5 Budget-Friendly Hominy Substitutes for Your Dinner Party

Occasionally, we experiment with different cultural foods. Last Sunday, we made Pozole Rojo, a traditional Mexican stew. 

Pozole Rojo is a soul-warming cuisine made from either chicken or pork and hominy. Hominy is the main ingredient in Pozole Rojo; it gives Mexican cuisine its unique taste and texture. 

At your next family gathering, make Pozole Rojo and enjoy your guests’ appreciation. But for that, you will need some Hominy Substitutes as hominy is expensive and hard to find at every store. 

Let us check which ingredients we have as hominy alternatives and how they will work in your hominy recipes. 

Hominy – The Matured Corn Kernel

Things to Know About Hominy

Hominy or hominy corn is the staple ingredient in most Mexican cuisines. It is an underrated ingredient with a tempting taste and a quality to add texture to food.

Hominy is dry food, which comes from the whole dried kernel corn, aka (maize), which has been nixtamalized (process for preparing corn). 

Hominy is a low-fat food and is relatively healthy for you because it is full of nutrition that covers your body’s requirements. Therefore, it is also one of the best options for appealing, nutritious dry meals.

Moreover, including hominy in your food can be a perfect option for a gluten-free diet. The only issue is hominy is hard to find in stores. And mostly, it is available as ready-to-use canned food, which is not as tasty and nutritious as whole hominy kernel.

Flavor, Texture, And Aroma of Hominy

The slightly chewy, puffy kernels of hominy have a mild, earthy-sweet flavor with a unique texture and complex aroma.

Nutritional Content

A (100 gram) hominy serves the following nutrients.

Health Benefits of Eating Hominy

Hominy has many health benefits. Some of them are as follows.

• It Stimulates the Growth

Making hominy part of your everyday meal gives you strength. Hominy has minerals and protein that help in muscular growth.

• It is Rich in Fiber Content

Hominy is the best source of fiber, which helps you cover up your body’s fiber requirement. Fiber maintains digestive health and also regulates the level of sugar and blood.

• It is Gluten-free

Hominy is the perfect option for people that are searching for gluten-free food. It also gives you energy and is best for people with celiac diseases.

How to Include Hominy in Your Diet?

The easiest way to cook hominy is to sauté hominy on the stovetop with pepper, butter, and salt. But if you want to include it in your food, you can add it to your favorite stews and soups. The best thing about hominy is that it absorbs the recipe’s flavor of whatever it’s in.

Types of Hominy Available in the Market

• Canned
• Dried
• Samp
• Grits
• Lye
• Pearl
• White, Yellow, and Golden. 

Famous Recipes of Hominy

• Mexican Stew
• Zesty Hominy with Cheese
• Slow-cooked turkey pozole with avocado and lime

5 Perfect Hominy Substitutes for Your Lunch/Dinner Recipes

Let us get started with the 5 best alternatives perfect for hominy recipes. I bet you will find all these choices equally yummy and nutritious.

Substitute#1: Chickpeas – Chicken of the Bean Industry

Chickpeas or chickpea, essentially famous in the Mediterranean and Middle East kitchens, is generally known by many names in different parts of the world, such as Chana or Garbanzo Beans.

From Mexican meals to South Asian cuisines, chickpeas are added to various soups, stuffing, curries, and stews. 

Chickpeas are the best option for mimicking the flavor of hominy. It has the same gritty flavor and a nutty undertone. 

However, chickpeas do not have the same puffed-up texture as hominy. Thus, they cannot bring out the same thickness, but they’ll fit right in with any hominy casserole or hominy soup.

Flavor and Texture of Chickpeas

Chickpeas have a nutty and satisfying flavor accompanied by earthy notes with a slightly grainy texture that makes a fantastic contrast to other ingredients. 

Nutritional Content

The (100 gram) chickpeas serve the following nutrients,

Health Benefits of Eating Chickpeas

• It Keeps You Feeling Full

Chickpeas are the best source of vitamins, iron, minerals, and fiber, which may help keep your appetite under control. They also have a higher content of protein that works for slow digestion.

• Reduces the Risk of Diseases

Chickpeas offer you various health benefits such as improving digestion, weight loss, and reducing the risk of diseases.

• May Help in Losing Weight

The fiber and protein in chickpeas may lower your calorie intake and help you lose weight fast.

Types of Chickpeas Available in the Market

• Desi
• Kabuli 
• Green, black, brown, red, and beige

Famous Recipes of Chickpeas

• Crispy roasted chickpeas
• Hummus
• Mediterranean chickpeas

Substitute# 2: Corn – Two Peas in a Pod

Corn, usually known as maize, is a kernel attached to the cob. It is one of the most well-known cereal grains. 

Corn is typically yellow, but Indian corn comes in different shades like red, purple, blue, white, and black. Corns have a fair amount of fiber, iron, protein, and minerals. You can use canned or fresh corn in many savory dishes.

Corn and Hominy are practically families. Therefore, they can replace each other in a 1:1 ratio. However, corn can produce a different texture and flavor in hominy recipes. That’s why we must adapt accordingly. 

Flavor and Texture of Corn

Corn has a delicate, sweet, and crunchy flavor with a creamy texture, and it works well in Mexican dishes.

Nutritional Content

A (100 gram) corn serves the following nutrients, 

Health Benefits of Eating Corn

• Packed with Nutrients

Corn is high in fiber, proteins, vitamins, and minerals that boost your immune system and help grow the muscular system.

• Low in Fat

Corn is relatively low in fat and helps you lose weight fast.

• Rich Source of Antioxidants

Corn provides a high number of anti-oxidants, and also it is rich in eye-healthy carotenoids.

Types of Corns Available in the Market

• Popcorn 
• Flint 
• Flour 
• Dent
• Sweet 
• Pod Corn

Famous Recipes of Corn

• Basil and feta corn salad
• Creamy chili lime corn
• Grilled corn
• Confetti corn

Substitute#3: Buckwheat Grits – The 1st Domesticated Crop

Buckwheat is the world’s first domesticated crop. It is generally known as a plant cultivated for its grain-like seeds. It is gluten-free.

It is used to make buckwheat tea or processed into groats, noodles, and flour. It is usually harvested in China, Russia, and Eastern Europe.

Buckwheat grits are an excellent alternative to hominy. They have a filling texture and a comparable grain flavor. They are recommended for hominy substitutes as a side dish. In addition, they can work as a hominy substitute in soups, chili, and stews.  

Suppose you don’t even have buckwheat grits. In that case, you can use barley grits, which are best for savory recipes.

In addition, ground buckwheat can be substituted for ground hominy in almost all hominy recipes. 

Flavor and Texture of Buckwheat

Buckwheat has a slightly nuttier and bitter flavor with couscous and chewy texture. A lot of recipes call for buckwheat because of its strong flavor. It adds nuttiness and chewy texture to your recipes.

Nutritional Content

A (100 gram) buckwheat serves the following nutrients,

Health Benefits of Eating Buckwheat

• Richer in Minerals

Buckwheat is richer in minerals than other cereals, which helps in bones and muscular growth.

• Controls Blood Sugar

Buckwheat has fewer carbs and lowers fat content that controls your blood sugar and promotes heart health.

• Vegetarian Protein Source

This grain is high in vitamins and minerals and a good source of digestible plant protein.

Types of Buckwheat Available in the Market

• Common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum)
• Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tartaricum)

Famous Recipes of Buckwheat

• Cauliflower cashew soup with crispy buckwheat
• Buckwheat rye pancakes
• Steak and soba stir fry
• Seeded buckwheat grissini with parmesan

Substitute#4: Sweet Corn – The Sweet Hominy Substitute

Another popular hominy substitute is sweet corn. Sweet corn is a variety of maize with high sugar content. Since hominy is also corn, the common thing about sweet corn and hominy is that their flavors are almost identical.

Canned sweet corns are a fantastic canned hominy substitute and pair well with side dishes like salad, seafood, soups, tortilla filling, and other recipes.

Corn can be a golden hominy substitute in the Southwestern Hominy recipe. Also, you can use it as a hominy substitute to make posole due to the similar flavor. 

Quick Tip: To make the best posole without hominy, combine sweet corn, pulled ham hocks, and red kidney beans.

Flavor And Texture of Sweet Corn

Sweet corn has an earthy-sweet, mild flavor and unique texture.

Nutritional Content

A (100 gram) sweet corn serves the following nutrients,

Health Benefits of Eating Sweet Corn

• Rich in Vitamin C

Sweet corn is rich in vitamin C that protects your cells from damage, and it is best if you want glowing skin.

• Good for Eyes

The yellow sweet corn is a good source of carotenoid lutein, good for eye health, and improves your vision.

Types of Sweet Corns Available in the Market

• Ambrosia Hybrid
• Blue Hopi
• Golden Bantam
• Honey Select Hybrid
• Jubilee Hybrid
• Nirvana Hybrid
• Peaches and Cream
• Picasso Hybrid
• Ruby Queen
• Silver Queen Hybrid
• Stowells Evergreen

Famous Recipes of Sweet Corn

• Sweet corn fried rice
• Masala corn chaat
• Sweet corn cheese balls

Substitute#5: Rice – An Aromatic Alternative of Hominy

The rice grain or rice is a staple food for half of the world’s population, and rice usually comes from the seed of the grass species called “Oryza Sativa.” 

Rice is a versatile ingredient suitable for various sweet and savory dishes. It pairs well with curry, meat, and fish.

While there is a substantial flavor difference, rice can be substituted for hominy in meals lacking texture. Thatswhy Rice is an excellent hominy substitute in soups, posole, and stuffing.

Flavor and Texture of Rice 

Rice has an aromatic and flowery flavor with a slightly mild chewy texture.

Nutritional Content

A (100 gram) rice serves the following nutrients, 

Health Benefits of Eating Rice

• Maintaining Healthy Weight 

Rice or brown rice has a higher content of protein and fiber, which may help maintain a healthy weight and help you digest food quickly.

• Improving the Nervous System

Eating rice improves the health of the nervous system.

• Protect Against Chronic Diseases

The outer layer of the rice contains some protective compounds that play an important role by protecting you from chronic diseases and reducing the risk of heart diseases.

Types of Rice Available in the Market

• Brown Rice
• Basmati Rice
• Jasmine Rice
• Mogra Rice
• Bamboo Rice
• Wild Rice
• Black Rice
• Red Rice
• Red Cargo Rice
• Indrayani Rice
• White Rice
• Sushi Rice
• Purple Thai Rice
• Bomba Rice
• Glutinous Rice or Sticky Rice
• Arborio Rice
• Sona Masuri
• Valencia Rice
• Samba Rice
• Rosematta Rice

Famous Recipes of Rice

• Risotto
• Fried rice
• Biryani
• Parmesan steamed saffron rice

Summing It Up

Hominy has much nutritional value and is very flavourful, but it is not budget-friendly and accessible. Therefore, we have listed some perfect hominy alternatives that are cheap and can be easily found in every store.

If you are still debating how to choose the perfect Hominy Substitutes for your hominy recipes, here are the quick suggestions. 

As safe hominy substitutes, you may choose to stick to corn options as they are from the same family. However, don’t be scared to explore and test out other options, considering the recipes’ demands.

Suppose you want to play it safe and stick to corn. In that case, sweet corn is a good hominy substitute because it is identical to hominy in texture and flavor. You can use chickpeas to replace hominy in most of your dishes based on texture alone.

On the other hand, ground hominy can be replaced with buckwheat grits and rice to thicken the texture of your recipes.

Rest assured, all these substitutes are easier to find, buy, and cook.

Related Questions