, tomatoes, feta and cucumber.
      Falafel Pita
    • Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta in a bowl on a small cheese board.
      Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta
    • Taco Bell Crunchwrap Supreme with cheese sauce, ground beef, tomato and lettuce.
      Taco Bell Crunchwrap Supreme Recipe (Copycat)
    • Creamy Lobster Pasta recipe in a large bowl.
      Creamy Lobster Pasta
    See more Dinner →

    Desserts

    • Banana Bread with Streusel Topping topped with maple glaze.
      Banana Bread with Streusel Topping
    • Banana Coffee Cake with maple glaze being drizzle over the top.
      Banana Coffee Cake
    • A slice of carrot cake with a ton of cream cheese frosting.
      Almond Carrot Cake
    • Chocolate Espresso Banana Bread half sliced on a platter.
      Chocolate Espresso Banana Bread
    • Soft Molasses Cookies with chewy crackly tops.
      Soft Molasses Cookies
    • Molasses crinkle cookies on a wire rack.
      Molasses Crinkle Cookies
    See more Desserts →

    Sides

    • Harissa Hummus in a bowl surrounded by pita pieces.
      Harissa Hummus
    • Arugula Pear Salad in a bowl topped with nuts and sherry dressing.
      Arugula Pear Salad
    • A slice of Blueberry Cornbread on a plate topped with honey butter and honey drizzling over the top.
      Blueberry Cornbread With Honey Butter
    • Sourdough stuffing with herbs in a baking dish.
      Sourdough Stuffing
    • Shaved Brussel Sprout Salad with parmesan cheese on a plate with a fork.
      Shaved Brussel Sprout Salad
    • Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole in a skillet with a spoon.
      Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole

    Footer

    pozole rojo
    pozole rojo

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Me
    • Contact

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Privacy

    • Privacy Policy

    Accessibility

    • Accessibility

    In Krista’s Kitchen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

    Copyright © 2021-2025 In Krista's Kitchen

    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Save

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.