Pozole de Birria (Hominy Soup with Birria Beef)
A hearty Mexican hominy soup built on birria broth, topped with crisp radish, cabbage, lime and dried oregano.
Made with Birria adobo and consomme and Tostadas and totopos (tortilla chips). Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time3 hr 15
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £4.94 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Put the beef and salt in a large pot with 800 ml of your ready made birria adobo and consomme (see the base recipe) and the water. Bring to a simmer, cover and cook gently for 2 hours 15 minutes, until the beef is tender.
135 min - 2
Lift out the beef and shred it. Return it to the pot.
- 3
Add the hominy and simmer for 25 minutes more, until the kernels are tender and the broth has melded.
25 min - 4
Taste and add salt, or a squeeze of lime, as needed.
- 5
Ladle into bowls and serve with the cabbage, radish, onion, oregano and lime on the table for people to add, and tostadas on the side.
Tips
- Rinse tinned hominy well to remove the brine, then simmer it in the broth so it takes up flavour.
- Rub the dried oregano between your palms as you add it to wake up the oils.
- Pozole is all about the toppings. Set out radish, cabbage, onion and lime and let everyone build their own bowl.
- Add a spoonful of salsa taquera to individual bowls for extra heat.
Storing and freezing
Cool within 1 to 2 hours and keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. Freeze for up to 3 months, without the toppings. Reheat until steaming hot all the way through.
Questions
What is hominy?
Hominy is dried maize kernels that have been treated with an alkali (nixtamalised) so they swell, soften and lose their hulls. It is the chewy ingredient in pozole. Tinned hominy is sold in many supermarkets and world food shops.
Is this a traditional pozole?
Pozole rojo is usually made with pork and a red chilli sauce. This version uses the birria broth and beef, which gives a similar red, spiced soup.
What if I cannot find hominy?
Use tinned white corn kernels or large butter beans for a different texture. It will not be quite pozole, but still tasty.
More made with birria adobo and consomme
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.