Chicken with Mock Mole Sauce of Almonds, Orange, Chocolate and Sherry is a delicious introduction to using chocolate in Mexican mole sauce. A copy of Bold: A Cookbook of Big Flavors
This is another timely Mexican dish post that I think would be fabulous for Cinco de Mayo–or any other time of year. It also became relevant to Alex’s end of year Spanish language Mexican food party that I told you about. Because the teacher, with every good intention in the world, brought in jarred commercial mole negro sauce for tasting. To a group of rural Middle America kids who had never even heard the word mole, let alone tried any of the different varieties traditionally made in Mexico.
I could have cried.
I realize this seems like an extreme overreaction. But I think of myself as an ambassador of sorts when it comes to unfamiliar, often international foods and children. I have done a darn good job with my own kids. Even in this case, when every single person in the room reacted with wrinkled noses and gags (mole is strong and meant to be served with protein not eaten with a spoon, black mole is extremely bitter to our north of the border palates, and this was cheap jarred mole, nothing homemade–and it was quite spicy hot), Alex told the other kids I have made several different kinds of mole and she loved them all. But it did not matter. I saw the looks on their faces. Most of those kids are intent on not trying mole any time soon. Which is a shame.
Mole, kind of like curry in Thailand, can mean many different preparations. Almost all of them involve some combination of ground dried chile peppers, nuts, dried fruits, etc. Some have Spanish ingredients added, such as the sherry in this mole. Mole sauce can be light, dark or in between. The classic mole that many of us think of is indeed the mole negro, black from unsweetened chocolate and ground nuts and dried fruits. This particular “mock” mole is a great mole to try if you are curious about using chocolate in a mole but are not quite ready for the bitter majesty of the Oaxacan Negro. It is much less bitter and includes Spanish influences from the sherry, orange and even the almonds, an Old World nut. It is flat out delicious.
I found the basis of this recipe in Victoria Wise and Susanna Hoffman’s Bold: A Cookbook of Big Flavors
OK I am stopping because I am getting hungry and it is late at night.
I chose to serve this dish with a lime and cilantro rice, and I thought the acid of the lime perfectly complemented the rich mole sauce.
- 1-2 T extra virgin olive oil, divided
- 3-4 lbs chicken pieces (I used a mix of breast and thigh, bone in and boneless)
- salt and freshly ground black pepper, as needed
- 1 whole star anise
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 6-8 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 cup all natural almond butter
- 2 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup fresh squeezed orange juice (for me 4 oranges)
- 1/2 cup Amontillado dry sherry
- 2 T tomato paste (I prefer double strength)
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 T ancho chile powder
- 1 cup freshly chopped cilantro, including stems
- 1 t red wine vinegar
- 1 t cider vinegar
- 1 bar (about 3.5 oz) 85% cacao chocolate
- 1/2 t Ceylon cinnamon
- cilantro-lime rice to serve
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Sprinkle salt and pepper over your chicken pieces.
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Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large heavy pot, such as a Dutch oven, over medium heat. When it is shimmering, add the chicken pieces. You may want to add them in batches to prevent steaming depending on the size of your pan. Brown on both sides, about 6-8 minutes, total.
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Remove the chicken to a large bowl and set aside.
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Add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil with the star anise. When it is roasted and fragrant, but not burned (watch it), add the chopped onion with a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes.
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Add the garlic and mix it in. Cook for another 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
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Add the almond butter, chicken stock, orange juice, sherry, tomato paste and bay leaf. Mix to incorporate. Mix in the ancho powder with a decent pinch of salt, about half teaspoon.
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Add the chicken with accumulated juices back into the pan. Cover tightly and place on the lowest heat to maintain a very gentle simmer.
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Cook for 30 minutes, until chicken is cooked through.
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In the meantime, toss the chopped cilantro with the 2 different kinds of vinegar.
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When the chicken is cooked through, remove it to a (new, clean) bowl. Add the chocolate and cinnamon to the sauce and increase the heat to medium high. Stir as the chocolate melts and the sauce simmers.
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Let it simmer briskly for 15 minutes, until it has thickened.
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Stir the chicken (once again, with accumulated juices) back into the sauce. Stir in the vinegar cilantro mixture. Taste for more salt.
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Serve with cilantro lime rice (see below for recipe).
- 2 cup uncooked basmati rice
- 2 T salt
- 1 T unsalted butter
- juice from 1 1/2 juicy limes, to taste
- 1 cup chopped cilantro
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Bring a large pot of water to boil. Add the salt.
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Add the rice and cook for 3-4 minutes, until the rice is no longer crunchy.
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Drain the rice. Add the rice back into the pot. Squeeze half of one lime over the rice and add a tablespoon of butter. Tightly seal the rice and let it steam for 20 minutes.
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When the 20 minutes is up, add the juice of 1 lime and the cilantro. Toss. Add more lime juice if desired.
I received a copy of the cookbook Bold: A Cookbook of Big Flavors
Affiliate links were used in this post, but only to link to items I would be discussing and linking to anyway.
Storebought mole definitely cannot hold a candle to anything you made at home! And you’re right, it really needs to be served WITH something. Had the teacher herself even ever tried mole before?!
No lol. She was horrified and found it disgusting too. I had a sad, sinking feeling she might not even ever try it again!
I adore mole, but I’ve never made it myself. I’ve either eaten it in restaurants when I was in the States, or eaten the “yuckky” jarred kind. This recipe has motivated me! As soon as I get my hands on some ancho chile powder I want to make it!
I have been learning to make mole – I never even tried that awful looking stuff in the store. One of our favorite restaurants has an awesome house mole that I cannot resist!
I’m a big fan of Spanish food, and have recently started to really get into Latin American cuisine, so am delighted to have discovered this recipe. Looks like a terrific combination of flavours, plus I love cooking with sherry. Just writing up a recipe I cooked over the weekend for neck of Black Face sheep mutton, slow braised in sherry, garilc and rosemary, and served with char-grilled asparagus and salsa verde.
Definitely going to give your recipe a try this weekend – thank you!
I have never had mutton, but that sounds delicious. Let me know how you like the mole!
I think that teacher had her heart in the right place even if the execution was faulty. I agree that she should really have tried it herself first. I wonder if she thought that a chocolate based sauce would be especially appealing to children Alex’s age and ‘mole’ is a pretty exotic sauce. She could have just given them Mexican chocolate. Or alfajores.
a-boleyn.livejournal.com/139723.html
Or churros with chocolate sauce.
The first time I ever had mole was in a restaurant. Since then I have used a jarred mole sauce and dressed it up to my taste. I cook for one and while I COULD make one of the many mole varieties from scratch, I’d have to freeze most of it. Maybe I will one day but for now, it’s not in my plans. I’d rather save my time for other things, like home made tamales with pulled pork, chorizo, pupusas with curtido etc . 🙂
a-boleyn.livejournal.com/tag/mexican
Brilliant. Unlike most chefs you did not forget this actually needs Ceylon Cinnamon. And great photos. This is a recipe I can recommend and Pin.
I haven’t made a mole in ages. Need to get busy on that.
I need to make this soon! Love all of these flavors…
I’ve been trying to make a good “mock” mole for years, but it is never quite right. Definitely trying this one!
I love the bitterness of traditional mole but I tend to make is on the sweeter side as well.
Love mole and this one sounds great. Now I have to run buy that cookbook. 🙂
I have tasted mole from out of a jar before and found the flavor unique and couldn’t relate it to anything I have had. You delicious description gives me hope in wanting to give it a try again and create a dish using mole sauce. Thanks
I love mole and mostly make mine semi-homemade using Dona Maria sauce. But I’m hoping to do Pati Jinich’s version totally from scratch one day soon. And now, I’ll add this one to the “from scratch” list because it looks so fabulous!
O my! That almond butter and cocoa! I can imagine the wonderful flavors!
This sounds so good! Hope those kids take another opportunity to try a good version of mole! I haven’t made it myself, but have been dying to.