VEGAN POZOLE (POSOLE VERDE)
Vegan Pozole Verde is made with pinto beans, hominy, tomatillos and jalapeno for a delicious and vibrant flavorful Mexican main dish perfect for a hearty and delicious lunch or dinner! Stovetop, Instant Pot or Slow Cooker!
Today we celebrate a Mexican inspired dish called Posole, or green pozole in this case!
Pozole, which means hominy, is filled with lots of umami flavor and is so simple, hearty and delicious. It’s a traditional Mexican comfort food that’s often served for special occasions, but is also a weekly staple for many.
When I ran across this recipe from William + Sonoma, I knew I had to create a vegan version using beans instead of chicken. It did not disappoint in the least and is an absolute cozy and delicious meal!
So when you’re looking for a healthy and satisfying meal, I think you’ll love this vegan Pozole Verde. It’s a no-fuss recipe that can be made on the stovetop, in an Instant Pot or slow cooker!
So without further ado, let’s make Pozole!
Ingredients You’ll Need
In this posole recipe, onion, garlic, peppers and herbs are sauteed and simmered with pinto beans, hominy and tomatillos, creating a delicious meal that’s between a soup and stew.
Here is everything you will need, plus ideas for substituting ingredients:
- pinto beans – or use your favorite such as chickpeas, cannellini, black beans or tri-blend
- hominy – for ease use canned, but 2 cups fresh cooked is great too
- tomatillos – fresh, bright, with a lemony flavor, tomatillos add texture and heartiness
- herbs – dried cumin and oregano add just the right amount of flavor
- aromatics – garlic and onion, if you don’t have fresh garlic sub with 1 tsp. garlic powder
- chili pepper – I used a jalapeno, feel free to use 1 small poblano or 1 small can of diced green chilies
- broth – I use 1/2 teaspoon of Better Than Bouillon Veg Paste (affiliate link) with water for my broth. It’s a great way to control what you’re adding and a jar lasts a long time.
How To Make Vegan Pozole Verde
(Note – The full printable recipe is at the bottom of this post and includes an Instant Pot and slow cooker method)
- In a large pot, saute the onion for 5 minutes.
- Add the garlic, jalapeno, oregano, cumin salt and pepper and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Add the pinto beans, hominy and tomatillos.
- Pour in the vegetable broth.
- Give a good stir, bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 20 – 30 minutes, add lime juice (shown below).
And now you’re ready to enjoy this simple, savory green posole!
Top Tips
- Pozole is between a soup and a stew, add more broth if you prefer it a little more soupier.
- This vegan pozole recipe is super easy to make on the stovetop, in an Instant Pot or slow cooker (see recipe card card below).
- Change up the pinto beans, using your favorite – chickpeas, cannellini, great northern, black beans, etc.
How To Store
- Refrigerator: Leftovers will keep for 5 – 6 days in the refrigerator, stored in a covered container.
- Freezer: This vegan pozole is freezer friendly and freezes well for up to 2 – 3 months. To freeze, let cool completely and store in freezer-safe containers, leaving 1/2 inch head space for expansion. You can also freeze larger portions in large ziplock bags (remove as much air as possible before zip locking). Let thaw before reheating.
- Reheat: Simply re-warm on the stovetop over low heat until warmed through. Alternatively, reheat in the microwave using 30 – 60 second intervals, stirring after each, until warm.
Serving suggestions
Posole is traditionally served with a variety of condiments and garnishes such as:
- sliced avocado
- radish slices
- squeeze of lime
- fresh oregano or cilantro leaves
- shredded lettuce or cabbage
- sliced chili peppers
- tortilla chips or warmed flour or corn tortillas
Or serve with a few sides or main dishes for a hearty meal:
- Sides: Serve with a side of Cilantro Lime Rice, Quick + Easy Refried Beans, or Instant Pot Black Beans.
- Tacos: Serve with these Vegan Black Bean Tacos, Grilled Baja Tofu Tacos, or Poblano Taco Sliders.
- Salad: Pair with a simple House Salad or Southwestern Salad + Hatch Chili Dressing.
- Sandwich: Make a soup and sandwich combo with this Avocado + Black Bean Tortas.
More Tex-Mex Recipes
- Tex-Mex Quinoa Vegetable Soup
- Quick + Easy Nacho Bowl
- Vegan Burrito Bowl
- See all vegan Tex-Mex recipes on TSV!
If you try this posole recipe or have a question, please let me know! Leave a comment and rate it below. I love to hear what you think, or any changes you make.
PrintVEGAN POZOLE (POSOLE VERDE)
Somewhere between a soup and stew, this Posole Verde is hearty, flavorful and full of textures! Quick and easy recipe, ready in about 35 minutes.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 25 min
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: Serves 4 – 6 1x
- Category: Entree, Soup
- Method: simmer, instant pot, slow cooker
- Cuisine: Mexican, Tex-Mex
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or 1/4 cup water
- 1 large onion, diced
- 1 large jalapeno, diced (leave a few seeds for heat if you like)
- 3 – 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 heaping teaspoon cumin
- 1 heaping teaspoon oregano
- 1 can (25 – 28 oz) hominy, drained and rinsed
- 2 cans (14 oz) pinto beans, drained and rinsed
- 6 medium tomatillos (about 1 lb.), husks removed, well rinsed and chopped
- 4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth, + more as needed
- 1 – 2 juicy limes
- mineral salt + pepper, to taste
To Serve, optional
- cilantro leaves
- sliced avocado
- sliced radish
- shredded cabbage or lettuce
- limes wedges
- tortilla chips or warmed flour or corn tortillas
- chili peppers
Instructions
Stovetop: In large pot, heat oil/water over medium, add onions and saute for 5 minutes. Add the garlic, jalapeno, cumin, oregano, salt and pepper, cook 1 minute more, or until fragrant. Add the pinto beans, tomatillos, hominy and vegetable broth, bring to a boil, cover askew, reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 – 30 minutes. Add lime juice and season to taste.
Instant Pot: Set the Instant Pot to SAUTE, heat the oil/water, add the onion and cook for 5 minutes. Add the garlic, jalapeno, cumin, oregano, salt and pepper, cook 1 minute more, or until fragrant. Add the pinto beans, tomatillos, hominy and vegetable broth. Cover with lid and turn to the lock position. Set the valve to SEALED. Set Instant Pot to HIGH pressure and manually adjust the time to 20 minutes. Let naturally release for 10 minutes, and turn the valve to VENTING to release remaining steam. Add lime juice and season to taste.
Slow Cooker: In the bowl of a slow cooker, place all the ingredients and give a good stir. Cook on LOW for 6 – 8 hours or HIGH for 3 – 4. Add lime juice and season to taste.
Serves 4 – 6
Serve: Ladle soup into individual serving bowls. Garnish with cilantro, avocado (highly recommended) and radish, or any of the optional garnishes.
Store: Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. For longer storage, keep in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Notes
Change up the pinto beans using your favorite – chickpeas, cannellini, great northern, black beans or tri-blend.
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I made the recipe as it’s written, and it is delicious!! Thank you for this great meal. I’d never cooked with hominy before and will for sure make this again.
Delicious! The entire family enjoyed it. Healthy, filling, and not just another boring “nourishing” meal. Will be making it again!
This was so yummy, comforting and easy. I will be making this a lot!
We loved it. I also did the posole with chicken and red pepper but this was much better. The tomatillos really made the flavor better.
Loved it. My daughter is in a picky stage and loved it the first time we made it, then conflated ideas in her head about it being “slimy” for some reason. (Nothing in it is slimy.) She tried it again and begrudgingly agreed she does, in fact, like it. This means she really liked it, as did the rest of us.
This recipe rocks. I make once a month if not more. I cook impossible burger on the side and add to the soup per bowel since IB doesn’t hold its shape with vigorous cooking.
This rocks. I use impossible burger sautéed on the side since IB doesn’t hold its form with overcooking. Rich and satisfying. Hominy and beans makes it hearty.
What size are the cans of pinto beans? Same as the hominy?
It’s 2 – 14oz cans of pinto beans. I’ve updated the recipe card (not sure how I missed that as I usually add the size). Thank you for pointing it out, Kim! Enjoy the posole :)
First of all thank you so much for introducing this recipe to me. I made a few adjustments per my family’s liking and they absolutely loved it! Instead of two cans of pinto beans, I used one can of pinto and one can of cannelini beans. I also blended a mixture of tomatillos, cilantro, serrano pepper, and the first five sautéed ingredients, before pouring it back all into the pot with the beans and hominy. I know some people might prefer the soup chunky but we’re picky in my family, blending everything allows it so that nobody could pick out the tomatillos or onions. It was absolutely delicious, up to a point where I would want seconds! The hominy was so yummy, and the key ingredient that made the pozole what it is.
I’ve made this recipe twice now–definite keeper. I like to use dry pinto beans (cooked in veg broth before assembling posole), but other than that mostly stuck to the recipe. Garnished with all the good stuff–avocado, radishes, cabbage, lime wedges, and a little homemade vegan sour cream too. Delish!
This pozole is fantastic and so easy. It’s my kids’ favorite soup. I often use a large can of tomatillos instead of fresh because I can keep everything on hand. I’ve also thrown in diced zucchini, bell pepper and corn. Delish!