**Unveiling the Enchanting Symphony of Flavors: Mole Poblano with Chicken Thighs**
In the realm of Mexican cuisine, few dishes stand as majestically as Mole Poblano, a symphony of flavors that has captivated palates for centuries. Originating in the heart of Puebla, this intricate sauce boasts a rich history, showcasing the diverse culinary influences that have shaped Mexico's culinary identity. Made with an array of dried chilies, nuts, seeds, and spices, Mole Poblano exudes a captivating aroma and a complex flavor profile, ranging from smoky and earthy to nutty and sweet. This article presents two remarkable recipes that showcase the versatility of Mole Poblano: one featuring succulent chicken thighs braised in this exquisite sauce, and the other a vegetarian delight with roasted vegetables taking center stage. Both recipes promise an unforgettable culinary journey, inviting you to savor the enchanting harmony of Mole Poblano's flavors. So, prepare to embark on a taste adventure like no other as we delve into the enchanting world of Mole Poblano with Chicken Thighs.
MOLE POBLANO WITH CHICKEN THIGHS
A good mole sauce doesn't have to be complicated. This doable dish features Muir Glen organic fire-roasted diced tomatoes, chipotle and a bit of chocolate.
Provided by By Mark Evitt
Categories Entree
Time 1h15m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 21
Steps:
- Place tomatoes in medium bowl. Place 10- or 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Add sesame seed and almonds; toast about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until they begin to brown. Pour seed and nuts into bowl with tomatoes.
- Return skillet to heat. Add 1 tablespoon of the oil, the onion, garlic and raisins; season with dash salt and pepper. Cook over medium heat 5 to 7 minutes or until onion is translucent and raisins are puffed. Add onion, garlic and raisins to tomatoes.
- Return skillet to heat. Add 1 tablespoon of the oil, the chipotle powder and chili powder; stir until oil and spices are well blended. Cook about 5 minutes or until powders begin to smoke and darken. Remove from heat. Add chocolate; stir until chocolate melts.
- Pour melted chocolate-spice mixture into tomato mixture. Add 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, the cinnamon, cloves, brown sugar and bread crumbs; stir until well combined.
- In blender, place tomato mixture and 1 cup of the chicken broth. Cover; blend at least 1 minute, gradually turning up to high speed. If sauce is not passing through blender blades smoothly, add more broth. Strain sauce to remove any sesame seed bits that didn't get blended completely. Set aside.
- In 10-inch skillet, heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook 7 to 10 minutes or until browned on both sides. Remove chicken from skillet; place on plate and set aside.
- Add strained sauce to same skillet. Stir in additional chicken broth, 1/2 cup at a time, until the consistency of whipping cream (1 1/2 to 2 cups). Taste sauce; adjust seasoning if needed.
- Heat sauce to boiling. Return chicken to skillet (chicken should be completely covered with sauce). Reduce heat to simmer; cook 15 to 20 minutes or until juice of chicken is clear when thickest part is cut (at least 165°F). Serve chicken and sauce garnished with cilantro and additional sesame seed.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 Serving
MOLE SPICE RUB
Steps:
- Whisk together the chile powders, salt, cocoa, sugar, cinnamon, chile de arbol, allspice, cloves and black pepper in a small bowl. Store in an airtight container or small jars with tight-fitting lids for up to 6 months or use in the Mole-Rubbed Braised Chicken Thigh Tacos.
- Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Rub both sides of each thigh with some of the mole spice rub.
- Heat the oil in a Dutch oven large enough to fit the chicken thighs in a single layer. Add the chicken and cook until golden brown on both sides, about 4 minutes per side. Remove the chicken to a plate. Remove all but 2 tablespoons of the fat from the pan.
- Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring, for 4 minutes. Add the broth and cilantro; bring to a simmer. Return the chicken to the pot, reduce the heat to low, cover and cook until the chicken is tender, about 40 minutes. Remove the chicken to a plate and let cool slightly then shred with a fork; discard the bones.
- Meanwhile, continue to cook the braising liquid uncovered until reduced by half and thickened, about 15 minutes. Return the shredded chicken to the pot.
- While the braising liquid is reducing, preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Wrap the tortillas in aluminum foil and warm in the oven.
- Heat a small cast-iron pan over medium heat until heated. Remove a warm tortilla from the foil and cook in the dry pan until slightly charred on both sides. Fill with the chicken, top with guacamole, pickled onions and/or shredded cabbage.
CHICKEN MOLE POBLANO
Provided by Tyler Florence
Categories main-dish
Time 1h40m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 26
Steps:
- For the mole: Tear the ancho, anaheim, and chipotle chiles into large pieces and toast them in a dry skillet over medium heat until they change color a bit, about 2 minutes. Put them into a bowl with the raisins and cover them with hot water. Soak unti softened, about 30 minutes. In the same skillet over medium heat, add the almonds, sesame seeds, peppercorns, cinnamon stick, oregano, and thyme. Toast for 2 minutes, grind in a spice grinder, and add the powder to a blender. In the same skillet over medium-high heat add the olive oil, onions, garlic, and serrano. Cook until lightly browned, then add the tomatoes. Cook until vegetables are softened, about 10 to 15 minutes, then add to the blender. Add the chocolate and the soaked chiles and raisins to the blender along with some of the chile soaking liquid. Puree, adding more soaking liquid as needed, to make a smooth sauce. (This makes about 4 cups sauce, the recipe uses 2 cups, the extra can be frozen).
- Pour the lemon juice over the chicken and season it well with salt and pepper. Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed skillet and brown the chicken on all sides; remove the browned chicken to a plate leaving the oil in the pan. Pour 2 cups of the mole sauce into the hot skillet and simmer for about 5 minutes. Add the chicken stock and return the chicken pieces to the pan. Simmer, covered, until the chicken is cooked through, about 20 to 25 minutes.
- Meanwhile, put the onion and radish slices into a bowl. Add the lime juice and remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and season with salt. Mix well and serve with the chicken.
- Serve over cooked white rice with the onion and radish salad. Garnish everything with cilantro leaves.
CHICKEN MOLE
Chicken Mole
Provided by Jenny Wells
Categories Side Dish Sauces and Condiments Recipes Sauce Recipes Mole Sauce Recipes
Time 55m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Heat the vegetable oil in a Dutch oven or large pot over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken pieces in the hot oil until golden brown on all sides, about 10 minutes. Remove from the pan and set aside. Reduce heat to medium, and stir in the bay leaf, black pepper, cayenne pepper, paprika, cloves, and cinnamon until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the onion and garlic; cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the tomatoes, brown sugar, and chicken broth, and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Once simmering, stir in the chocolate chips until melted, then return the chicken pieces to the pot. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the chicken is tender and no longer pink at the bone, 15 to 20 minutes. Stir in the raisins, and cook 3 minutes longer. Sprinkle with sesame seeds to serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 609.5 calories, Carbohydrate 25.2 g, Cholesterol 145.4 mg, Fat 34.6 g, Fiber 3.3 g, Protein 48.7 g, SaturatedFat 9.9 g, Sodium 304.6 mg, Sugar 17.8 g
INSTANT CHICKEN MOLE POBLANO
An easy Chicken Mole Poblano recipe.
Categories Chicken Pepper Poultry Rice Stew Quick & Easy Hot Pepper Winter Simmer Gourmet
Yield Makes 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Combine rice, water, and salt in a 2-quart heavy saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and cook, covered, until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed, about 18 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand, covered and undisturbed, 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
- While rice cooks, blend mole and broth in a blender until smooth, then bring to a boil in a 12-inch skillet, stirring occasionally. Add chicken, then reduce heat and cook at a bare simmer, uncovered, turning chicken once, until just cooked through, about 15 minutes total (sauce will thicken slightly).
- *Available at mexgrocer.com and some Latino markets.
CHICKEN IN MOLE, PUEBLA STYLE
Provided by Tom Gilliland
Categories Chicken Chocolate Garlic Nut Pepper Fry Cinco de Mayo Dinner Dairy Free Peanut Free Soy Free Kosher
Yield Makes 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 30
Steps:
- In a large stock pot, parboil the chicken in water seasoned with salt and pepper to taste. Drain, reserving cooking broth, and refrigerate until ready to assemble the dish.
- Prepare the Mole Poblano. Clean the chiles by removing stems, veins, and seeds; reserve 1 tablespoon of the seeds. Heat 1/2 cup of the oil in a heavy skillet until it shimmers. Fry the chiles until crisp, about 10 to 15 seconds, turning once; make sure they do not burn. Drain on paper towels. Put the chiles in a nonreactive bowl, cover with hot water, and set aside for 30 minutes. Drain the chiles, reserving the soaking water. Puree the chiles in a blender with enough of the soaking water to make a smooth paste. It may be necessary to scrape down the sides and blend several times to obtain a smooth paste. In a heavy Dutch oven heat an additional 1/2 cup oil over medium heat and add the chile puree (be careful - it will splatter). Cook for about 15 minutes, stirring often. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Puree the tomatillos in a blender. In a coffee or spice grinder, grind the cloves, peppercorns, cinnamon, and toasted seeds. Add the seed mixture and the garlic to the pureed tomatillos and blend until smooth. Set aside.
- Heat 6 tablespoons of the oil in a heavy frying pan. Fry each of the following ingredients and then remove with a slotted spoon: the raisins until they puff up; the almonds to a golden brown; the pumpkin seeds until they pop. If necessary, add enough oil to make 4 tablespoons and fry the tortilla pieces and bread slices until golden brown, about 15 seconds per side; remove from the skillet with a slotted spoon. Add raisins, almonds, pumpkins seeds, tortillas, and bread to the tomatillo puree and blend, using 1 to 2 cups of the reserved chicken broth, as needed, to make a smooth sauce. This may have to be done in batches. In a heavy Dutch oven, heat 3 tablespoons of the oil over medium heat. Add the chile puree, the tomatillo puree, and the Mexican chocolate (be careful - it will splatter). Cook over medium heat for about 15 minutes, stirring often. Add the remaining 5 cups of chicken broth, cook over low heat for an additional 45 minutes, stirring often enough to prevent the mixture from scorching on the bottom. During the last 15 minutes of cooking time, add the parboiled chicken and heat through. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and serve with white rice.
CLASSIC MOLE POBLANO SAUCE WITH CHICKEN
Found this on line (from The Whole Chile Pepper Book) for the World Tour 2006 "tweeked" Serving suggestion: This sauce is excellent with poultry; serve it over a turkey or chicken breast. It is also excellent as a sauce over shredded chicken or over turkey enchiladas.
Provided by Rita1652
Categories Chicken Breast
Time 1h35m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 23
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.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 478, Fat 29.4, SaturatedFat 6.5, Cholesterol 75.5, Sodium 398.1, Carbohydrate 25.2, Fiber 7.5, Sugar 9.5, Protein 34
SLOW-COOKER CHICKEN MOLE
Dark chocolate and spices add richness to the Mexican chile sauce called mole (MOH-lay). Simmer it in a slow cooker along with chicken thighs for a warming weeknight dinner.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Meat & Poultry Chicken Chicken Thighs
Time 4h15m
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Season chicken thighs with salt and place in a 5-to-6-quart slow cooker. In a blender, puree tomatoes, onion, ancho and chipotle chiles, almonds, raisins, chocolate, garlic, oil, cumin, and cinnamon until smooth.
- Add tomato mixture to slow cooker, cover, and cook on high until chicken is tender, 4 hours (or 8 hours on low). Serve chicken and sauce topped with cilantro.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 695 g, Fat 40 g, Fiber 5 g, Protein 59 g, SaturatedFat 11 g
Tips:
- Mise en Place: Before you start cooking, make sure you have all your ingredients and equipment ready. This will help you stay organized and avoid any scrambling.
- Toast the Chiles: Toasting the chiles will help to bring out their flavor and reduce their bitterness. You can toast them in a dry skillet over medium heat until they are fragrant and slightly charred.
- Soak the Chiles: After toasting, soak the chiles in hot water for at least 30 minutes. This will help to soften them and make them easier to blend.
- Use a High-Quality Blender: A high-quality blender will help you to get a smooth and creamy mole sauce. If you don't have a high-powered blender, you can use a food processor, but you may need to blend the sauce in batches.
- Don't Overcook the Chicken: Chicken thighs are a great choice for this recipe because they are flavorful and juicy. However, it's important to not overcook them, or they will become dry and tough.
- Serve with Traditional Accompaniments: Mole poblano is traditionally served with rice, beans, and tortillas. You can also serve it with other sides like avocado, sour cream, and salsa.
Conclusion:
Mole poblano is a delicious and complex dish that is sure to impress your friends and family. With a little planning and effort, you can easily make this dish at home. Just be sure to follow the tips above to ensure that your mole poblano turns out perfect. ¡Buen provecho!
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