Homemade Pozole Recipe - Gathering Around the Table for Las Posadas (2024)

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This post was created in collaboration with JCPenney #JoyWorthGiving #SoWorthIt #HazValerTusPenneys

One of my most favorite holiday memories was going to my friends' homes over the holidays. The home of two of my college friends, twin sisters, always stands out in my memory as particularly special. No matter when we walked in the door, their mom was in the kitchen with her adorable patchwork apron stirring a big pot of pozole on the stove with tamales in the steamer, tortillas in the warmer, and a table surrounded by family and friends. You never left without a full belly and a heart full of laughter and joy. We didn't call these journeys to the homes of our friends and family “Las Posadas” but that's what they were. These trips were us gathering in the night and then coming together with loved ones to share a meal to celebrate the journey of Mary and Joseph looking for a room at the inn in the story of Christ's birth. Whether you believe or not, the traditions of Las Posadas can still be observed in your home as you come together with friends and family over a bowl of pozole or tamales. But first, you need a homemade pozole recipe!

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I'm really excited to be partnering with JCPenney, another family favorite, to share about the Las Posadas holiday tradition. A home feels warm because of the people in it but to make it feel welcoming, that's why we go to JCPenney. Warm woods, copper accents, and gorgeous cookware will make your table feel rich and give your home a comfortable feel, all for a great JCPenney price.

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Buying on-trend decor for your own home, getting the family decked out in holiday clothes, or shopping for affordable gifts during the holiday season, JCPenney makes #JoyWorthGiving easy. Last Christmas season, we picked up a winter jacket for Matthew for an incredible price at JCPenney, which he wears and gets compliments on even now. JCPenney has become one of my top stops for clothes for the family all year 'round and the holiday deals are #SoWorthIt. And to get ready for our Las Posadas visits, you better believe we're getting some new duds over at JCPenney!

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We drive and visit our friends for Las Posadas but we also gather in our own home to meet guests. We live in a fairly rural area so we don't get a lot of visitors to our own home during Las Posadas. But that doesn't mean our experience is any less special.

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We spruced up our holiday table with a warm copper salt and pepper shaker set and a wood serving platter with condiment cups, all from JCPenney. These neutral on-trend colors complimented the dishes I picked up from JCPenney earlier this fall too!

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Welcome guests into your home for Las Posadas this year with an easy stove-top pozole recipe. I am actually really partial to menudo myself, but, my husband isn't a fan of tripe so pozole has similar flavors with pork or beef stew meat. I'll be honest … this pot of soup lasted less than 24 hours in our house! It's that good. Here's the pozole recipe:

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Easy Pork Pozole Recipe

This pozole recipe yields enough for 8 bowls of pozole, perfect for guests or two meals for a four-person family.

Click the box below for a free printable version of this recipe:

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Homemade Pozole Recipe – Gathering Around the Table for Las Posadas

Homemade Pozole Recipe - Gathering Around the Table for Las Posadas (7)

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★★★★★5 from 2 reviews

Stove-top pozole ready for for Las Posadas in about 3 hours.

  • Author: Xaver Priest
  • Prep Time: 10 min
  • Cook Time: 40 mins
  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 12 servings 1x
  • Category: Soup
  • Cuisine: Mexican

Ingredients

Scale

  • 2 lb pork roast, cubed
  • 1 TBSP olive oil
  • 10 oz can diced green chiles
  • 29 oz can hominy, drained
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 2 tsp cumin
  • 10 dried ancho chiles
  • 1 tsp ground dried garlic
  • 1 tsp Mexican oregano
  • 46 cups chicken broth
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp ground pepper

Instructions

  1. Soak the ancho chiles in water for 30 minutes to one hour, until softened.
  2. Remove the seeds and stems from the chiles. Blend in the blender until smooth. Add water or chicken stock to the blend to make blending easier if needed.
  3. Season the pork with garlic, salt, and pepper.
  4. Brown the pork roast pieces in olive oil.
  5. Add onions and remaining spices to the pot and cook until the onions are softened.
  6. Add remaining ingredients, except hominy. Bring to a boil. Turn down to low and simmer for 1.5 hours.
  7. Add hominy and simmer for 30 minutes.
  8. Skim off any fat or oil that rises to the top of the soup while cooking.
  9. Serve with diced onions, diced cilantro, lemon wedges, and spice mix (or menudo mix).

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 cup
  • Calories: 108
  • Sugar: 1.1 g
  • Sodium: 158.6 mg
  • Fat: 2.6 g
  • Carbohydrates: 2.6g
  • Protein: 17.7 g

Keywords: posole, pozole, hominy

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We ladled the pozole into these gorgeous bowls and then added chopped onion, spices, and chopped cilantro from the condiment serving board we got at JCPenney. A little squeeze of lemon topped it all off!

How do you celebrate Las Posadas? If you stay in and host guests or you make the journey to visit family and friends, be sure to get prepared for the joys of the holiday season with JCPenney. And let me know in the comments all about how you celebrate Las Posadas!

About the Author

Author Profile

Jennifer Priest

Website

Jennifer Priest is a 20+ year designer in the arts & crafts industry and home DIYer with a passion for creativity. An Army veteran raised on a ranch, from her experience, she shares smart DIY projects that save money and fun craft ideas that anyone can make. Besides blogging, Jennifer is a Master Practitioner and Trainer of NLP, Hypnosis, and MER, and coaches other online entrepreneurs on money mindset, business, and living an intentional life. When not blogging, Jennifer is having adventures in the wilderness, on road trips, playing with her cats, and making paleo food.

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Homemade Pozole Recipe - Gathering Around the Table for Las Posadas (2024)

FAQs

What is a recipe often made for Los Posadas? ›

A Mexican posada often includes dishes like tamales (a corn-based dough stuffed with meat or beans and cheese) and ponche navideño (Christmas punch made with dried fruits, sugarcane, and cinnamon).

What is traditional pozole made from? ›

It is made from hominy with meat (typically chicken or pork), and can be seasoned and garnished with shredded lettuce or cabbage, chili peppers, onion, garlic, radishes, avocado, salsa or limes.

What is the history of pozole in Mexico? ›

Originally, Pozole was made from the human meat of prisoners whose hearts had been ripped out in ritual sacrifice. Thankfully, after the Spanish conquest in the 1500's, cannibalism was banned and the meat in this dish was replaced with pork.

What is the difference between red and white pozole? ›

You'll find three main sorts of posole in large pots atop Mexican stoves come any feast, Sunday afternoon, or large family gathering: red posole darkened crimson by dried red chiles; green posole verdant by fresh or roasted green chiles (and often tomatillos); and white posole, of a clear base broth and only flecked, ...

What food is eaten for Las Posadas? ›

Traditional Posada foods include: tamales, pozole, buñuelos, atole, ponche and café de olla. Whether you're hosting a Posada, Christmas Eve dinner, or just want to make tamales at home, our easy to follow Red Pork Tamales recipe will help you make, share, and enjoy this traditional dish with friends & family.

What is typical Posada food? ›

There are many dishes to eat associated with Las Posadas.
  • Romeritos (baked shrimp) and Bacalao (Dried CodFish): The romeritos refers to the flavoring of the baked shrimp, sometimes made with dried prawns and baby spinach. ...
  • Roast Turkey: A classic dish served at Christmastime. ...
  • Tamales: ...
  • Mexican Ponche. ...
  • Atole: ...
  • Café de Olla:
Dec 15, 2020

What are the 3 types of pozole? ›

There are three main types of pozole, each named for the color of the soup: verde, rojo and blanco.

What does pozole mean in English? ›

: a thick soup chiefly of Mexico and the U.S. Southwest made with pork, hominy, garlic, and chili.

What is pozole made of human? ›

The indigenous ancestors used human flesh in the stew. Aztec priests would make human sacrifices to their gods, offering up the heart and using the rest of the flesh for a ceremonial pozole. After the Spanish conquest, Spanish rulers outlawed cannibalism, and so pork was used in replacement of human flesh in pozole.

What makes pozole special? ›

Both soups are also deeply emblematic of their cultures. The roots of pozole pre-date Spanish colonization, and the dish is said to have had ritual significance for the indigenous people of Mexico. Its principal ingredient, corn, was a sacred crop to the Aztecs and Mayans.

Why do Mexicans make pozole? ›

Originally, pozole was considered a sacred dish due to the use of the trademark large hominy kernels combined with meat. A slightly gruesome claim from pozole's history is that it was supposedly once made with the human flesh of sacrificed prisoners.

What are some fun facts about pozole? ›

It is also popular (under the older spelling posole) in the cuisine of New Mexico where it was a common dish among the Pueblo Indians residing along the Rio Grande. Pozole is also a festive dish. In Mexico, pozole is typically served on New Year's Eve to celebrate the new year.

Is pozole with an S or Z? ›

First off, is it “pozole” or “posole”? Both are pronounced the same and both spellings are acceptable, the “z” being the preferred spelling in Mexico while the “s” is used more commonly in border towns and in some areas here in the States.

Is pozole healthy or unhealthy? ›

Conclusion. As we've seen in this post, pozole can be a healthy and nutritious addition to your diet. It is a good source of protein, fiber, and essential vitamins and minerals.

Is pozole Aztec or Mayan? ›

The real history of pozole, which originated with the Aztecs and other indigenous tribes in Mesoamerica, is one of sacrifice and celebration. The word comes from the Nahuatl pozolli or posolli; in English, it means a stew of maíz kernels, according to the Nahuatl Dictionary.

What are some common traditions for Las Posadas? ›

The tradition is celebrated over multiple days between Dec. 16 and Christmas Eve, and features a procession of carolers lead by a small child dressed as an angel, as well as food, warm drinks and piñatas. Posadas first started in Mexico as a way for Spaniards to share Christmas traditions with native people.

What do Las Posadas drink? ›

Ponche Navideño is a hot, fruit-based punch served during Las Posadas, a religious festival celebrated throughout Latin America from December 16 to the 24th. You can prepare it without alcohol, or you can add brandy or tequila, making it ponche con piquete (punch with sting).

What is a common game that is played at Posadas in Mexico? ›

A popular game on Las Posadas is the breaking of a piñata. The piñata is a decorated clay or Paper Mache container filled with candy. Typically designed in the shape of a seven-pointed star for the Las Posadas tradition, the piñata is suspended from a ceiling or another high place.

What drink is important in Las Posadas? ›

Las Posadas

One traditional drink is ponche, a fruity spiced drink that can be served hot or cold, with or without alcohol. These posadas usually start on December 13th and go until Christmas Eve.

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