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A bowl of vegan pozole rojo with shredded soy curls, beans, avocado chunks, sliced radish, jalapeño, cabbage, cilantro, and a lime slice, served on a rustic wooden table with a tortilla and fresh jalapeño nearby.
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5 from 1 vote

Vegan Pozole Rojo Recipe

This is soup but like… soup with waaay more confidence. Smoky chile broth, chewy bits, and toppings you can add or ignore depending on your mood. 
Prep Time14 minutes
Cook Time35 minutes
Soaking Time14 minutes
Total Time1 hour 3 minutes
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Mexican
Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Servings: 14 Cups
Calories: 173kcal
Author: Adam Sobel
Cost: $9

Ingredients

For the soy curls:

For the chile base:

For the Soup:

  • 4 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1 cup onion diced
  • 1 tablespoon garlic minced
  • 1 cup tomato diced
  • 6 cups unsalted vegetable stock
  • 29 oz. canned white hominy drained and rinsed
  • 15.5 oz. canned white beans drained (great northern beans, or cannellini beans)
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 4 teaspoons lime juice
  • 2 ¼ teaspoons salt or to taste

To Garnish:

  • 1 cup cabbage shredded
  • 2 red radishes thinly sliced
  • 1 avocado diced
  • Lime wedges
  • ¼ cup cilantro leaves
  • ¼ cup white onion minced

Instructions

  • Bring the vegetable stock for the soy curls to a boil over high heat, then pour it over the soy curls. Let stand for 10 minutes to hydrate the soy curls. Drain the soy curls through a wire mesh strainer, pressing gently to remove excess liquid. Set aside.
  • Heat olive oil for the soy curls in a wide skillet over medium heat. After 90 seconds, when the oil is hot, add the drained soy curls in an even layer. Cook for 6-7 minutes, stirring and flipping the pieces occasionally, until the soy curls are golden on most sides.
  • Add the minced chipotle peppers and cook for 1 additional minute, stirring to coat evenly. Transfer to a bowl and hold to the side until ready to finish the soup.
  • Remove the seeds and stems from the chiles. In a skillet or comal over medium-high heat, toast the chiles for a couple of minutes on both sides until they are fragrant and pliable feeling.
  • Place the toasted chiles in a heatproof bowl, pour the boiling water over them, and fully submerge, placing a plate over the bowl to trap steam inside. Let stand for 15 minutes until softened.
  • Drain the chiles, reserving 1 cup of the soaking liquid. Transfer the chiles to a blender with the reserved soaking liquid and blend until completely smooth. Set aside.
  • Heat olive oil for the soup in a large pot over medium heat. After 90 seconds, when the oil is hot, add the diced onion and cook for 5 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds, until softened.
  • Add the garlic, tomatoes, and the blended chile base to the pot and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened.
  • Add the vegetable stock, hominy, beans, oregano, brown sugar, lime juice, and salt. Bring to a steady simmer over medium heat, then reduce to medium-low heat and cook for 20 minutes, stirring every few minutes.
  • Remove about ¼ of the soup and transfer it to a blender. Blend until smooth, then return it to the pot and stir the cooked soy curls into the soup.
  • Portion into bowls and serve hot topped with cabbage, radishes, avocado, lime wedges, cilantro, and white onion.

Notes

🌶️ Don’t Go Full Darth Maul:

Toast dried chiles just until fragrant and flexible. Push them too far and the broth turns bitter instead of bold.
🌀 Blend It Like Beckham:

Blending part of the soup adds body and structure. Blend more than about ¼ of the soup, and you’ll lose the chunky texture pozole needs.

Nutrition

Calories: 173kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 898mg | Potassium: 414mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1968IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 54mg | Iron: 2mg