Chicken and Hominy Stew

Chicken and Hominy Stew

I am a huge fan of rotisserie chicken. I work from home on Mondays so it is my cooking day also. I made this soup last week, which was really tasty. I used a leftover rotisserie chicken, which had about 1/2 left.  I pulled the meat off of the carcass and used the carcass for stock. I added green tomatillos, onions, celery, peppers, tomatoes, and hominy. I have never cooked with hominy, which is simply puffed corn. It is the main ingredient in Posole, which is a mexican specialty. I really enjoyed the texture of the hominy. I didn't have cilantro, but that would have been great. In the soup, I used dried mexican oregano. Here is a quick soup that is sure to make you happy.

Chicken and Hominy Stew (Serves a bunch)*

*You will need to make stock ahead of time (boxed is fine too). For chicken stock, simmer the carcass in water for 1 hour. I wrapped mine in cheese cloth, which made clean-up a snap because you just throw the wrapped chicken away. Simply wrap cheese cloth around the carcass. Tie it and then simmer the wrapped chicken in water. Add salt/pepper to the water. That is it. Simple stock.

1/2 of rotisserie chicken pulled off the bone
4-6 cups of stock (depending on how thick you like your soup)
1 onion
2 ribs of celery
2 carrots
1 bell pepper
1 28 ounce can hominy (found in mexican section at supermarket)
1 can green tomatillos (Whole paycheck didn't have fresh)
1 can whole tomatoes
1 tbl of paprika
1/2 tbl of cumin
1/2 tsp of mexican oregano
salt and pepper to taste
EVOO for sauteing vegetables

For garnish (optional, but delish)

Avocado
Sour cream
Cilantro
Cheese
Hot sauce
Lime wedge

1) Make your stock...let simmer for 60 minutes (eliminate this step, if using bouillon or boxed stock)
2) Chop carrot, celery, onion, and pepper
3) Saute veggies in 2 tbls of EVOO (add salt and pepper)
4) Add cumin, paprika, and mexican oregano. Move them around on the bottom of pan to wake them up
5) Pour in one can of tomatoes and one can of canned tomatillos (they are whole. You may need to squeeze them with your tongs or break them up with a wooden spoon)
6) Add DRAINED hominy
7) Add stock and stir (taste for seasoning)
8) Let simmer for 30 minutes before adding chicken
9) Simmer for 10 minutes more
10) Taste and garnish with whatever you like

Enjoy this easy Mexican inspired soup...