Mole Recipe

Mexican Mole Sauce is made with layers of complex and bold flavors, simmered together over a long period of time before being blended until smooth. Learn how to make this delicious chicken mole and serve with warm rice, beans, wrapped in tortillas, or drizzled over your favorite tacos, nachos, and veggies.

Comforting, complex, and extremely versatile, Mole (pronounced moh-lay) is one of my very favorite Mexican cuisine classics. A labor of love to prepare, making your own homemade mole sauce is a million times worth the effort.

This recipe, while not 100 percent traditional, isn’t exactly fast and easy either. While one may expect to spend at least a day, if not days, to make the most traditional and authentic mole, you can expect to spend approximately 2 to 3 hours to get this awesome chicken mole recipe ready and on the table for you and your family to enjoy.

Aside from chicken, leftover mole sauce tastes fantastic with tostadas, chicken or veggie enchiladas, tacos, and burritos.

Mole is a Mexican chile sauce. While the exact origin of mole sauce unknown, some argue that its origins date back to pre-hispanic Mexico to the time of the Aztecs. Others argue that mole sauce originated in Puebla or Oaxaca, Mexico.

Regardless of its origin, over the years mole has been highly influenced by family tradition and local preference. Found in countless versions and varieties, mole sauce ranges in color, ingredient type and amount of ingredients (some have well over 30 ingredients!), and consistency.

Mole poblano, native to the state of Puebla, is the most well-known of all mole varieties. Considered the national dish of Mexico, it comes packed with approximately 20 ingredients, including chocolate, and is often served over turkey.

Travel to the state of Oaxaca, Mexico, and you’ll find seven different types of mole: negro, colorado, amarillo, verde, chichilo, coloradito, and mancha manteles.

Regardless of origin, however, most mole sauces contain fruit, chili peppers, nuts, several different spices, and (sometimes) chocolate. And though it is thought that mole was originally made without chocolate, the addition of a rich, dark, Mexican chocolate is the new normal.

mole recipe

Chicken Mole with Homemade Mole Sauce

mole recipe

Authentic Mexican Mole Sauce is made with layers of complex and bold flavors, simmered together over a long period of time before being blended until smooth. Learn how to make this delicious chicken mole and serve with warm rice, beans, wrapped in tortillas, or drizzled over your favorite tacos, nachos, and veggies.

Prep: 20min

Total: 110min

Yield: 10

Serving Size: 1 serving

Nutrition Facts: calories 491 kcal, Carbohydrate 29 g, Protein 53 g, Fat 18 g, Saturated Fat 4 g, Cholesterol 145 mg, Sodium 561 mg, Fiber 5 g, Sugar 13 g, servingSize 1 serving

Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 5 pounds chicken (boneless skinless chicken breast, chicken thighs, legs, whole chicken, combo, etc))
  • 3 cups chicken broth
  • 3 cups orange juice
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 medium onions (chopped)
  • 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds (or pepitas, or sesame seeds)
  • 1/3 cup sliced almonds
  • 8 cloves garlic (sliced)
  • 4 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 4 teaspoon coriander seeds
  • 1 teaspoon whole anise seeds
  • 4 whole cloves
  • 5 ounces dried pasilla chiles (stem removed, seeded (optional), torn into 1-inch pieces, rinsed)
  • 1 ounce dried ancho chiles (stem removed, seeded (optional), torn into 1-inch pieces, rinsed)
  • 1 ounce dried chipotle chiles (stem removed, seeded (optional), torn into 1-inch pieces, rinsed)
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1/2 cup raisins
  • 1 teaspoon dried marjoram
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 2 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 3.1 ounces dark Mexican chocolate (or just dark chocolate) (chopped)
  • Fresh chopped cilantro (for serving)

Instruction:

  1. Carefully remove chicken to a clean bowl and set aside. Reserve broth for later use.
  2. Working in batches, transfer sauce mixture to the bowl of a blender and puree until smooth. Avoid overfilling. Transfer mixture to the reserved pot. Repeat until all sauce is processed. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
  3. Best served warm with rice or warm tortillas and sprinkled with fresh cilantro and pumpkin seeds.

Using Ancient Tools To Make Traditional Mexican Chicken Mole | Passport Kitchen | Epicurious

FAQ

What is one of the main ingredients of mole?

In general, moles mix ingredients from five different categories: chiles (at least two different types); sour (tomatoes or tomatillos); sweet (dried fruits or sugar); spices; and thickeners (bread, nuts or seeds). Once the paste is formed, it’s mixed with water or broth, and then simmered for hours until it’s thick.

What are the three main ingredients of mole?

Mole is created from dried chiles, nuts, seeds and sometimes, chocolate and more ingredients. Did you know that many traditional moles require 30 ingredients and some may even have 100 or more? This is why mole sauce has a complex flavor – one that you cannot explain directly.

Is mole always made with chocolate?

But nope: “Chocolate is not the main ingredient and is only added to the more complex moles.” In fact most moles do not contain chocolate, and either way, chocolate is certainly not an element that makes a mole a mole.

What is the most famous mole dish?

Mole negro

This is the most famous of the moles and a perfect dish for many. The dish contains more than 30 ingredients with six different types of chocolate and chili. This means you should not be on a diet when preparing to eat mole negro.

About the author

Helen is an author and editor at helenbackcafe.com, who has a passion for writing about recipes. She loves to experiment with different ingredients and cooking techniques to create delicious and unique dishes.

Among all the foods, pizza holds a special place in her heart, and she loves exploring different variations and toppings to create the perfect slice. Through her writing, Helen hopes to inspire others to get creative in the kitchen and share their love for food with the world.

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