Posole With Bacon Recipes

KEN'S KICKIN' POSOLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven's broiler and set the oven rack at about 6 inches from the heat source. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place the poblano chiles cut-side-down onto the baking sheet.
• Cook under the preheated broiler until the skin of the peppers has blackened and blistered, about 5 minutes. Place the blackened peppers into a bowl, and tightly seal with plastic wrap. Allow the peppers to steam as they cool, about 20 minutes. Once cool, remove the skins and discard. Dice the chiles.
• Cook and stir the bacon in a large pot over medium heat until it has released its fat and is beginning to crisp, about 5 minutes. Drain the bacon on a paper towel-lined plate, and discard all but 1 tablespoon of bacon grease from the pot. Increase the heat to medium-high, and add the pork loin cubes. Cook, stirring occasionally until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes. Remove the pork from the pot, and reduce the heat to medium. Stir in the onion and garlic; cook and stir until the onion has softened and is beginning to turn brown, about 5 minutes.
• Stir the roasted poblano chiles, jalapeno peppers, oregano, cumin, New Mexico chile powder, cloves, salt, and cilantro into the onions; cook for 1 minute. Pour in the chicken stock and enchilada sauce. Stir in the bacon and pork cubes, and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer 1 hour. Stir in the hominy, recover, and continue cooking 1 hour more until the pork is very tender.

POZOLE VERDE CON POLLO

Steps:

• Heat the bacon fat in a large heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add the poblanos, jalapeños, scallion whites, pepitas, garlic, cumin, coriander, allspice and salt. (Use 3 tablespoons Diamond Crystal kosher salt or 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon Morton kosher salt.) Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are just tender, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatillos and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until they soften and begin to brown, 5 to 6 minutes.
• Remove the pot from the heat. Working in batches, transfer some of the vegetable mixture to a blender, add some of the chicken broth and puree. Transfer the pureed mixture to a large bowl and continue until all the vegetables and broth have been blended. Return the pureed mixture to the pot and add the hominy. Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium low, cover and simmer until the flavors come together, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine the cilantro, scallion greens and 2 cups water in the blender (you don't need to rinse it out!). Puree until completely smooth.
• Add the chicken and cilantro puree to the stew, remove from the heat and stir. Let sit until the chicken is heated through. Serve the pozole with the onion, radishes, avocado, chicharrones, oregano and lime wedges.

POSOLE (MEXICAN SOUP WITH PORK AND HOMINY)

Steps:

• In a large pan.
• Saute onions in lard or bacon drippings until clear.
• Add garlic and spices and cook another two minutes.
• Add meat, green chili, rinsed hominy and beans.
• The beans are not traditional but we like them.
• Cook another two minutes.
• Pour stock over all.
• Add salt to taste.
• Simmer, covered, about 1hour.
• Pass cilantro and lime wedges for those who like a pinch of cilantro and a squeeze of lime over their soup.
• I serve this with large corn chips and cold melon.

POSOLE WITH BACON

Steps:

• Rinse posole in a sieve under cold running water, then soak in a bowl of cold water to cover by 1 inch, chilled, 8 to 24 hours.
• Drain and rinse soaked posole under cold running water, then transfer to a 6-quart pot. Add 4 quarts water, bacon, garlic, onion, and oregano (do not add salt) and simmer gently, uncovered, over low heat until posole has flowered (burst open) and liquid just barely covers posole, 3 to 3 1/2 hours. Discard garlic cloves and oregano sprigs, then stir in salt and simmer 5 to 10 minutes more.
• Available at Latino markets and by mail order from Kitchen/Market (888-468-4433).