White Bean Posole Verde with Basil-Kale Pesto
A bright green posole — grilled tomatillos and poblano blended into a tangy verde broth with white beans and hominy, swirled with a walnut basil-kale pesto and piled high with avocado, pumpkin seeds, and pomegranate.
Why it works
Phytoestrogen boost
White beans bring plant protein, fiber, and phytoestrogens that help hot flashes.
white beansStrong bones
The basil-kale pesto adds calcium and vitamin K for bone density.
kale pestoCalm & sleep
Toasted pumpkin seeds contribute magnesium for sleep and mood.
pumpkin seeds01 Basil-kale pesto
Basil-kale pesto
- 2 cupslacinato kale, ribbed & chopped (about 1 bunch)calcium + vitamin K
- 2 cupsbasil leaves, packed
- ⅓ cupwalnuts, toastedplant omega-3s
- ½ cupolive oilheart-healthy fat
- 3 clovesgarlic
- 1lime, juiced
- Combine everything in a food processor into a coarse pesto.
- You'll have about 2 cups — set aside ½ cup for the posole and freeze the rest.
02 The verde broth
The verde broth
- 2poblanos, grilled, skin removed & diced
- 1 lbtomatillos, grilledtangy, vitamin C
- 1 + 3 clovesonion + garlic, grilled
- 1lime, juiced
- 6 cups totalvegetable stock
- Grill the poblanos, tomatillos, onion, and garlic until charred; peel and dice the poblanos.
- Blend the grilled vegetables with the lime juice and 2 cups of the stock until smooth.
- Pour into a pot; stir in the remaining 4 cups stock and the ½ cup basil-kale pesto.
03 Beans & hominy
Beans & hominy
- 1 canwhite or butter beans, drainedplant protein + phytoestrogen
- 1 canhominy (or a 2nd can of beans)fiber
- Add the beans and hominy to the pot.
- Simmer until hot and the flavors come together. It makes a big batch — a serving is 2 cups, and it freezes well.
04 Serve
Serve
- slicedavocadohealthy fat
- a spoonfultoasted pumpkin seedsmagnesium
- to servecilantro + pomegranate seedsantioxidants
- optionalshredded chickenlean protein
- Ladle 2 cups into a bowl.
- Top with avocado, toasted pumpkin seeds, cilantro, and pomegranate seeds — add shredded chicken if you like.
Make it work harder (optional)
Make it work harder: stir in shredded chicken or an extra can of beans for more protein, or wilt in a handful of spinach for iron.
What's in it & what it does
White beans
Plant protein, fiber, and phytoestrogens — the hot-flash-friendly heart of the bowl.
Basil-kale pesto
Walnuts and dark greens bring calcium, vitamin K, and a little omega-3.
Pumpkin seeds
A magnesium boost for sleep and mood, scattered on top.
Tomatillos & poblano
Grilled and blended into a tangy, vitamin-C-rich verde base.