Souper Bowl Supper

Chicken wings, nachos, chips and chili cheese dip, little smokies, brownies, and beers! It's Super Bowl Sunday, after all. 

How about something with all the flavor, heartiness and fun of the typical football fare, but none of the guilt?  Score big by calling an audible and changing up your game!

Pozole is a traditional Mexican stew often eaten on special occasions. I'd say Super Bowl Sunday qualifies! The dish varies by region and can be done many ways. I've made this a straight forward crowd-pleaser that will have even the most skeptical fan cheering for more.

The Starting Lineup:

• 1-2 pound pork roast or shoulder
• 6+ cups low sodium organic chicken stock
• 1 can white + 1 can yellow hominy (drained and rinsed)
• 3-5 garlic cloves
• cumin, salt, oregano, smoked paprika
• juice of 1/2 lime or 2 key limes

Pre-game warm up:
In a crock pot on high, or large stock pot, add pork, stock, hominy, garlic and dried herbs and spices. Bring to boil, cover and simmer on low for about 2 hours until pork is tender. Remove the pork, shred it, and return to pot. Taste stew to adjust seasonings. Add additional stock if necessary. I squeeze in about a half of a lime at the end of the cooking time

Halftime:
While the stew is stewing, you may need some backup to prep the garnishes. Call in your second string chef and get chopping!
Prepare separate bowls of each topping and serve family style. That way the toppings stay fresh and crisp, and everyone gets to eat it just the way they like it.

• radishes very thinly sliced
• diced white onion
• shredded cabbage
• lime wedges
• chopped avocado
• chopped fresh cilantro
• diced jalapeno or piquin chili peppers

Now, you can get away without the avocado or chili peppers. But the radish, cabbage, onion, and lime are essential and served in every variation of this recipe throughout Mexico. And for good reason- they provide an added crunch and freshness that takes this stew to a whole different level.

Winning Play:
Pile on all the goodies right on top of your bowl of piping hot stew. Some hot sauce and a few squeezes of lime are the perfect finish. Options for a side are warmed corn tortillas, home made tortilla chips, or some toasty bread to soak up all the deliciousness.

Extra point: This dish is known as a hangover cure or preventative, so it's perfect for those who end up playing into overtime. Serve with an iced cold Corona, or two! This recipe is undefeated in my book.

Ok, enough football analogies.

Buen provecho!