Best Mole Sauce Recipes

AUTHENTIC MOLE SAUCE

Steps:

• Toast guajillo chiles, ancho chiles, and chipotle chiles in a dry pan over medium heat, stirring constantly, until warm and aromatic, about 3 minutes. Transfer to the blender with chicken broth.
• Heat 2 cups chicken broth in a saucepan until it begins to simmer, about 5 minutes. Pour broth into a blender.
• Toast dinner roll pieces and tortilla strips in a dry pan over medium heat, stirring constantly, until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Transfer to the blender with chicken broth and chiles
• Allow the chiles and toasted bread and tortillas to soak, fully submerged, in the chicken broth until softened, about 10 minutes. Blend the mixture until smooth.
• Cook tomatoes and tomatillos in a dry skillet on medium-high heat until soft and blackened, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Place tomatoes in the blender with the chile puree.
• Melt lard in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in onion, garlic, peanuts, raisins, cumin seeds, thyme, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and allspice berries; cook and stir until onions are soft and golden, 5 to 8 minutes. Remove the cinnamon sticks and other whole spices; add onion mixture to the blender with the chile-tomato mixture and blend until smooth.
• Pour chile puree into a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in chocolate chicken broth, sugar, and salt. Bring mixture to a simmer; stir until chocolate is melted and sauce is thickened and slightly reduced, 10 to 15 minutes.

MOLE (MO-LAY) SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large saucepan over med.
• low heat.
• Add onion, garlic, oregano, cumin and cinnamon.
• Cover and cook until onion is almost tender, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes.
• Mix in chili powder and flour, stir for 3 minutes.
• Gradually whisk in chicken broth.
• Increase heat to med. high.
• Boil until reduced, about 35 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Remove from heat.
• Whisk in chocolate; season with salt and pepper, if desired.

CHICKEN ENCHILADAS WITH MOLE SAUCE

Steps:

• Melt 2 tablespoons lard in a stockpot. Stir in 1/2 onion, 2 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 tablespoon cumin seeds, poblano peppers, and Anaheim peppers; cook and stir until onions are soft, 5 to 8 minutes. Add chicken thighs and 4 cups chicken broth, cover, and simmer until reduced, about 40 minutes.
• Heat 2 cups chicken broth in a saucepan until it begins to simmer, about 5 minutes. Pour broth into a blender.
• Toast guajillo chiles and ancho chiles in a dry skillet on medium-high heat until hot and aromatic, 3 to 4 minutes. Place toasted chiles and tortilla strips in the blender with the hot broth. Press them down so they are fully submerged and soak until softened, about 10 minutes. Blend the chile and tortilla mixture until smooth.
• Cook tomatoes and tomatillos in a dry skillet on medium-high heat until soft and blackened, 3 to 4 minutes per side.
• Melt 2 tablespoons lard in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in 1/2 sliced onion, 5 garlic cloves, 2 teaspoons cumin seeds; cook and stir until onions are soft and golden, 5 to 8 minutes. Add onion mixture to the blender with the chile mixture and blend until smooth.
• Pour chile puree into a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in 2 cups chicken broth, salt, sugar, and chocolate. Bring mixture to a simmer; cook and stir until chocolate is melted, about 5 minutes.
• Toast tortillas in a dry skillet over medium heat until golden and soft, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Fill each tortilla with 1/3 cup chicken mixture. Roll and place seam side down on a plate. Continue with remaining tortillas, 3 per plate. Top each trio of tortillas with 1/3 cup mole sauce, 1 to 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro, and 1 to 2 tablespoons queso fresco.

MEXICAN MOLE SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat, and cook the onion until tender. Mix in cocoa powder, cumin, cilantro, and garlic. Stir in the tomato soup and green chile peppers. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 10 minutes. Transfer to a gravy boat or pour directly over food to serve.

POLLO CON MOLE POBLANO - CHICKEN IN MOLE SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat a shallow layer of oil in a very large skillet, or use two skillets.
• Brown chicken in oil on both sides; add water to cover and simmer 30 minutes.
• While chicken is cooking, make the sauce by placing all remaining ingredients (except bay leaf) in a blender and processing until smooth.
• When chicken is done, drain broth and reserve.
• Add 1 to 1 1/2 cup of broth to sauce.
• Blend, pour over chicken in skillet, add bay leaf, and cook on low heat for 35 more minutes.

OAXACAN RED MOLE SAUCE (MOLE COLORADITO)

Steps:

• Chicken:.
• Cook the chicken in 4 cups of water, with garlic, onion and salt on medium heat for 45 minutes. Check to make sure that the chicken is cooked through.
• Mole sauce:.
• Wash the chiles with a damp cloth, remove the stems of the chiles, slit open with a knife and remove the seeds and veins. Toast the chiles on both sides in large frying pan over high heat, making sure that they do not burn.
• Soak the chiles in boiling water to soften them for about 10 minute Meanwhile, fry the almonds in 3 tbls. of the shortening on medium heat for 5 min., or until they are a golden color.
• Take them out and set aside.
• Next fry the raisins until they puff up and the skin browns a bit, then remove and strain in a sieve. Turn the heat down a bit, and fry the sesame seeds in the same oil, adding a little salt to prevent them from jumping from pan.
• Once golden, remove and store on an absorbent paper towel. Still in the same oil, fry the slices of bread, until they are golden. Remove and put on an absorbent paper towel. On a dry pan or skittle roast the garlic, onion and tomato until they are nicely toasted with black spots.
• In a blender, grind the chiles with a half cup of water, and add more water as necessary to blend. Once the mixture is smooth, pour into a saucepan and fry with one tbsp of the shortening for 10 minute on medium heat. Stirring occasionally to ensure that it does not stick to the pan.
• Next, blend both the roasted and fried ingredients together, until smooth. Blend the tomatoes and strain through a colander and add into the chile mixture. Now add the cinnamon sick, thyme, marjoram(if using) and the oregano. Cook for 5 more minutes. Add the chicken broth, salt, sugar and chocolate on medium heat, stirring occasionally. Remove cinnamon stick. Cool for 15 minutes. Pour the chicken in a serving dish, serve with rice.

SPICY CHICKEN ENCHILADAS WITH RED MOLE SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat an 8-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the almonds and sesame seed and cook and stir for 4 minutes or until golden brown. Reserve 1 tablespoon almond mixture.
• Heat the oil in a 4-quart saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion, garlic, tomatoes, chipotle chiles, raisins, salt, black pepper and cinnamon. Cook for 5 minutes or until the onion is tender, stirring occasionally.
• Spoon the onion mixture into a blender. Add the broth and the remaining almond mixture. Cover and blend until the mole sauce is smooth. Pour the mole sauce into the saucepan and heat over medium heat to a boil. Reduce the heat to low. Cook for 5 minutes or until the mole sauce is slightly thickened, stirring often.
• Heat the oven to 400 degrees F. Stir the chicken, 1/2 cup cheese and 1/2 cup mole sauce in a large bowl.
• Spread 1/2 cup mole sauce in the bottom of an 11x8x2-inch baking dish.
• Spoon about 1/4 cup chicken mixture in the center of each tortilla. Roll up the tortillas around the filling. Place the filled tortillas, seam-side down, into the baking dish. Pour the remaining mole sauce over the filled tortillas. Top with the remaining cheese. Cover the baking dish.
• Bake for 25 minutes or until the enchiladas are hot and bubbling. Sprinkle with the reserved almond mixture. Serve with the sour cream.

CHICKEN IN MOLE SAUCE

Steps:

• Cut the chickens into pieces, reserving the breasts. Place chicken pieces except the breasts in a deep saucepan over medium heat; add the onion, garlic, and chicken broth. Cover the pan and simmer 25 minutes.
• Cut the breasts into halves and add to the saucepan; simmer until the chicken breasts are no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, about 20 minutes more. An instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Remove the chicken to a cutting board. Remove the skin and bones from the chicken; cut the meat into bite sized pieces.
• Strain the broth through a fine mesh strainer, reserving the liquid and discarding the onion, garlic, and skimmed fat. If you have less than 3 cups of reserved liquid, add water to make 3 cups. If you have more than 3 cups, return to the pan and bring to a boil; cook until volume of liquid reduces to 3 cups.
• Combine the chili powder, almonds, banana, cinnamon, salt, tortilla pieces, sesame seeds, and pine nuts in a blender. Blend on low, slowly adding the reserved liquid in a stream until the mixture is smooth. Pour the mixture and remaining liquid into a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the butter and chocolate; cook and stir until the butter and chocolate have melted. Stir the chicken pieces into the sauce; continue cooking until the chicken is heated completely through, 5 to 10 minutes.

MOLE SAUCE, MY STYLE: MOLE SANCHEZ

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
• Begin by placing all the dry chiles on sheet tray and toasting them in hot oven for 2 minutes until they start to let off an aroma, remove quickly and submerge them in bowl with hot water. Set aside.
• Preheat the broiler.
• Place the onions, tomatoes, tomatillos, and garlic on sheet tray and allow until roast and allow to char in a salamander or broiler and the vegetables have roasted for about 5 minutes. Remove and set aside.
• In a medium saucepan combine the prunes, apricots, and raisins with the red wine and allow to cook for 10 minutes or until the fruit has absorbed all the wine and set aside.
• In hot pan, toast all the spices, turning quickly as not to burn them. As soon as you see them smoking, remove, grind in a spice grinder, and set aside.
• To start assembling the mole combine the chiles, roasted vegetables, red wine-soaked dry fruit and the spices in large heavy bottom pot. And add the chicken stock and simmer for about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile peel the plantains and slice into 1-inch thick slices. In a saute pan with 3 inches of oil, fry the plantains until golden and add to the pot as well as chocolate and tortillas cook for 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and puree the sauce until smooth. Serve with chicken, beef, or lamb.

MOLE POBLANO SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine dried chiles, tomatoes, onion, tortilla pieces, raisins, garlic, 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, cloves, and coriander in a bowl. Puree small amounts of this mixture in a blender until smooth.
• Melt shortening in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the puree and saute, stirring frequently, about 10 minutes. Add broth and chocolate, and cook over very low heat until sauce is very thick, about 45 minutes. Garnish with remaining sesame seeds.

MOLE SAUCE (CHOCOLATE BASED)

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large saucepan over med.
• low heat.
• Add onion, garlic, oregano, cumin and cinnamon.
• Cover and cook until onion is almost tender, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes.
• Mix in chili powder and flour, stir for 1 minutes.
• Gradually whisk in chicken broth.
• Increase heat to med. high.
• Boil until reduced, about 35 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Remove from heat.
• Cool slightly.
• Process sauce, raisins, and almonds in blender until smooth.
• Heat over medium heat until hot.
• Whisk in chocolate.
• Reduce heat to low whisk and simmer about 3 minutes till well blended.

MIXIOTE DE BORREGO EN MOLE COLORADITO: LAMB SHANK IN AN OAXACAN RED MOLE SAUCE

Steps:

• To prepare the mole sauce: In a blender or food processor, blend tomatoes and garlic cloves, adding water if necessary. Strain and set aside. In a spice grinder pulverize the sesame seeds, peppercorns, oregano and cinnamon; set aside.
• Make a lengthwise cut on 1 side of each ancho and guajillo chile and remove seeds. Put chiles in a bowl and cover with boiling water, letting soak for 20 minutes or until soft. Place chiles and soaking water in a blender. Puree, strain and set aside. In a medium stockpot, heat 3 tablespoons of canola oil. Add the dried spices stirring continuously. Add the two purees and bring to a boil. Add the chocolate, sugar, and salt to taste; let simmer for about 20 minutes.
• To prepare the lamb shanks: Season the lamb shanks with salt and in a hot skillet sear shanks in oil on all sides. In a bowl, dip each shank in mole sauce, sprinkle with some of the vinegar, chopped onion and salt, then wrap in a banana leaf and then in aluminum foil. Place shanks in a roasting pan and bake in a preheated 325 degree oven for 3 1/2 to 4 hours, or until the meat is falling off the bone. Place shank on a plate and top with additional warm mole sauce.

MOLE DE CACAHUATE - PEANUT MOLE - MEXICAN PEANUT SAUCE

Steps:

• Cut the dried chilies open; discard seeds stems and veins.
• Put chilies in bowl of hot water for 25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat 2 tbs oil in skillet and cook the onions and garlic just until they start to brown.
• Transfer to blender or food processor.
• In same skillet cook the tortilla pieces until crisp and slightly browned.
• Add to blender with onion.
• Cook the tomatoes until the skins start to char a bit.
• Add to blender along with the peanuts, raisins, oregano, cinnamon, and allspice.
• Drain the chilies (discard water) and add to blender.
• Add 1 1/4 cups of the broth and add the vinegar and salt.
• Puree the mixture as much as possible.
• Pour the mixture through a strainer into a large bowl.
• Heat the remaining oil in a saucepan and add the mixture.
• Add the remaining broth and bring to boil then reduce to simmer.
• Let simmer for 20 - 25 minutes, stirring to keep from sticking to bottom of pan.
• If sauce gets too thick, add a bit more broth to thin to the desired consistency.

CHICKEN WINGS WITH EASY MOLE SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large heavy skillet sauté the onion in the oil over moderately high heat, stirring, until it is golden brown. In a mortar with a pestle crush the coriander seeds and the aniseed, stir them into the onion mixture with the chili powder, the sugar, the cinnamon, and the cloves, and cook the mixture over moderate heat, stirring, for 1 minute. Stir in the cocoa powder, the peanut butter, 2 cups of the broth, the tomatoes, the raisins, the garlic paste, and salt to taste and simmer the sauce, uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes.
• While the sauce is cooking cut off the wing tips, reserving them for another use such as stock if desired, and halve the wings at the joint. Pat the wings dry, season them with salt and pepper, and on the oiled rack of a broiler pan broil them, skin side up, under a preheated broiler about 4 inches from the heat for 10 minutes, or until they are golden. Turn the wings and broil them for 10 minutes more, or until they are golden. In a blender or food processor purée the sauce in batches, adding the remaining broth as necessary to thin it to the desired consistency. Transfer the sauce to the skillet, add the wings, and simmer the mixture, uncovered, for 30 minutes. Serve the wings with the mole sauce over the rice, sprinkled with the sesame seeds.

SPICY GRILLED CHICKEN WITH CREAMY PUMPKIN MOLE SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat heavy large pot over medium heat. Add chile pieces; toast until aromatic and lighter in color around edges, pressing with potato masher or back of fork and turning pieces, about 2 minutes. Set aside one 2-inch piece of chile for garnish; transfer remaining pieces to medium bowl. Cover chiles in bowl with hot water; soak until soft, about 30 minutes.
• In same large pot, heat 1 1/2 tablespoons oil over medium-high heat. Add onion rings and garlic. Sauté until brown, about 4 minutes. Transfer to processor, leaving oil in pot. Add bread slice to pot; cook until golden, about 30 seconds per side. Transfer bread to processor (reserve pot). Add tomatoes to processor. Puree mixture until smooth. Transfer tomato puree to small bowl (do not clean processor).
• Drain ancho chiles and place in processor. Add 1/2 cup broth and 2 chipotle chiles. Puree until smooth.
• Add 1 tablespoon oil to reserved pot. Heat over medium-high heat. Add ancho chile puree; cook until puree thickens and darkens, stirring often, about 1 1/2 minutes. Add tomato puree. Simmer until thick, stirring often, about 4 minutes. Whisk in pumpkin and 3 cups broth. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer until mole thickens and reduces to 3 1/3 cups, about 30 minutes. Whisk in cream and sugar. Season to taste with salt.
• Puree 2 tablespoons oil and 2 chipotle chiles in small processor or force through sieve to make thick glaze. Transfer to bowl. (Mole and glaze can be made 3 days ahead. Cover separately and chill.)
• Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Rewarm mole. Spread chipotle glaze thinly over both sides of chicken breasts. Sprinkle chicken generously with salt. Grill until cooked through, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer chicken to plates. Spoon mole over each. Crumble reserved ancho chile piece; sprinkle over chicken. Garnish with cilantro sprigs and lime.
• *Dried ancho chiles and chipotle chiles canned in a spicy tomato sauce, sometimes called adobo, are available at Latin American markets, specialty foods stores, and some supermarkets.

CLASSIC MOLE POBLANO SAUCE WITH CHICKEN

Steps:

• Combine the chiles, onion, garlic, tomatoes, 1 tablespoon of the sesame seeds, almonds, tortilla, raisins, cloves, cinnamon, and coriander. Puree small amounts of this mixture in a blender until smooth. (I added a small of amount of water or rum each time to make it smooth.).
• Melt the shortening in a skillet and sauté the puree for 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the chicken broth and chocolate and cook over a very low heat for 45 minutes. The sauce should be very thick. The remaining sesame seeds are used as a garnish.
• Season chicken breasts to taste and grill over low heat for about 25 minutes or until desired doneness. Ladle mole sauce over each breast and scatter the tops with warm corn kernels. Garnish with cilantro leaves, thin slices of tomatillo.

MOLE SAUCE (PEANUT BUTTER BASE)

Steps:

• In blender place broth, tomatoes with green chilies, tortillas, and peanut butter.
• Cover and blend till smooth. May need to do in two batches.
• Turn into pot and bring to boiling. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered 15 to 20 minutes or till thickened, stirring offten.
• Spoon over chicken.
• Bake covered in 350*F oven for 30 or till heated through.

MOLE PASTE (USED FOR MAKING MOLE SAUCE)

Steps:

• Preheat broiler and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Broil garlic cloves, tomatoes and onions. Remove garlic cloves after they have softened, about 10-12 minutes and continue broiling the tomatoes and onions until slightly caramelized.
• Heat a large skillet and toast the chilies until just browned and fragrant, being careful not to burn. Place toasted chili pods in a large glass bowl and cover with hot water, allowing to soften.
• In same skillet toast reserved seeds from chilies and sesame seeds, then transfer to a separate bowl.
• With skillet still hot, toast the cloves, peppercorns, oregano, thyme, and cinnamon stick a few seconds until fragrant. Then add to bowl with toasted sesame and chili seeds.
• Once garlic cloves have cooled, peel them and combine in blender with the tomatoes and onions, rehydrated chili pods (do not add in the rehydrating liquid), the toasted seeds and toasted spices, along with the nuts, raisins, and about 1 cup of chicken stock. Puree until smooth and thick, scraping down the sides. (After first trying a food processor, we were able to get a smoother puree using a Ninja style blender).
• In a large deep pot, heat the cooking oil (I used peanut oil). Once hot, add in the pureed mixture, being careful to avoid splatter burns. Once mixture has come to a boil, lower heat, bring to a simmer and then add 3 1/2 ounces chocolate to the pot.
• Allow to simmer, stirring frequently, for about an hour until a deeply rich reddish brown shimmer has developed. (I love watching Rick Bayless on the Create Network cook this over an open fire in a large cazuela).
• Use about a cup of this paste to make your Mole Sauce. Freeze the remainder away in 1 cup containers for a later use.
• *********************************************************************.
• To make Mole Sauce, heat about 1 tablespoon oil in large deep sauce pan.
• Add pureed fire-roasted tomatoes and saute a few minutes.
• Add 1 cup of Mole Paste.
• Stir in remaining 1 cup chicken stock, bring to boil and reduce heat to simmer.
• Add in 1/2 oz of chopped chocolate. Continue to simmer and add additional stock if necessary, until a suitable consistency, then keep warm until ready to serve.
• Enjoy with grilled/roasted chicken, turkey, pork, variations with fish, or use to make enchiladas. Delicious with grilled chicken but my goal is to make this with rabbit and/or duck.

MOLE BLANCO -- WHITE MOLE SAUCE

Steps:

• Fry first eleven ingredients together until golden.
• Remove from pan, place in container of blender or food processor with a little chicken stock; whirl until smooth and return to the pan.
• Add the remaining chicken broth and the white chocolate and set to simmer for half an hour.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Once it has reached the desired thickness, it is ready for dressing any meat you would like, preferably chicken.

CHICKEN IN PUMPKIN-ANCHO MOLE SAUCE

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, combine 6 cups water, salt, sugar, bay leaf, cinnamon stick, peppercorns, and cloves. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring gently. Once the sugar and salt have dissolved, remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature. Transfer to a large bowl, add the chicken, and refrigerate, covered, at least 2 hours or overnight. Bring the remaining 2 cups of water to a boil in a small saucepan over high heat. In a medium heatproof bowl, add the ancho chiles and cover with the boiling water. Weigh down with a plate so the peppers remain under water and let them soak for 15 minutes. Remove and discard the stems when the peppers have softened.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. On a sheet tray toss the jalapenos, onion, tomatoes, garlic and cumin with 2 tablespoons oil. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Roast until nicely caramelized with good color, 25 to 30 minutes. Add the pumpkin seeds to a dry, hot skillet on high heat. Stir often, until the seeds are golden and begin to pop. Transfer to a food processor along with roasted vegetables. Add the soaked chiles, about 2 tablespoons of chili soaking liquid, the cilantro leaves and the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil to the processor. Puree until smooth. Taste and season with salt and pepper, if needed.
• Remove the chicken from the refrigerator, blot dry with paper towels and put into a large Dutch oven. Pour in the mole sauce and bake, covered, until the chicken is cooked through, about 55 to 60 minutes. Remove from the oven and transfer the chicken to a cutting board to cool. When cool to the touch, shred the chicken and add it back to the sauce. Spoon the mole into corn tortillas and serve with lime wedges, avocado slices, shredded lettuce, red onion, and radishes. Garnish with cilantro leaves and enjoy.