Tracys Spicy Posole Recipes

NEW MEXICAN POZOLE

Steps:

• Drain soaked hominy and put in large soup pot. Cover with water and bring to boil. Let simmer briskly for 1 hour.
• While hominy is cooking, make red chile purée: Toast dried chiles lightly in cast-iron skillet or stovetop grill, just until fragrant. Wearing gloves, slit chiles lengthwise with paring knife. Remove and discard stems and seeds. Put chiles in saucepan and cover with 4 cups water. Simmer 30 minutes and let cool. In blender, purée chiles to a smooth paste using some cooking water as necessary. Purée should be of milkshake consistency.
• Season pork belly and pork shoulder generously with salt and pepper. After posole has cooked 1 hour, add pork shoulder, pork belly, onion stuck with cloves, bay leaf, garlic and cumin. Add enough water to cover by 2 inches, then return to a brisk simmer. While adding water occasionally and tasting broth for salt, simmer for about 2 1/2 hours more, until meat is tender and posole grains have softened and burst. Skim fat from surface of broth.
• Stir in 1 cup chile purée and simmer for 10 minutes. Taste and correct seasoning. (At this point, posole can be cooled completely and reheated later. Refrigerate for up to 3 days.)
• To serve, ladle posole, meat and broth into wide bowls. Pass bowls of diced onion, lime wedges, cilantro and oregano, and let guests garnish to taste.

SPICY PORK POSOLE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sprinkle tenderloin with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper and cook until meat no longer sticks to pot, about 2 minutes. Turn and repeat on other side, then remove and slice into 1/4-inch strips. Add onion and garlic to pot; reduce heat to medium-low. Add remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is transparent, 15 to 20 minutes; reduce heat as needed to keep from burning. During last minute of cooking, stir chili powder into onion mixture. Return meat to pot, along with hominy, broth and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, 20 minutes. Add cabbage, cover and cook another 10 minutes. Remove bay leaves. Divide stew among 4 bowls; serve garnished with radishes, avocado and jalapeño.