Vegetarian Pozole Verde (Hominy Soup)

Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 95 min
Servings: 8
Yield: 8 servings

Description

This vegetarian pozole verde (hominy soup) recipe has a bright green base of fresh tomatillos, chiles, fresh herbs, spinach, and nutty pumpkin seeds.

Ingredients

1/2 pound dried pinto beans
1/2 cup vegetable oil, divided
8 ounces raw shelled pumpkin seeds
1 pound tomatillos - husked, cored, chopped
1 bunch arugula leaves, chopped
10 serrano peppers, chopped
10 leaves fresh spinach, chopped
10 leaves Boston lettuce, chopped
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
2 quarts vegetable stock, or more as needed
2 (29 ounce) cans white hominy, drained and rinsed
salt and ground black pepper to taste

Directions

1 Place pinto beans in a large stock pot with enough water to cover; soak 8 hours to overnight. Drain.
2 Cover beans with about 3 inches water in the same stock pot; cook over medium-low heat until tender, 35 to 40 minutes. Drain.
3 Heat 1/4 cup vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add pumpkin seeds; cook and stir until light brown and popping, about 6 minutes. Cool slightly, about 5 minutes.
4 Transfer pumpkin seeds and oil to a blender or the bowl of a food processor; blend until smooth. Add half each tomatillos, arugula, serranos, spinach, lettuce, parsley, and cilantro to the blender; blend until smooth. Pour into a large bowl. Repeat with remaining half each tomatillos, arugula, serranos, spinach, lettuce, parsley, and cilantro.
5 Heat remaining 1/4 cup oil in a deep pot; carefully add tomatillo sauce. Simmer, stirring with a wooden spoon, until thickened, about 30 minutes.
6 Add pinto beans, vegetable stock, and hominy to the pot; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; simmer, uncovered, until flavors are thoroughly blended, about 15 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper.