Vegan Hominy Stew
Today I wanted to share with you my vegan hominy stew recipe. It’s one of those dishes you may not want to try at first. Maybe because you’re not familiar with hominy, but once you do, once you do, you might find yourself going for seconds, thirds and even fight for that last scoop at the bottom of the pot.
Jump to RecipeWhat is hominy anyway?
Hominy is actually dried corn kernels that have been treated with an alkali (usually lye or lime) through a process known as nixtamalization. This helps softens the kernels, removes the hulls, and increases their nutritional value. When ground, Hominy becomes the corn flour that you are probably more familiar with. It is used in traditional Latin American dishes like tortillas and tamales. It has a very distinct flavor and texture that adds depth to dishes. You can find canned hominy in the international aisle of most grocery stores in the U.S.
Ingredients for our Vegan Hominy Stew:
- Hominy: Incorporating hominy into the stew not only provides a unique texture but also infuses the dish with a distinct flavor profile, adding depth and heartiness.
- Olive Oil: Utilizing olive oil in the cooking process allows for the sautéing of vegetables, ensuring they’re cooked to perfection and imparting a rich, savory taste to the stew.
- Onion: Dicing and adding onions to the stew kickstarts the cooking process with a burst of aromatic flavor, laying the foundation for a deliciously savory dish.
- Tomatoes: Dicing fresh tomatoes infuses the stew with natural sweetness and tanginess, elevating its overall taste and adding brightness to every bite.
- Carrots: Chopping carrots into bite-sized pieces not only enhances the stew’s visual appeal with vibrant colors but also imparts a subtle sweetness and a satisfying crunch to each spoonful.
- Green Onions: Slicing green onions thinly and adding them as a garnish imparts a fresh, oniony flavor to the stew, while also providing a delightful pop of color and texture.
- Bell Peppers (Green, Red, Yellow, Orange): Dicing a colorful array of bell peppers adds both visual appeal and a variety of flavors to the stew, contributing sweetness, depth, and a hint of smokiness.
- Sage, Rosemary, Thyme: Adding these aromatic herbs infuses the stew with earthy, herbaceous notes, elevating its flavor profile and imparting a warm, comforting aroma to the dish.
- Garlic: Mincing garlic cloves releases their pungent aroma and robust flavor, enhancing the savory character of the stew and adding a delightful depth of taste.
- Ginger: Grating fresh ginger adds a subtle kick of warmth and spice to the stew, balancing out the other flavors and imparting a refreshing zing to each bite.
- Garlic Powder, Onion Powder: Incorporating these powdered forms of garlic and onion ensures a consistent distribution of flavor throughout the stew. This intensifying its savory profile with every spoonful.
How to make our Vegan Hominy Stew:
Once you’ve thoroughly rinsed out your hominy, set it aside and let’s work on our ingredients.
Now the goal is to load this dish with as much nutrition as possible. To begin, we’re going to finely chop some onions. Use whatever onion you have.
Next, we’re going to chop our bell peppers and here I’m going for the full rainbow. I think they add beautiful colors to the final dish.
Moving on with the carrots, peel and chop them as well as a few fresh tomatoes.
Next, we’re chopping up some herbs. One of my favorites is sage. It has a very strong and earthy aroma that works perfectly well in dishes that are warm and comforting in general, like this one. An equally important herb is rosemary. It has a bolder flavor and a slightly bitter taste. This helps balance out all the other sweeter ingredients we’re adding to the dish.
Next I love to work with whole garlic, peeling it off myself, or in this case with the help of my sous-chef. I think you get the most amount of flavor in freshly peeled garlic. And plus I find it very therapeutic to peel it, smash it and then mince it out.
Finally you want to peel off a piece of ginger, that we’ll grate in the stew later. Also chop some green onion, totally optional but I think they are a great addition to this dish.
Now in a large pot over medium heat, drizzle some olive oil. Then sauté the onion and garlic until fragrant and translucent.
Next, grate in the ginger. Then add your carrots, bell peppers and tomatoes, followed with your herbs. Now I like to add the whole sprig of thyme and let the flavors infuse into the stew as it simmers.
Moving on to our seasoning, starting with garlic powder and onion powder. Followed by what I call the ‘Cozy Spice Duo’, which is smoked paprika, lots of it, and ground cumin. These two spices together epitomize comfort in dishes like this one. Then of course add your salt and pepper to taste.
Stir well to combine and let cook for about 5 minutes until the vegetables start to soften slightly.
At this point you can add the hominy to the pot and give it a good mix. Now you can add a couple of cups of broth to turn the whole thing into a soup. Else, you can just add a little bit of water like I’m doing to keep it as a stew. Adjust the salt to taste. Let the whole thing simmer on medium low for about 15 more minutes. Then add your green onion and don’t forget to remove the sprig of thyme before serving.
Now, this is comfort in a bowl. It is perfect for those cozy evenings. It is full of flavors and packed with nutrition. Plus the hominy texture complements the veggies in the stew so well.
With its rich flavors and wholesome ingredients, this Hominy Stew is a true delight for the senses. This recipe is sure to warm hearts and bellies alike. So gather your ingredients, embrace the aromas of the kitchen, and savor every spoonful of this comforting Hominy Stew. Bon appétit!
Watch the Detailed Recipe Video on YouTube
Hominy Stew
Ingredients
- 2 cans of hominy 108 oz each
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion diced
- 3 tomatoes diced
- 2 carrots diced
- 4 green onions chopped
- ½ of each bell pepper green, red, yellow, orange, diced
- A handful of fresh sage leaves
- A sprig of fresh rosemary
- A sprig of fresh thyme
- 5 cloves of garlic minced
- 1- inch piece of ginger grated
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 Cup Water or Vegetable Broth
Instructions
- Prep the Ingredients: Drain the hominy from the can into a strainer and rinse it thoroughly. Set it aside.
- Dice the onion, tomatoes, carrots, and bell peppers. Chop the green onions and set aside. Mince the garlic cloves and peel the ginger and reserve it to grate later. Chop the fresh sage, rosemary, and reserve the sprig of thyme.
- Sauté the Aromatics: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the diced onion and garlic and cook until softened and translucent, about 2 – 3 minutes. Grate in the ginger, and cook for another 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Add the Vegetables: Add the diced tomatoes, carrots, and bell peppers to the pot. Stir well to combine and let cook for about 5 minutes until the vegetables start to soften slightly.
- Season the Stew: Sprinkle in the garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, ground cumin, salt, and pepper. Stir to evenly distribute the spices and coat the vegetables.
- Simmer the Stew: Pour in a dash of water or vegetable broth to prevent the stew from drying. Bring the stew to a simmer over medium-low heat.
- Infuse with Herbs: Add the fresh sage and rosemary, and add the herb to the pot along with the sprig of thyme, allowing the flavors to infuse into the stew as it simmers.
- Add the Hominy: add the drained hominy to the pot. Stir well and let the stew simmer for an additional 15 minutes until the hominy has soaked up the stew.
- Adjust Seasoning: Taste the stew and adjust the seasoning with more salt and pepper if needed and fold in the green onions.
- Serve and Enjoy: Remove the thyme from the pot before serving. Ladle the Hominy Stew into bowls and garnish with fresh chopped herbs, if desired. Serve piping hot and enjoy the hearty goodness!
