Jessica Alba recently showed off her slim physique while cooking in her kitchen, rocking a casual outfit as she prepared a “healthy” pozole recipe—but the dish quickly divided fans.
In a January 13 Instagram Reel shared on her account, the mother of three appeared in a gray hoodie and matching trousers, layered over a white cropped tank. Midway through the cooking process, she removed the hoodie and tied it around her waist as she got down to business. She accessorized with hoop earrings and a delicate necklace, wore her brown hair down in a sleek center part, and opted for a fresh, clean-girl makeup look.
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Jessica Alba Cooks Pozole In A Cozy Hoodie
There’s no denying she looked effortlessly fabulous—even in a cozy hoodie set—but it was the pozole recipe itself that sparked heated reactions in the comments section.
The first step in her pozole recipe involved simmering a whole chicken for five hours to create a rich, flavorful broth. In a separate pan, she sautéed carrots and celery until tender. She then poured in a tomatillo mixture blended with cilantro and tomatoes—ingredients that had been cooking alongside the chicken—along with mild green chiles.
Next, The Honest Company founder added the bone broth to the vegetable mixture and stirred in the shredded chicken. She followed this by adding a can of hominy, the nixtamalized white corn traditionally used in classic Mexican soups like pozole and menudo. To finish, she mixed in chopped zucchini and mushrooms, letting everything cook together before giving it a final stir.
The soup was topped with shredded cabbage, sliced avocado, and crunchy tortilla chips.
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Fans React
Her recipe drew criticism because it strayed from the traditional Mexican version, which is typically a vegetable-rich red or green stew made with specific peppers. Critics argued that her dish looked more like a simple vegetable chicken soup than authentic pozole, which often features tender pork, chewy hominy, and a smoky red chili broth.
On Instagram, one fan wrote, “Jessica I love u but it’s giving Rachel Ray.” A second said, “It looks good and healthy. But not a Pozole.” A third commented, “That’s definitely more like a caldo de pollo (chicken soup) NOT pozole— healthy for sure.” A fourth noted, “She’s making it identify as pozole but we all know it’s not pozole.” Someone else quipped, “Please don’t call that pozole. It’s soup. Call it soup.” One user added, "Like only 4 ingredients from pozole in this chicken soup, including water, but looks yummy and healthy."
Other fans praised the dish, writing: "Oh my goodness that looks so delicious. You’re a wonderful cook" and "It looks so good and delicious."
Despite the criticism, the ex-wife of Cash Warren is clearly embracing her Latin roots through cooking. Her father’s family has deep Mexican roots, while her mother’s side is of European descent, including Danish and French ancestry. Alba grew up in a traditional Mexican-American household in Southern California, strongly influenced by her grandparents, and has openly expressed pride in her Latina heritage.
