Traditional Mole | How to Make the Best Mole Sauce with Chicken

almonds

🥗Healthier: walnuts

💰Cheaper: sunflower seeds

Walnuts provide a similar texture and flavor at a lower cost.

chicken

🥗Healthier: tofu

💰Cheaper: pork

Tofu is a plant-based protein, while pork is a more economical meat option.

mole sauce

🥗Healthier: homemade mole

💰Cheaper: store-bought mole

Homemade mole can be made with fresh ingredients, while store-bought is convenient.

sesame seeds

🥗Healthier: pumpkin seeds

💰Cheaper: sunflower seeds

Pumpkin seeds offer similar flavor and nutrition at a lower price.

Cut up a whole chicken into pieces.

Place the chicken in a pot and cover with 6-8 cups of water.

Add salt and bay leaves to the pot.

Boil the chicken for 45-55 minutes until fork tender.

Remove the chicken and set aside to cool.

In a skillet, roast the chiles for 5-6 minutes until fragrant.

Transfer the roasted chiles to a bowl and cover with water to rehydrate for about 5-6 minutes.

In the same skillet, roast 2 roma tomatoes until soft.

Add 4 roasted garlic cloves to the tomatoes in the skillet.

Check the chiles to ensure they are soft and pull apart easily.

Reserve the broth from the chicken for later use.

In a blender, combine the softened chiles, tomatoes, garlic, and half a cup of the reserved chicken broth to blend until smooth.

In a large sauce pot, heat lard and sauté a chopped onion until browned and tender.

Add the blended mixture to the pot with the sautéed onion.

In the same skillet, add more lard and toast 1 cup of almonds until lightly browned.

Add 1/2 cup of peanuts to the skillet and toast them as well.

Toast pumpkin seeds in the same skillet until lightly browned.

Combine all toasted ingredients (almonds, peanuts, pumpkin seeds) in a food processor to grind them up.

Add the ground mixture to the sauce pot with the blended chiles and onion.

Toast 4 tablespoons of sesame seeds in the skillet until golden brown and add them to the sauce pot.

Stir everything together and let it simmer to combine flavors.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens