Mole

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Mole

nowayjosecuisinelast yearWaivio3 min read

MMole is a complex, rich, and aromatic sauce, hailing from the vibrant culinary traditions of Mexico. With its unique blend of sweet and spicy flavors, mole is a tantalizing companion for chicken, pork, or any preferred meat. This recipe takes you through the intricate process of making mole from scratch using traditional ingredients, resulting in a deeply flavorful dish cherished across many regions.

Ingredients

🥜 1/4 cup toasted peanuts
🎃 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
🌾 1/4 cup sesame seeds
🌶️ 2 ancho chilies
🌶️ 1 chipotle chili
🌶️ 2 pasilla chilies
🧅 1 onion, roughly chopped
🍅 2 tomatoes, halved
🧄 3 cloves garlic
🍇 1/4 cup raisins
🧂 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
🌿 1/4 teaspoon allspice
🌿 1/4 teaspoon anise seeds
🌿 1 cinnamon stick
🍫 2 tablespoons cocoa powder or 1 Mexican chocolate bar
🍗 2 pounds chicken pieces
🧄 2 cloves garlic (for chicken broth)
🌶️ 1 jalapeño
💧 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
🍯 1 tablespoon brown sugar
🧂 Salt and black pepper, to taste

Instructions

1- Prepare the Ingredients:

Remove stems and seeds from the dried chilies.
Lightly toast the peanuts, pumpkin seeds, and sesame seeds in a dry pan over medium heat until they are aromatic. Set aside.

2- Charring the Vegetables:

In the same pan, char the onion, tomatoes, and garlic until they have a slight charred appearance. This enhances their flavors.

3- Toast the Chilies:

In a skillet over medium heat, toast the chilies, ensuring not to burn them, to bring out their spicy, smoky flavors.

4- Blend the Base:

In a blender or food processor, combine the toasted chilies, nuts, seeds, charred vegetables, raisins, cloves, allspice, anise seeds, and cinnamon. Add the cocoa powder or chocolate bar and blend until smooth.

5- Cooking the Chicken:

In a pot, combine chicken pieces with enough water to cover. Add 2 cloves of garlic, a jalapeño, and salt. Cook until the chicken is tender. Reserve the broth.

6- Prepare the Mole Paste:

Using a traditional metate or a blender, grind the blended mixture until it forms a thick paste. Gradually add vegetable oil to achieve a smooth consistency.

7- Combine with Broth:

In a large saucepan over medium heat, add the mole paste. Gradually add some chicken broth to reach your desired sauce consistency. Add the brown sugar, salt, and black pepper to taste.

8- Cook the Chicken in Mole:

Add the cooked chicken pieces to the mole sauce and simmer for about 10 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld beautifully.

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: Serves 4-6 people
Equipment: Metate or blender, Skillet, Saucepan, Pot for boiling chicken

Cooking Tips: