Delicious and Flavorful Chicken Mole Recipe

Chicken mole is a classic Mexican dish that combines tender, juicy chicken with a rich and flavorful sauce made from a variety of ingredients including chocolate, chili peppers, spices, and nuts. This recipe delivers a perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors, resulting in a dish that will leave your taste buds amazed. Serve the chicken mole on a bed of rice or with warm tortillas for a complete and satisfying meal. The preparation may be a bit time-consuming, but the end result will be well worth the effort.

Ingredients

• 4 chicken breasts
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 dried ancho chilies, seeded and stems removed
• 2 dried pasilla chilies, seeded and stems removed
• 2 tablespoons almonds, toasted
• 2 tablespoons walnuts, toasted
• 2 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted
• 2 tablespoons raisins
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons vegetable shortening
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. In a dry skillet over medium heat, toast the dried chilies for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Remove from heat and let them cool. Once cooled, break them into pieces.
2. In the same skillet, toast the almonds, walnuts, and sesame seeds until lightly browned. Remove from heat and let them cool.
3. In a blender or food processor, combine the toasted chilies, almonds, walnuts, sesame seeds, raisins, cocoa powder, cinnamon stick, and 1 cup of chicken broth. Blend until you get a smooth puree.
4. In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper and brown them on both sides. Remove the chicken from the pot and set aside.
5. In the same pot, add the chopped onion and minced garlic. Saute for 2-3 minutes until the onion is translucent.
6. Add the pureed sauce from the blender to the pot and stir well to combine with the onion and garlic. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
7. Return the chicken breasts to the pot along with the remaining chicken broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 1 hour, partially covered.
8. After 1 hour, remove the chicken from the pot and shred it using two forks. Return the shredded chicken to the pot and simmer for an additional 15 minutes.
9. In a small saucepan, melt the vegetable shortening over medium heat. Stir in the sugar and cook until it caramelizes and turns golden brown, about 5 minutes.
10. Add the caramelized sugar to the pot and stir well to incorporate. Simmer for another 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
11. Taste the chicken mole and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper as desired.
12. Serve the chicken mole hot over a bed of rice or with warm tortillas. Enjoy!

Interesting Facts