It's not every day you see the words Pozole and keto in the same sentence. This is precisely why you are here reading this blog. Agreed, maintaining a keto diet is hard, but what's harder is resisting the urge to take a bite of your favorite meal.
So, is pozole keto? Well, the answer might surprise you a bit. Keep reading to learn everything there is to know about Pozole and its relation to a keto diet.
When in ketosis, it's vital to consume foods with low carbohydrates and calories. So, it's only natural to look for dishes that complement your keto diet and does not hinder the overall results of you diet.
Remaining in ketosis sounds easy at first because all you have to do is follow a specific diet regime. However, a few months down the road and you will realize it's not a piece of cake.
Think about it. For example, it's very easy to get addicted to smoking but trying to quit smoking is a whole different league. The same goes for food.
Opting for a relatively new diet will have effects on your overall lifestyle and can be extremely difficult at times. After all, who doesn't want a taste of the almighty hamburger?
What Is Pozole?
If you've ever been to Mexico, you have most certainly tried Pozole. This traditional Mexican soup surely is in a league of its own. So much so that you're here, reading this blog wondering if you can eat Pozole while remaining in Ketosis. Yes, it's that good. However, it's still not a mainstream dish and some people might not be aware of this delightful treat.
Pozole is just a traditional Mexican soup that has several different toppings depending on the consumer's taste buds. However, making Pozole is a rather time-consuming and labor-intensive process which is why it's only preferred on special occasions.
My personal opinion about Pozole might be biased to some extent because I love it so much, but if you have never tried it, be sure to go about it at your earliest. Speaking from observation, it's very rare to find someone who has tried Pozole but didn't like it.
Pozole is made from processed corn known as hominy, and meat for added flavor and texture. Traditionally, the preferred meat is pork but it's also made from chicken for people who don't eat pork. Different spices are used for seasoning the stew, and for the toppings, garnishes such as avocados, like juice, and radishes ace the charts.
Is Pozole Keto Friendly?
The short answer is no. Pozole is not keto friendly. Since the main ingredient is hominy, which is highly intensive in carbohydrates, it is not recommended to consume Pozole whilst staying keto compliant. However, there is still a way for you to enjoy this delicious treat during ketosis.
How? You may ask? Well it might not be the traditional meal you were looking for, but you can still make Pozole without hominy and garnish it with maximum radish and cabbage. It will taste slightly different but will surely get the job done.
So, Pozole is not keto compliant, but as long as you are consuming it in moderation, you should be fine. Remember, it is a meal only preferred on festivals and special occasions so you might not want to overdo it.
How Many Calories In A Serving Of Pozole
For a dish so diverse, it is hard to give an exact answer. Many factors play a major role in the number of calories. How much oil is used? Which animal does the meat come from? However, we will still try to average out the maths and give you a rough estimation of how many calories you can expect to consume in a single serving of Pozole.
Instead of solely talking about calories, it is better to look into its overall nutritional profile. On a normal diet, Pozole is considered a nutrient-rich and balanced soup that supplies all of the major macronutrients to the body; fats, carbs, and protein.
A standard serving of Pozole (238 grams) made from pork provides the following nutrients
- Fat: 10 grams
- Sodium: 25% of the daily value
- Phosphorus: 15% of the daily value
- Iron: 7% of the daily value
- Potassium: 8% of the daily value
- Zinc: 20% of the daily value
- Niacin: 36% of the daily value
- Carbs: 12 grams
- Calories: 214
- Protein: 18 grams
There you have it. Pozole might be the best way to enrich your body with more nutrients but not if you are on the steadfast journey to lose weight. Always remember that everything has a catch!
All in all, Pozole is considered to be a relatively healthy dish with even a few health benefits. However, you must know that the nutritional value given above is just an estimation and not the exact amount.
Keto-Friendly Pozole Recipes
- Keto Spicy Chicken Pozole
On a cold day, you will find this recipe to be most to your liking. This is due to the fact that this soup has a nice base level heat thanks to the chillies and peppers used. Nevertheless, following is a step by step guide on how you can pleasure yourself with this wonderful treat!
Ingredients:
- 1.25 pounds of chicken breast boneless skinless raw
- One and a half tablespoon of avocado oil
- 8 grams of chile de ARbol
- 5 grams of dried guajillo chile pepper
- One and a half cup of boiling water
- 3 cloves of fresh garlic
- 30 ounces of chicken broth
- 3 cups of water
- 2 teaspoons of coarse kosher salt
- 2 cups of raw, green cabbage
- 8 small raw radish
- Half cup of chopped cilantro
- Avocados
Instructions
Firstly, remove the stems of the chilies and put them in a blender. Pour the boiling water and let the chilies sit for 15 minutes. Secondly, add avocado oil into the mixture and pour the mixture into a pan (make sure to preheat the pan at medium to high heat until hot).
Add chicken breast on one side of the pan and let it fry for a few minutes until it turns brown. Once it's brown, gently stir the mixture with chicken and season it with salt.
Next, add the garlic cloves and chicken broth to the pan. For spices, you can add chilli puree depending on your preference and how much heat you can tolerate. You can check this by tasting the mixture and add more chilli if you think it is necessary. Now let the mixture cook for 30 minutes or so.
Now, you should prepare the toppings. Start with slicing the cabbage and radishes, cut the cilantro, and dicing the avocados.
Lastly, just pour the soup into a bowl and add the toppings according to your preference. Enjoy the might of the keto-friendly soup.
Conclusion
By now, you probably know that Pozole is not keto compliant but altering the basic recipe a bit, and you can consume it in moderation.
Rest assured, the keto diet is hard and what's admirable is the determination you're putting into it. Keep up the good efforts, and you will notice prominent results in no time!