A Pozole was once born in a small Northern California town. Read the story here.
By Olivia Caminiti
My first time having Pozole was one not to be forgotten as it was the traditional Pozole rojo con puerco. It was spicy and even better the next day. The cabbage and hominy are the staples while the lime is the period to the end of this perfect recipe. Since, I have had all types of Pozole from Pozole with chicken, Pozole with green sauce, Pozole garnished with radishes or tortilla strips or avocado. 
My Pozole recipe came both from a combination of my favorite recipes and the dining circumstances. On this particular day I was making dinner for a friend who, sadly, does not eat pork so instead my mind set was to bring on the organic chicken. My love for salsa verde has grown to over come salsa roja so we were going green and thus was born a Pozole verde con pollo.
After adding the shredded chicken back in, taste it. Please. This is when you will start to fall in love with your soup or know that it need just that little bit more oregano. This is now your Pozole so make sure you like it. 
When it comes to garnishes there are endless options. I would have done this soup slightly different if making it again by adding thinly sliced radishes for that color pop and some bite. As stated before, cabbage and lime are necessary, while avocado adds a creamy texture that is delicate and a favorite of mine. Do what you like and as always, do it differently when going back for seconds so to find your ideal flavor and texture mix. 
California Love – Pozole Verde con Pollo
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 6 1x
Description
A Pozole was once born in a small Northern California town…
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup roasted, salted pumpkin seeds
- 1 lb. tomatillos, husked and chopped
- 1 medium white onion, chopped
- 1 jalapeño, diced
- 1/2 tsp. both salt & fresh cracked black pepper
- 3/4 cup cilantro, plus extra for garnish
- 2 lbs. organic bonless skinless chicken thighs
- 3 cups plus 1 cup low-sodium organic chicken stock
- 1 tsp. cumin
- 1 Tblsp. oregano
- 1 can (29oz) white hominy, drained and rinsed
- Napa cabbage, shredded
- Avocado
- Red Onion
- Radish, thinly sliced
- Lime
Instructions
- Toast pumpkin seeds and salt when hot with 1 tsp. salt
- After cooling for a few minutes, add to spice grinder and grind
- Saute tomatillos, white onion, ground pumpkin seed and jalapeños till onions are translucent, about 5 mins
- Puree, with emulsion blender or in food processor, saute mixture, 3/4 cup cilantro, salt & fresh cracked black pepper
- Add puree, 3 cups chicken stock, chicken thighs, cumin, oregano to a large pot and bring to a boil over medium heat; turn to low and simmer for 15 minutes
- Remove chicken and let cool to a point where it can be shredded with two forks while removing gristle; about 5 minutes
- Add shredded chicken, hominy, and 1 cup stock back into pot; simmer over medium-low for 20 minutes
- Garnish with cabbage on the bottom of the bowl and lime squeezed over top; other garnishes are all tasty as well
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 40 mins
