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Pozol Costarricense

A traditional Costa Rican dish — Pozol is the hearty corn-and-pork soup of the Central Valley, a favorite for special occasions and rainy afternoons.

⏱ 20 minPrep time
🔥 90 minCook time
🍽 6Servings
🏷 Costa Rican KitchenCategory
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A traditional Costa Rican dish — Pozol is the hearty corn-and-pork soup of the Central Valley, a favorite for special occasions and rainy afternoons. White corn is simmered until it swells and begins to burst, then combined with tender pork, tomato, celery, and herbs in a deeply savory broth. It is rustic, thick, and served with tortillas for dunking.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Drain the soaked corn, place it in a large pot with the water, and simmer for about one hour, until the kernels are tender and starting to split open.
  2. Add the pork, onion, garlic, and salt, and continue simmering for forty-five minutes to one hour, until the meat is very tender. Skim any foam.
  3. Remove the meat, shred or chunk it, and return it to the pot.
  4. Stir in the tomato, celery, thyme, and oregano, and simmer for twenty minutes to blend the flavors.
  5. Season with salt and pepper, stir in the culantro, and serve steaming hot with tortillas.

💡 Chef tips & storage

The corn should be cooked until it just begins to split — that is the signature texture. A pressure cooker cuts the corn and pork cooking time roughly in half.

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Recipe details

Prep20 min
Cook90 min
Servings6
CategoryCosta Rican Kitchen
PublishedAugust 17, 2026
Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →