Lunch / Dinner
Chicken Mole
Mexico is where the popular, richly spiced sauce called mole [MOH-lay] originates. The word mole generally means “mixture of ingredients ground together,” and most are slow-simmered sauces (with the exception of guacamole).
A mole can seem like a peculiar combination of ingredients, and variations abound, but almost all preparations begin with one or more types of dried chile. The mole that most Americans are familiar with is the darkly colored version called mole negro from Oaxaca [wa-HAH-kah]. It might seem complicated, but this streamlined recipe is simple to make. To get started, a trip to a Mexican market is in order, where you’ll find just what you need.
Ingredients
FOR THE CHILES, TOAST:
FOR THE TORTILLA, NUTS, AND SEEDS, TOAST:
FOR THE CHICKEN AND SAUCE, BROWN:
Test Kitchen Tip
When reheating leftover sauce, you may need to add a little chicken broth to thin it. Use leftover sauce to make enchiladas, or serve it with tamales.
Instructions
For the chiles, toast guajillo, pasilla, and ancho chiles in a skillet over medium heat until fragrant, 5 minutes. Transfer chiles to a saucepan; add broth and simmer, covered, over low heat until softened, about 30 minutes.
For the tortilla, nuts, and seeds, toast tortilla, almonds, sesame seeds, anise seeds, cumin seeds, and coriander seeds in same skillet over low heat until fragrant, about 5 minutes; set aside.
For the chicken and sauce, brown chicken in two batches in a Dutch oven or large pot over medium-high heat in 1 Tbsp. oil per batch, 4–5 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate. Add onion, garlic, cinnamon, and allspice to Dutch oven and sweat, covered, over medium-low heat until onion softens, about 5 minutes. Stir in tomatillos, tomatoes, banana, raisins, chiles, broth, tortilla mixture, and browned chicken; simmer over medium heat, 1 hour. Transfer chicken to a serving platter.
Purée sauce with a handheld blender until smooth. Stir in chocolate until melted. Season sauce with salt and black pepper.
Serve chicken with sauce and garnish with cilantro, jalapeños, and sesame seeds.
Toast the tortilla, nuts, and seeds in a dry skillet until fragrant. This will deepen the flavor of the mole.
Brown the chicken in the Dutch oven so there are drippings to give the sauce even more flavor.
Add chocolate to the sauce mixture and allow it to melt. It adds richness without being overly sweet.
Nutritional Facts
Nutritional Facts
Per serving
Calories: 366
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 16g 24%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Cholesterol 66mg 22%
Sodium 330mg 13%
Carbs 36g 12%
Fiber 7g 28%
Protein 21g
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.