Mole is one of the most complex, diverse, and delicious of Mexican foods. Mole sauces range in colors from black to white, red to green, and everywhere in between depending upon the chilis and spices you use. Used for simmering chicken and stuffing tamales. The following recipe comes from the mountains of Southern Mexico in Chiapas and includes some of the slight variations found in this area.
If your idea of Mexican foods are gorditas and chimichangas (both unheard of items South of the border) then mole is a great way to delve into more sophisticated Mexican flavors not normally served at taco joints. This would be a great dish to serve at a Mexican themed party or for Cinco de Mayo.
The ingredients are easily found today in most grocery stores, and certainly in any Latin grocery store. Many stores are even carrying prepared mole sauce. Avoid the temptation if at all possible. It's better to create your own sauce tailored to your own tastes and molding it to fit the personality of where you are using local produce and spices.
Just because there are moles specific to Oaxaca and Tabasco does not mean there cannot be one specific to Napa or Jersey. Just like tlayudas, there is a lot of room for experimentation here. Have fun with it.
Chicken Mole Recipe
Chicken:
Ingredients:
- 1 chicken quartered
- 3 cloves of garlic peeled lightly smashed
- 2 tomatoes, small, halved
- 1 spring dried oregano
- 1 half onion
Method:
- Cover ingredients with water. Bring to a boil and simmer for half an hour.
Mole:
Ingredients:
- 5 ancho chili halves, dried, seeded
- 2 tomatoes, sliced
- 1 half onion, sliced
- 10 tomatillos, halved
- 1 plantain, ripe, sliced
- 3 pan dulces (little sweet breads, can be substituted for 5 dried tortillas and some sugar)
- small piece of cinnamon bark (substitute 1 tsp. dried cinnamon)
- 3 oz. chocolate
- Pinch of dried oregano
- 3 Tbs. sesame seeds
- Pinch of black pepper
Method:
- Lightly fry anchos, bread, plantains
- Place in a bowl and cover with cooking liquid from chicken. Lightly break up ingredients and let soak while preparing other items.
- Toast sesame seeds in a frying pan for a minute. Add remaining ingredients (including chocolate) and fry to soften.
- Put all ingredients in a blender and blend smooth adding chicken broth as needed. You will probably have to do this in a couple batches.
- Simmer the blended mole in a large pot with remaining chicken broth for ten minutes. Add salt and sugar to taste.
- Add chicken pieces and simmer an additional 10 minutes.
Timothy Dzurilla - Dzurilla has been writing about food and food culture for 7 years for various on and off line newspapers. Currently in graduate school ...
