Soups

Classic Pozole Rojo

Tender pork and chewy hominy in a rich, chile-red broth — Mexico's most comforting celebration soup, made for the stovetop.

October 28, 2026 By Chef Clara 4.94 (142 votes)
Classic Pozole Rojo
The Quick Takeaway

In a nutshell: This authentic mexican classic pozole rojo comes together in just 3 hrs using simple whole ingredients. The chef's secret: Blended chile skins stay gritty no matter how long you blend — the strainer is what gives. Perfect for home cooks seeking a dependable, restaurant-quality finish with minimal effort.

Prep Time 30 mins
Cook Time 2 hrs 30 mins
Total Time 3 hrs
Cuisine Mexican
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Classic pozole rojo with tender pork, hominy, and a guajillo-ancho chile broth. Topped with shredded cabbage, radish, and lime.

Key Equipment

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  • Large Dutch oven or stockpot
  • Blender
  • Fine-mesh strainer
  • Tongs

Chef's Pro-Tips

  • Do not skip straining the chile sauce: Blended chile skins stay gritty no matter how long you blend — the strainer is what gives pozole its silky broth.
  • Simmer, never boil hard: A gentle simmer keeps the pork tender; a rolling boil tightens the meat and clouds the broth.
  • Toast, do not burn, the chiles: Thirty seconds too long in a dry pan turns guajillos bitter — pull them the moment they smell toasty and pliable.

Ingredients
6 servings

  • 2 lbs boneless pork shoulder, cut into 2-inch chunks
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 yellow onion, quartered, plus diced onion for serving
  • 6 cloves garlic, divided
  • 2 tsp kosher salt, divided
  • 4 dried guajillo chiles, stems and seeds removed
  • 2 dried ancho chiles, stems and seeds removed
  • 1 tsp dried oregano, preferably Mexican
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 2 cans white hominy, 25 oz each, drained and rinsed
  • 2 cups shredded cabbage, for serving
  • 4 radishes, thinly sliced, for serving
  • 2 limes, cut into wedges, for serving
  • 1 tsp dried oregano, for serving
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Step-by-Step Instructions

1

Brown the Pork

Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown the pork chunks in batches, about 4 minutes per side, then return all the pork to the pot with the quartered onion, 3 garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon salt, and 8 cups of water. Bring to a boil, skim the foam, then cover and simmer gently for 1 hour 30 minutes until the pork is nearly tender.

2

Soak and Blend the Chiles

Meanwhile, toast the guajillo and ancho chiles in a dry skillet over medium heat for 1-2 minutes until fragrant, pressing them flat. Cover with boiling water and soak 20 minutes. Blend the softened chiles with the remaining garlic, oregano, cumin, and 1 cup of the soaking liquid until completely smooth.

3

Strain the Chile Sauce

Pour the blended chile sauce through a fine-mesh strainer into a bowl, pressing with a spoon to extract every drop. Discard the skins left behind — this step is what makes the broth silky instead of gritty.

4

Simmer with Hominy

Stir the chile sauce and hominy into the pork pot. Season with the remaining salt and simmer uncovered for 30-40 minutes, until the pork shreds easily and the broth is a deep, brick red.

5

Shred and Serve

Shred the pork into bite-size pieces with two forks and stir it back into the soup. Ladle into bowls and let everyone top their own with shredded cabbage, radishes, diced onion, oregano, and a squeeze of lime.

Chef Clara's Kitchen Picks

Kitchen Essentials

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Frequently Asked Questions

Pozole is a traditional Mexican soup of pork and hominy (nixtamalized corn) in a broth coloured red by blended dried chiles. It is a celebration dish, served with fresh toppings so each bowl is finished to taste.

Yes — it is better the next day. Refrigerate up to 4 days or freeze up to 3 months. Reheat gently and add the fresh toppings just before serving.

Use all of one kind, or substitute New Mexico chiles for guajillos and pasillas for anchos. In a pinch, 3 tablespoons of a mild chile powder plus 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika will get you close.

Yes — canned white hominy is standard for home pozole. Drain and rinse it well so the broth stays clear and the soup is not overly starchy.