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Pozole verde is a flavorful Mexican soup with fresh verde and shredded chicken. It is topped with ingredients like shredded cabbage, radishes, and lime for a bright, fresh, and flavor packed dish. It is the perfect soup for any occasion!
I love soups all year round! I just think they are so warm and cozy, and there’s usually a good reason to have soup on the table. If you love soup as much as I do, you’ll have to try this hearty and filling Lasagna Soup, this award winning Cheeseburger Soup, and this simple and flavorful Cauliflower Soup.
Chicken Pozole Verde
Pozole verde is a classic Mexican dish that is made frequently and reminds me of our classic chicken noodle soup. It is homey with so much rich and satisfying flavors. The first thing you do is cook the chicken and verde ingredients like tomatillo, onion, jalapenos and garlic. Then you remove the chicken and blend up the verde. It is so simple and yet SO packed with delicious flavors. I crave these flavors all the time and this dish just really hits the spot!
If you have ever made salsa verde or verde tacos, you know that fresh verde is off the charts delicious! Tomatillos are something I don’t use every day, but when I make something like my slow cooker pork chili verde or this chicken pozole, I wonder why it isn’t in EVERYTHING. It is so flavorful and unique! If this is your first time cooking with them, you can find them fresh in the produce section of your grocery store. They aren’t hard to work with and will take your cooking to the next level.
Ingredients
Pozole is made from simple and fresh ingredients. This pozole has chicken in it, but you could also use pork or even beef. It’s super delicious any way you make it! Fresh tomatillos, onions, jalapeños and garlic make up this fresh verde. I like to use chicken broth to make the soup because it is really flavorful and adds lots of nutrients. You could use vegetable stock or beef broth instead. Some people add poblano peppers or serranos for extra flavor which sounds amazing! You can find the exact measurements below in the recipe card.
Pozole Verde Ingredients
- Chicken Breast: You will not want any skin in your pozole verde. You can also use other parts of the chicken, dark meat is full of flavor!
- Tomatillos: Tomatillos are kind of like tomatoes because they are considered a fruit. Tomatillo actually means “little tomato” in Spanish! They taste similar to a tomato but are a little less sweet.
- Yellow Onion: These onions are flavorful and affordable, and they are perfect for adding extra flavor to this soup.
- Jalapeños: Fresh jalapeños add a punch of heat and flavor.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic cloves add a ton of flavor to the verde.
- Dried Oregano: I like to add oregano to balance out the acid from the tomatillos. You could also use Mexican oregano.
- Cumin: Cumin has a warm and nutty flavor that really deepens the soup.
- Salt: Add some salt to bring out all the delicious flavors of the other ingredients.
- Pepper: I like to add some pepper to add extra heat and another layer of flavor.
- Chicken Broth: Chicken broth is the perfect base for the soup. It has a lot of nutrients and will make the soup taste incredible.
- White Hominy: Hominy is a type of field corn. You will want to use the canned version so it is nice and soft and you don’t have to worry about cooking it.
- Cilantro: Cilantro can be touch and go for some people, but I love the fresh and citrusy flavor it has.
Fresh Toppings
- Shredded Cabbage: Fresh shredded cabbage adds a really nice crunch and some fresh flavor to the pozole verde.
- Lime Wedges: I like to add a fresh squeeze of lime juice once I dish up the bowl. I sometimes just drop the whole wedge in the soup so that it keeps adding flavor as I’m eating.
- Radishes: You will want to slice them pretty thin so they are easy to eat and don’t overwhelm the flavor of the soup.
- Cilantro: I add fresh cilantro on top for an extra burst of fresh flavor.
Pozole Verde Recipe
Green pozole is just one of the many delicious ways to make pozole! It is super easy to make and will really wow everyone in your family. It is always a crowd pleaser at my house when I serve it. Add some fresh sour cream on top for a pop of extra flavor!
- Add Ingredients: In a large stock pot on the stovetop, add in the chicken breasts, tomatillos, onion, jalapenos, garlic, oregano, cumin, salt, pepper and chicken broth, then bring to a rolling boil on high heat. Reduce the heat to low and cover the pot. Simmer for 35-45 minutes, or until the chicken is tender and shreds easily.
- Shred Chicken: Remove the chicken from the pot and, using two forks, shred it on a cutting board and set aside.
- Make Verde: Remove the tomatillos, onions, jalapenos, garlic, and ½ cup of the liquid from the pot and add them to a blender with the cilantro. Blend until it is smooth and pour it, along with the shredded chicken and cans of hominy into the pot.
- Simmer: Simmer everything together for an additional 10-15 minutes uncovered.
- Add Fresh Toppings: To serve, pour the Pozole into bowls and top with finely shredded cabbage, lime wedges, sliced radishes, and cilantro.
Tips for Making Pozole Verde
Pozole is a really delicious Mexican stew that can be made in so many different ways! You can really make this dish your own by switching up the ingredients that you decide to add. Here are some tips for making your pozole verde.
- More Heat: If you like your soup on the spicy side, the best way to ramp up the heat is to leave the seeds in your jalapeños! That will add plenty of extra heat without adding different flavors to the mix.
- Other Fresh Garnishes: There are a lot of ways to dress up your pozole. I like to add sour cream, avocado, and fresh cabbage on top. Some people add pepitas, which are a delicious pumpkin seed that really taste amazing in this dish. You can get creative and add whatever you like!
Storing Leftovers
This pozole verde is so amazing because it seriously gets more flavorful overtime. The second day of this soup it just tastes out of this world delicious! Here is how to store your leftovers.
- In the Refrigerator: You can store your pozole verde in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. You can also store it in the freezer for up to 3 months.
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In a large stock pot add in the chicken breasts, tomatillos, onion, jalapenos, garlic, oregano, cumin, salt, pepper and chicken broth, bring to a rolling boil on high heat. Reduce the heat to low and cover the pot. Simmer for 35-45 minutes, or until the chicken is tender and shreds easily.
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Remove the chicken from the pot and, using two forks, shred it on a cutting board and set aside.
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Remove the tomatillos, onions, jalapenos, garlic, and ½ cup of the liquid from the pot and add them to a blender with the cilantro. Blend until it is smooth and pour it, along with the shredded chicken and cans of hominy into the pot.
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Simmer everything together for an additional 10-15 minutes uncovered.
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To serve, pour the Pozole into bowls and top with finely shredded cabbage, lime wedges, sliced radishes, and cilantro.
Serves: 8
Calories214kcal (11%)Carbohydrates16g (5%)Protein27g (54%)Fat5g (8%)Saturated Fat1g (5%)Polyunsaturated Fat1gMonounsaturated Fat1gTrans Fat0.01gCholesterol76mg (25%)Sodium1577mg (66%)Potassium670mg (19%)Fiber3g (12%)Sugar5g (6%)Vitamin A223IU (4%)Vitamin C16mg (19%)Calcium45mg (5%)Iron2mg (11%)
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods and portion sizes per household.
