There’s something absolutely magical about the first spoonful of green pozole on a chilly evening. The vibrant emerald broth, studded with tender chunks of pork and plump hominy, delivers a symphony of flavors that instantly transports you to the heart of Mexico. This isn’t just soup – it’s a celebration in a bowl, a dish that brings families together and turns any ordinary meal into a festive occasion.
Green pozole (pozole verde) stands as one of Mexico’s most beloved traditional dishes, and for good reason. Unlike its red counterpart, this version gets its stunning color and distinctive tang from fresh tomatillos and green chiles, creating a brighter, more herbaceous flavor profile that’s absolutely irresistible. Whether you’re looking to impress guests at your next dinner party or simply craving something soul-warming and delicious, this green pozole recipe will become your new go-to comfort food.
Key Takeaways
• Green pozole is a traditional Mexican soup featuring hominy, pork, and a vibrant tomatillo-based green broth
• The dish is naturally gluten-free and can be easily adapted for different dietary preferences
• Fresh toppings like cilantro, radishes, and lime are essential for authentic flavor and texture contrast
• This recipe serves 6-8 people and is perfect for meal prep or entertaining
• The soup tastes even better the next day, making it ideal for make-ahead meal planning
Why You’ll Love This Green Pozole Recipe
🌟 Incredibly Flavorful: The combination of roasted tomatillos, poblano peppers, and fresh herbs creates a complex, tangy broth that’s absolutely addictive.
⏰ Surprisingly Simple: While it looks fancy, this green pozole comes together with basic techniques and readily available ingredients – no special culinary skills required!
🎉 Perfect for Crowds: This recipe easily feeds a crowd and actually improves in flavor overnight, making it ideal for entertaining or meal prep.
🥗 Customizable Toppings: The fun doesn’t stop at the soup – the array of fresh toppings lets everyone customize their bowl exactly how they like it.
What Makes Green Pozole Special
Green pozole holds a special place in Mexican cuisine, traditionally served during celebrations and special occasions. The star ingredient, hominy, consists of dried corn kernels that have been treated with lime (the mineral, not the fruit) to remove the hulls, creating those distinctive puffy, chewy kernels that give pozole its characteristic texture.
The green version gets its gorgeous color from a blend of tomatillos, poblano peppers, and fresh herbs. This creates a brighter, more acidic flavor compared to red pozole, which uses dried chiles. The result is a soup that’s both comforting and refreshing – perfect for any season.
Ingredient Highlights & Notes
The beauty of green pozole lies in its balance of simple, high-quality ingredients. The tomatillos provide the tangy base, while poblano peppers add mild heat and depth. Don’t skip the fresh herbs – they’re what really make this dish sing! You can definitely play around with the heat level by adjusting the jalapeños, and feel free to substitute chicken for pork if that’s your preference.
Ingredients
For the Green Sauce:
- 2 pounds fresh tomatillos, husked and rinsed (look for firm, bright green ones)
- 3 poblano peppers (or substitute with Anaheim peppers for milder heat)
- 2 jalapeño peppers, stems removed (remove seeds for less heat)
- 1 large white onion, quartered
- 6 garlic cloves, peeled
- 1 cup fresh cilantro leaves and stems
- 1/2 cup fresh epazote leaves (or substitute with additional cilantro)
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
For the Soup:
- 3 pounds pork shoulder or pork butt, cut into 2-inch chunks (chicken thighs work great too)
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 large white onion, halved
- 6 garlic cloves, smashed
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 8 cups chicken or vegetable broth (low-sodium preferred)
- 2 (25-ounce) cans white hominy, drained and rinsed (or 2 cups dried, soaked overnight)
For Serving:
- 1 cup finely shredded green cabbage
- 1 cup thinly sliced radishes
- 1 large avocado, diced
- 1/2 cup diced white onion
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves
- 6-8 lime wedges
- Mexican oregano
- Red pepper flakes or hot sauce
- Tostadas or tortilla chips
Equipment & Tools
- Large stockpot or Dutch oven
- High-speed blender or food processor
- Large rimmed baking sheet
- Fine-mesh strainer
- Sharp chef’s knife
- Cutting board
- Ladle for serving
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Roast the Vegetables (20 minutes)
Preheat your oven to 425°F. Place tomatillos, poblano peppers, jalapeños, quartered onion, and garlic cloves on a large baking sheet. Roast for 15-20 minutes until the tomatillos are soft and slightly charred, and the pepper skins are blistered. The kitchen will smell absolutely amazing at this point!
Step 2: Prepare the Pork (15 minutes)
While vegetables roast, place pork chunks in your large stockpot with the halved onion, smashed garlic, bay leaves, and 2 teaspoons salt. Add enough water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until pork is tender and easily shreds with a fork.
Step 3: Make the Green Sauce (10 minutes)
Remove the roasted vegetables from the oven and let cool slightly. Remove stems from the peppers (leave seeds for more heat, remove for milder flavor). In your blender, combine the roasted vegetables, cilantro, epazote, salt, and pepper. Add 1 cup of the pork cooking liquid and blend until completely smooth. The sauce should be bright green and silky – absolutely gorgeous!
Step 4: Combine and Simmer (20 minutes)
Remove the pork from the cooking liquid and shred into bite-sized pieces using two forks. Strain and reserve the cooking liquid. In the same pot, combine the shredded pork, green sauce, chicken broth, and 2 cups of the reserved cooking liquid. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 15 minutes to let the flavors meld beautifully.
Step 5: Add Hominy and Final Seasoning (10 minutes)
Stir in the drained hominy and simmer for another 10 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. The pozole should be vibrant green with a perfect balance of tangy and savory flavors.
Step 6: Serve with Style
Ladle the hot green pozole into bowls and let everyone customize with their favorite toppings. The contrast of textures and flavors from the fresh garnishes is what makes this dish truly special!
Tips, Variations & Substitutions
🌶️ Heat Level Adjustments: For milder pozole, remove all seeds from jalapeños and use only 2 poblanos. For more heat, add serrano peppers or leave jalapeño seeds in.
🥩 Protein Swaps: Chicken thighs work beautifully and cook faster than pork. You can also make this vegetarian by using vegetable broth and adding white beans or mushrooms for protein.
🌿 Herb Substitutions: If you can’t find epazote, don’t worry! Extra cilantro works perfectly. You can also add a handful of fresh oregano or even some spinach for extra green color.
⏱️ Time-Saving Tips: Use a pressure cooker to cook the pork in just 25 minutes, or buy pre-cooked rotisserie chicken and shred it for an even quicker version.
🥫 Hominy Notes: Canned hominy is convenient, but if you have time, dried hominy that’s been soaked overnight has better texture. Just add an extra hour of cooking time.
Common Troubleshooting:
- If your sauce isn’t bright green enough, add more cilantro or a handful of spinach
- Too thick? Add more broth gradually until you reach your desired consistency
- Too thin? Simmer uncovered for 10-15 minutes to reduce and concentrate flavors
Perfect Serving Suggestions
Green pozole is traditionally served as a complete meal, but it pairs beautifully with other Mexican favorites. Consider serving alongside warm tortillas or crispy tostadas for dipping. For a lighter meal, pair it with a simple salad or fresh avocado toast.
The soup is perfect for casual family dinners, but it’s also elegant enough for entertaining. Set up a toppings bar and let guests build their own bowls – it’s interactive and fun! For beverages, try Mexican beer, agua fresca, or even a warming cup of Mexican hot chocolate for dessert.
This hearty soup also makes an excellent addition to your meal prep rotation. Like many soups and stews, including classic beef chili, green pozole actually tastes better the next day as the flavors continue to develop and meld together.
Storage, Make-Ahead & Reheating
Refrigerator Storage: Green pozole keeps beautifully in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Store in airtight containers, and keep toppings separate to maintain their freshness and crunch.
Freezer Storage: This soup freezes wonderfully for up to 3 months. The hominy maintains its texture well, making it perfect for batch cooking. Freeze in portion-sized containers for easy weeknight meals.
Make-Ahead Tips: You can prepare the green sauce up to 3 days in advance and store it in the refrigerator. The pork can also be cooked and shredded a day ahead. When ready to serve, simply combine everything and simmer until heated through.
Reheating Instructions: Reheat gently on the stovetop over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. Add a splash of broth if needed to thin it out. Microwave individual portions for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through. The soup may thicken as it sits, so don’t hesitate to add more broth to reach your preferred consistency.
Nutrition & Dietary Information
Green pozole is naturally gluten-free and provides a good balance of protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats. Each serving contains approximately:
- Calories: 380-420 per bowl (without toppings)
- Protein: 28-32g from the pork
- Fiber: 6-8g from the hominy and vegetables
- Vitamin C: Excellent source from tomatillos and peppers
The dish is rich in antioxidants from the green vegetables and provides essential minerals like iron and zinc. To make it lighter, you can use chicken breast instead of pork shoulder, or increase the vegetable-to-meat ratio.
For those following specific diets, this recipe is naturally keto-friendly if you omit the hominy, and it can easily be made dairy-free (which it already is) or paleo by substituting cauliflower florets for the hominy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use canned tomatillos instead of fresh?
Fresh tomatillos give the best flavor and texture, but in a pinch, you can use canned. Drain them well and you might need to add a bit more lime juice to brighten the flavor.
What if I can’t find hominy?
While hominy is traditional, you can substitute with white beans, chickpeas, or even corn kernels. The texture will be different, but it’ll still be delicious!
How spicy is this green pozole?
As written, this recipe has mild to moderate heat. The poblanos are quite mild, and most of the heat comes from the jalapeños. Adjust by removing seeds or adding more peppers to taste.
Can I make this in a slow cooker?
Absolutely! Cook the pork in the slow cooker with aromatics for 6-8 hours on low. Make the green sauce separately, then combine everything for the last hour of cooking.
Why isn’t my pozole green enough?
Make sure you’re using enough fresh cilantro and that your tomatillos are fresh and bright green. You can also add a handful of fresh spinach to the blender for extra color.
What’s the difference between white, red, and green pozole?
White pozole has no chiles added to the broth, red pozole gets its color from dried red chiles, and green pozole (like this recipe) uses fresh green ingredients like tomatillos and green chiles.
Conclusion
Green pozole represents everything wonderful about Mexican cuisine – it’s deeply flavorful, brings people together, and transforms simple ingredients into something truly spectacular. This vibrant soup offers the perfect balance of comfort and freshness, with its tangy tomatillo broth, tender pork, and satisfying hominy creating a meal that’s both nourishing and exciting.
The beauty of this green pozole recipe lies not just in its incredible taste, but in its versatility and forgiving nature. Whether you’re cooking for a crowd or meal prepping for the week, this soup delivers every time. The make-ahead friendly nature means you can enjoy homemade pozole even on your busiest nights.
Ready to get started? Gather your tomatillos and poblano peppers, and prepare to fill your kitchen with the most amazing aromas. Don’t forget to set up that toppings bar – half the fun is watching everyone customize their perfect bowl. Once you try this authentic green pozole, it’s guaranteed to become a regular in your dinner rotation.
For more comforting soup recipes that are perfect for meal prep, check out our creamy Cajun chicken soup or try our hearty beef stew for another crowd-pleasing option. Happy cooking!