What Is Hominy?

Here's everything you need to know about this great grain.

Published on February 23, 2021

To those unfamiliar with the grain, hominy may appear similar to monstrously large pieces of corn, with a flavor akin to corn but more complex, with a hint of earthiness and a pillowy soft texture. Hominy is a staple of Mexican cooking, and an ingredient worth trying in a range of dishes. Curious to include hominy in your next meal? Learn more about this versatile ingredient:

How is Hominy Made?

Hominy is created from maize (also known as field corn), the type of corn behind beloved grain products like corn flakes and corn meal. It can't be enjoyed straight off the cob like sweet corn; instead the grain is processed to make it usable for cooking and eating.

The chemical process that creates hominy is called nixtamalization, where the corn is soaked in an alkaline solution. This removes the corn's hull and germ, causing it to puff up and nearly double in size, which is why hominy has the appearance of giant corn kernels.

Where to Buy Hominy

Hominy is easily found in well-stocked grocery stores and Hispanic food markets. You can purchase it dried, which requires soaking and simmering over the stovetop in a similar technique to dried beans. Canned hominy is also available, already cooked and ready for a quick rinse before getting put into dishes. Hominy grits, dried hominy corn that has been ground into cornmeal, can be found in specialty grocery stores too; it's often used as a thickener for soups and stews.

Yellow Hominy on a red background — duckycards / Getty Images

How to Cook With Hominy

Take a look at your hominy recipe and see if the dish calls for the dried or canned version. Dried hominy requires hours of soaking and then quite a while simmering, so it's important to plan ahead.

Hominy's most popular use is in posole, a traditional Mexican soup made from the grain, meat, and topped with sliced veggies like radishes, cabbage, and avocado. Hominy is also delicious in other soups and stews, like this Chicken Tortilla Soup, Taco Bean Soup, or Butternut Squash and Turkey Chili.

Hominy is a great base for hearty side dishes too. Try baked Hominy with Cheese, spicy Fast Eddie's Deadly Hominy Casserole, or ultra easy Zesty Hominy and Cheese.

Cooked hominy's soft texture makes it a tasty binder, just mash it up and mix it into whatever you're trying to thicken up, like these patties of Fish Burger Surprise. This works well for creamy soups, casseroles, and veggie side dishes.

Related Content:

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Tell us why!