The Search for Vegan Mexican Pozole: A gastronomical tour of Mexico

This Vegan Mexican Pozole will leave you so completely satisfied. 

As a vegan, it is a challenge for me to get out of my culinary comfort zone while traveling. I want to experience the whole culture and maintain my lifestyle. In most cases, it is quite tricky to do both. Veganism is growing worldwide. But it is not always compatible with the traditions of a given destination.

Today I’m sharing an interview with Alfonso Avalos, a Mexican chef who, although not a vegan, enjoys and recognizes how delicious vegan dishes can be. He is a food lover and enjoys tackling any culinary challenge that presents itself.

Alfonso invited me to eat at his house so we could talk.

Alfonso loves traditional food. He also has a deep commitment to satisfy all of his clients. This has motivated him to research different diets and lifestyles, such as veganism. Alfonso transforms some of the best traditional Mexican recipes into vegan ones. He is devoted to maintaining the essential flavors of the dishes. This way, all visitors can enjoy the culinary culture of Mexico.

During my visit to Alfonso’s home, I was able to enjoy a few of his many innovative proposals. Today I will share the traditional and vegan version of one of the most famous and delicious dishes of traditional Mexican cuisine: pozole, a soup made with pork broth.

For this chef, it is complete madness to come to Mexico and leave without trying this delicious dish, so he has transformed the recipe for the vegan and vegetarian world to enjoy.

Traditional pozole is a soup made with pork broth.

Lean meat from the head of the pork gives the most fabulous flavor to the stock. It was fascinating to discover the vegan version of the recipe, since I would never have imagined the ingredients that Alfonso used to substitute the intense flavor of the pork.

Alfonso’s vegan pozole broth requires three magical ingredients. 

He uses about 150g of dehydrated Shiitake mushrooms (an ingredient that I loved in this soup), 100g of white miso, and 30g of sauerkraut (fermented cole).

Miso and sauerkraut generate the key flavor of vegan Mexican pozole. Shitake mushrooms add a protein source. It unfolds a flavor in the mouth that is an authentic and delicious voyage into this dish.

The next step in this recipe is to add the vegetables, which are the same in both recipes: onion, garlic, leek, and celery. These can be added into the soup as soon as you start cooking.

Then, it’s time for the chiles. Two types are used: dehydrated chile ancho (in its fresh form is called poblano) and dehydrated guajillo chile (in its fresh form it is called mirasol or ají amarillo).

In both the traditional and vegan versions, you can play with the intensity of spiciness and flavor. Keep in mind: the more profound the flavor, the less spicy the soup; the spicier the soup, the less profound the flavor.

To incorporate the chiles, you can remove the seeds and veins to decrease the spiciness without sacrificing flavor. For Alfonso, this was the perfect option for the vegan recipe he wanted to prepare. However, the fun of it is that you can decide freely, and if you prefer a spicier soup, then you just have to leave some of the seeds and veins in your chiles.

The garnish that accompanies this soup delight is nothing a simple salad of finely chopped lettuce, radishes, onions, cilantro, a touch of spice, and dried oregano. This garnish is ideal for both traditional and vegan recipes.

Here we finish this tasty and creative interview with the great and wonderful friend and chef, Sir Alfonso Avalos, who introduced me to a valuable traditional recipe from Mexico.

Follow us on Instagram at @vegans for more delicious recipes!