Oven-Braised Pork Pozole

Ali Clarke and Santos Loo
Ali Clarke and Santos Loo
April 20, 2023
Pozole is a delicious Mexican soup that simmers together chiles, hominy, and pork or chicken in a broth. We like using a pork shoulder since it not only adds an amazing, rich flavor to the soup but also makes it feel like a hearty, main dish perfect for lunch or dinner. And it can be easy to make, too. From searing the pork and to caramelizing the vegetables to braising the pork to simmering the soup, the Anova Precision Oven does every step of the cooking. Set the timer and you’ll come back to a perfectly cooked soup ready for the dinner table. Notes: Guajillo chiles offer a mild but very complex flavor in this pozole. You can also substitute New Mexican chiles or use a blend of the two; just make sure to use the same quantity as listed in the recipe. Pick a pork shoulder that has a nice fat cap still on. Look for a fat cap ¼- to ½-inch thick. The fat will add a rich flavor and texture to the pozole as it cooks. This recipe uses Diamond Crystal kosher salt.
Serves
6
Prep Time
00:40
Cook Time
02:30
Oven-Braised Pork Pozole
0
31
Ingredients
2 large
yellow onions, peeled and cut into quarters
2 heads
garlic (about 20 cloves), peeled and left whole
¼ cup
vegetable oil
2.5 lb
boneless pork shoulder with a ¼- to ½-inch fat cap, cut into 2-inch pieces
2 Tbsp
kosher salt
12
guajillo chiles
4 cups (32 fl oz)
chicken stock
½ cup
Mexican-style lager, such as Pacifico
1 Tbsp
Mexican or Italian oregano
2 tsp
granulated sugar
2 tsp
ground cumin
3
dried bay leaves
½ tsp
ground cinnamon
4 (15-ounce)
cans hominy, drained
½ cup
cilantro leaves
Toppings: fried tortilla strips, diced avocado, thinly sliced cabbage, diced onion, and/or lime juice
Steps

1. Preheat the Oven

Rack
Preheat the Oven
Sous Vide Mode: Off
Steam: Off
Temp: 400°F
Heat: Rear, Top

2. Prepare the Aromatics

Add the onion, garlic and 2 tablespoons of the oil to a medium bowl and toss to coat. Spread the aromatics out on one third of the Anova sheet pan.

3. Prepare the Meat

To the same bowl, add the pork shoulder pieces and toss with the remaining 2 tablespoons oil and salt until evenly coated. Lay the meat out on the remaining part of the sheet pan.
Prepare the Meat

4. Roast the Aromatics and Meat

Rack
Roast the aromatics and meat for 15 minutes, or until the pork is golden brown on top and the onion and garlic are softened and caramelized. Remove from the oven and place the onions, garlic, and any juices in the pan in a heatproof pot or 5- to 7.5-quart Dutch oven (approximately 10 inches wide and 4 inches deep). Set aside.
Roast the Aromatics and Meat
Sous Vide Mode: Off
Steam: Off
Temp: 400°F
Heat: Rear, Top
00:15 Timer

5. Flip Meat

Rack
Flip the pork pieces over and evenly spread out on the entire sheet pan.
Flip Meat
Sous Vide Mode: Off
Steam: Off
Temp: 400°F
Heat: Rear, Top

6. Sear the Second Side of Meat

Rack
Place back in the oven to roast for an additional 10 minutes or until the second side is seared. Remove from the oven.
Sear the Second Side of Meat
Sous Vide Mode: Off
Steam: Off
Temp: 400°F
Heat: Rear, Top
00:10 Timer

7. Prepare the Chiles

While the pork cooks, prepare the chiles by removing and discarding the stems and seeds. Add the chiles to a medium bowl and cover with cold water. Mix the chiles to help remove any additional seeds as well as dirt. Drain the water and repeat until all of the chiles are cleaned. Drain and set aside.
Prepare the Chiles

8. Adjust the Oven Temperature

Rack
Move the rack to the lowest position.
Sous Vide Mode: Off
Steam: Off
Temp: 325°F
Heat: Rear, Top

9. Assemble the Pozole

Add the roasted pork along, with any juices left in the pan, to the pot with the onions and garlic. Stir in the chicken stock, beer, 2 cups water, chiles, oregano, sugar, cumin, bay leaves, and cinnamon.
Assemble the Pozole

10. Braise the Pork

Rack
Cover the pot and place in the oven. Cook for 1 hour, or until the pork is tender and the liquid has reduced slightly. Remove from the oven. Using tongs, transfer the pork pieces to a large bowl. Carefully strain the liquid in the pot over the pork.
Braise the Pork
Sous Vide Mode: Off
Steam: Off
Temp: 325°F
Heat: Rear, Top
01:00 Timer

11. Purée Aromatics

Discard the bay leaves and then place the onions, garlic and chiles into a blender along with approximately 2 cups of the strained liquid, 1 cup of hominy, and the cilantro. Blend on high speed until smooth.
Purée Aromatics

12. Assemble Pozole

Rack
Add the pork and strained liquid back into the pot. Pour in the purée and remaining whole hominy and stir to combine.
Assemble Pozole
Sous Vide Mode: Off
Steam: Off
Temp: 325°F
Heat: Rear, Top

13. Simmer Pozole

Rack
Cover the pot and place back in the oven for 1 to 1 ½ hours, or until the pork is fork-tender, the soup is simmering, and the hominy is tender.
Simmer Pozole
Sous Vide Mode: Off
Steam: Off
Temp: 325°F
Heat: Rear, Top
01:30 Timer

14. Serve

Ladle the pozole into bowls and serve with your favorite toppings. Enjoy!
Serve
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