Atole de Grano (Savory Corn Porridge With Chicken)

Published May 16, 2025

Atole de Grano (Savory Corn Porridge With Chicken)
Julia Gartland for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Samantha Seneviratne.
Total Time
35 minutes
Prep Time
10 minutes
Cook Time
25 minutes
Rating
5(18)
Comments
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Atole is often thought of as a sweet, drinkable corn-based beverage, but in parts of Mexico, it also refers to this hearty, savory porridge made with masa harina and hominy. This version, inspired by the traditional atole de grano, is thick, creamy and deeply comforting — perfect for showcasing the variety of textures and flavors that different forms of corn can bring. Here, sweet corn kernels and chewy hominy add dimension to the velvety base, while a topping of roasted chicken and caramelized poblanos brings savory depth. A final flourish of lime, chicharrones and hot sauce adds brightness and crunch. Quick to come together and endlessly adaptable, this dish is a warm embrace in a bowl.

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings
  • 6cups chicken stock
  • Salt 
  • ¾cup/95 grams masa harina, preferably white or yellow
  • 1(15-ounce) can hominy, drained and rinsed 
  • 1cup fresh or frozen corn, thawed if frozen
  • 3tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2large poblano chiles, stemmed, seeded and thinly sliced 
  • ½ medium yellow or sweet onion, thinly sliced
  • 3garlic cloves, chopped
  • 2cups shredded roasted chicken, from about ½ rotisserie chicken 
  • Crushed chicharrones, hot sauce and lime wedges, for serving
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

588 calories; 27 grams fat; 6 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 14 grams monounsaturated fat; 5 grams polyunsaturated fat; 59 grams carbohydrates; 6 grams dietary fiber; 11 grams sugars; 28 grams protein; 1562 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    In a large saucepan, bring stock and 1½ teaspoons salt to a boil over medium-high heat. Whisking constantly, slowly add masa harina to the boiling stock and continue to whisk until no clumps of masa remain and the mixture has thickened. Continue boiling, whisking occasionally, for 5 minutes to cook the raw taste out of the masa harina.

  2. Step 2

    Add hominy and, using a potato masher, mash and grind into the bottom of the pot to coarsely crush most of the kernels. Add the corn, bring back to a boil and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is thick and creamy, about 5 minutes more. Taste and season with salt if necessary.

  3. Step 3

    Meanwhile, heat oil in a medium skillet over medium-high. Add poblanos, onion, garlic and, if desired, a pinch of salt and cook, tossing occasionally, until tender and caramelized, 7 to 9 minutes.

  4. Step 4

    Push vegetables to one side of the skillet, leaving at least half of the skillet empty. Remove pan from heat and add chicken to the empty half, tossing frequently (keeping the chicken and vegetables separate) until the chicken is warmed through, about 3 minutes.

  5. Step 5

    Serve atole in large wide bowls, topped with caramelized vegetables, warm chicken, chicharrones, hot sauce and a squeeze of lime.

Ratings

5 out of 5
18 user ratings
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Comments

I used bacon instead of chicharrones--a lot faster to make.

@IM Chuckie Try veggie stock, add shredded mushrooms to the poblanos and onions, and skip the chicken and chicharrones. You could sprinkle with pepitas or chopped peanuts if you want something crunchy on top.

I like fried tortilla strips (as in tortilla soup) on top of posole so I'm thinking they would be nice here rather than chicharrones.

This is a great base for a million things, and you can treat it like Mexican polenta. For those that enjoy a tortilla soup, try simmering your chicken with tomatoes, garlic, oregano, cumin, and coirriander rather than the poblanos as a topping. Or top it with chile verde. Basically, any braised meat or mixed vegetables will do the trick here. Also, add some texture with toasted pepitas, fried onions, or a couple of chopped up almonds. Salsa macha for spice.

has anyone made with dried hominy? I'm wondering how much would be needed presoak.

This was not the best recipe for me. The porridge didn't thicken up until at the end I added more masa harina. The proportions seemed wrong - it created a ton of porridge and not enough toppings to make this a main entree for 4 people. I don't see the reason to separate the chicken from the vegetables and doing so made it harder to reheat the chicken. was hoping this was a good way to use up some of the bag of harina I had on hand, but I think I'll stick to making tortillas with it.

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