Irresistibly Rich Chicken Mole Recipe for Cozy Dinners

Tucking into a rich chicken mole unveils centuries of Mexican culinary magic that dances across your palate.

Generations of passionate cooks have perfected this complex sauce blending unexpected ingredients with remarkable depth.

Chocolate might sound unusual in a savory dish, but it creates an extraordinary flavor profile that surprises everyone.

Robust chilies mingle with smooth cocoa, creating a symphony of tastes that tell stories of tradition.

Native ingredients from puebla regions combine in ways that challenge ordinary dinner expectations.

The intricate layers of spices promise an adventure far beyond standard chicken recipes.

Each bite connects you to a delicious cultural narrative waiting to be savored.

Why Chicken Mole Recipe Is So Flavorful

• Dive into Flavor Fusion: This chicken mole recipe blends complex Mexican flavors with unexpected ingredients like chocolate and peanut butter, creating a rich, multilayered taste experience that surprises and delights the palate.
• Effortless Gourmet Cooking: Despite its sophisticated flavor profile, the recipe is surprisingly simple to prepare, requiring basic cooking skills and minimal specialized equipment, making restaurant-quality cuisine accessible to home cooks.
• Weekend Culinary Adventure: Perfect for leisurely weekend cooking, this dish offers an exciting opportunity to explore traditional Mexican cuisine without overwhelming novice chefs, providing a delicious cultural cooking experience that brings families and friends together.
• Quick Comfort Food Transformation: The entire cooking process takes just about an hour, delivering a hearty, comforting meal that transforms ordinary chicken into a memorable, restaurant-worthy dinner with minimal time investment.

Ingredients Used In Chicken Mole Recipe

• Chicken: The star protein that gets simmered in a rich, complex sauce, perfect for tender and flavorful meat.

• Dried Chilies: Provide deep, smoky flavor and underlying heat to the mole sauce, typically ancho or guajillo varieties.

• Onions, Garlic: Create a flavor base with their savory and aromatic qualities, essential for depth in the sauce.
• Cumin, Cinnamon, Paprika, Oregano: Warm spices that add complexity and traditional Mexican flavor profile.

• Peanut Butter: Adds creaminess and nutty undertones, helping to thicken the sauce.
• Raisins: Contribute subtle sweetness and help balance the sauce's rich flavors.
• Chocolate: Traditional in mole, provides depth, richness, and slight bitterness to the sauce.

• Chicken Broth: Creates the liquid base for the sauce and adds extra flavor.
• Tortilla Pieces: Help thicken the sauce and add traditional Mexican texture.
• Tomatoes: Provide acidity and help create a smooth sauce base.

• Sesame Seeds, Cilantro: Fresh garnishes that add texture and bright, herbal notes.
• Sugar: Optional ingredient to balance flavors if needed.
• Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasonings for enhancing overall taste.

Follow These Steps For Chicken Mole Recipe

Step 1: Poach the Chicken

• Place chicken in a large pot
• Add broth
• Sprinkle salt
• Dust with black pepper

Gently simmer the chicken for 20-25 minutes until fully cooked. Carefully remove chicken and set aside. Keep 2 cups of broth for the magical sauce.

Step 2: Craft the Mole Magic

• Quickly toast chilies in a dry skillet until fragrant
• Soak chilies in warm water for 10 minutes, then drain

• Onions
• Garlic
• Cumin
• Cinnamon
• Paprika
• Oregano
• Peanut butter
• Raisins
• Tortilla pieces
• Tomatoes

Heat oil and saute onions and garlic. Toss in remaining ingredients and cook for 5 minutes. Pour in chicken broth and softened chilies, then simmer. Blend everything into a silky smooth sauce.

Step 3: Marry Chicken with Mole

• Pour sauce back into pan
• Add chocolate
• Stir until chocolate melts completely

Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, and a touch of sugar if needed. Gently return chicken to the sauce and let it simmer on low heat for 10 minutes.

Step 4: Serve with Flair

Plate the chicken and generously spoon extra mole sauce. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and fresh cilantro. Pair with warm tortillas or fluffy rice for a mouthwatering meal that’ll transport your taste buds to culinary heaven.

Helpful Notes On Chicken Mole Recipe

• Chili Toasting Technique: Briefly toast dried chilies in a dry pan to enhance their deep, smoky flavor without burning, which releases aromatic oils and intensifies the mole's complexity.
• Broth Preservation Hack: Save the reserved chicken broth carefully, as it adds rich, savory depth to the mole sauce and prevents waste while boosting overall flavor profile.
• Blending Smoothness Secret: Use an immersion blender or standard blender with caution, ensuring the hot sauce is processed in batches to create a silky-smooth texture without splattering.
• Chocolate Melting Magic: Incorporate dark chocolate slowly, stirring continuously to achieve a glossy, well-integrated sauce that balances the complex spice and depth of traditional mole.
• Customization Flexibility: Adjust sweetness with a pinch of sugar, modify spice levels by choosing milder or hotter chilies, and experiment with nuts or seeds to personalize your mole sauce.

Chicken Mole Recipe Storage Details

• Refrigerate leftover chicken mole in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
• Seal the container tightly to prevent flavor loss and maintain moisture.
• Cool the dish completely before storing to prevent bacterial growth.
• When reheating, add a splash of chicken broth to restore the sauce's original consistency and prevent drying out.
• Transfer portions to freezer-safe containers if you want to preserve the meal longer, where it can stay fresh for 2-3 months.
• Thaw frozen chicken mole overnight in the refrigerator for best results.
• Gently reheat on the stovetop over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally to ensure even warming.
• Check the internal temperature reaches 165°F before serving to guarantee food safety.
• Avoid repeated reheating, as this can degrade the quality and texture of the chicken and sauce.

What To Eat With Chicken Mole Recipe

• Pair with Zesty Red Wine: Choose a medium-bodied Spanish Tempranillo or Mexican Grenache that complements the rich, complex mole sauce. Its fruity notes will balance the deep, chocolatey flavors while cutting through the sauce's intensity.
• Serve with Refreshing Mexican Beer: Grab a crisp cerveza like Modelo Negra or Dos Equis Amber to cleanse the palate. The beer's light carbonation and subtle maltiness perfectly counteract the mole's deep, spicy undertones.
• Complement with Cilantro-Lime Rice: Create a bright, fresh side dish that adds lightness to the heavy mole. The citrusy rice will provide a zesty contrast to the sauce's rich, complex flavor profile.
• Enhance with Pickled Vegetable Salad: Prepare a quick pickled vegetable medley with jalapeños, onions, and carrots. The tangy, acidic elements will cut through the richness of the mole and add a vibrant, fresh dimension to the meal.

Different Ideas For Chicken Mole Recipe

• Vegetarian Mole Magic: Replace chicken with firm tofu or roasted portobello mushrooms, maintaining the rich, complex sauce's essence while creating a plant-based protein option.
• Spicy Southwest Mole: Intensify heat by adding chipotle peppers or habanero, creating a fiercer version that brings additional depth and warming kick to the classic recipe.
• Coastal Seafood Mole: Swap chicken for white fish like halibut or cod, introducing a lighter protein that beautifully absorbs the sauce's intricate flavors and maintains the dish's traditional complexity.
• Quick Weeknight Mole: Use store-bought mole paste to reduce preparation time, allowing home cooks to enjoy this traditional Mexican dish without extensive cooking steps while preserving authentic taste profiles.

Chicken Mole Recipe Questions Answered

FAQs for Chicken Mole Recipe

• What makes mole sauce so special and complex?

Mole sauce is a traditional Mexican sauce with deep, rich flavors that combine multiple ingredients like chilies, spices, nuts, chocolate, and sometimes fruit. Each region in Mexico has its own unique mole recipe, making it a truly diverse and intricate culinary experience.

• Why do you use chocolate in a savory chicken dish?

Chocolate (specifically dark or unsweetened chocolate) adds depth, richness, and a subtle bitterness to the mole sauce. It doesn’t make the sauce sweet but provides a complex, earthy undertone that balances the spicy and savory elements of the dish.

• Can I adjust the spice level of the mole sauce?

Absolutely! You can control the heat by using milder chilies like ancho or guajillo, removing seeds from the chilies, or reducing the number of hot peppers. Taste the sauce as you cook and adjust according to your spice tolerance.

• Is mole sauce difficult to make at home?

While traditional mole can be time-consuming, this recipe simplifies the process. The key is toasting chilies, building layers of flavor, and blending everything smoothly. With practice, you’ll find it’s quite manageable and incredibly rewarding.

Chicken Mole Recipe

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• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Hearty Mexican Chicken Mole offers rich, complex flavors that dance between smoky chocolate depths and tender spiced chicken. Culinary adventurers will discover a soulful dish blending traditional ingredients with modern passion, inviting you to savor each nuanced bite.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Poultry:

• 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (or boneless breasts)
• 2 cups chicken broth (for poaching the chicken)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper

Chili and Spice Blend:

• 2 dried ancho chilies (stems & seeds removed, soaked in warm water)
• 2 dried guajillo chilies (or pasilla chilies, soaked in warm water)
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon smoked paprika (optional, for depth of flavor)
• ½ teaspoon dried oregano

Additional Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 small onion (chopped)
• 3 cloves garlic (minced)
• 2 tablespoons peanut butter (or ground almonds)
• ¼ cup raisins (adds slight sweetness)
• 1 small corn tortilla (torn into pieces, for thickening)
• 2 medium tomatoes (chopped)
• 2 cups chicken broth (or reserved poaching liquid)
• 1 ounce dark chocolate (70% or Mexican chocolate like Abuelita)
• 1 teaspoon sugar (optional, for balance)
• Salt & black pepper to taste
• Sesame seeds (for sprinkling)
• Chopped cilantro
• Warm corn tortillas or rice

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Instructions

1. Gently poach the chicken in a seasoned broth, letting it simmer until tender and fully cooked. Extract the chicken from the liquid, preserving two cups of the aromatic broth for the upcoming sauce preparation.
2. Carefully toast the dried chilies in a hot, dry skillet until they release their rich, earthy fragrance. Submerge the toasted chilies in warm water, allowing them to rehydrate and soften completely.
3. In the same skillet, sauté finely chopped onions and minced garlic until they become translucent and aromatic. Introduce a medley of warm spices: cumin, cinnamon, paprika, and oregano, creating a complex flavor base.
4. Incorporate peanut butter, plump raisins, torn tortilla pieces, and ripe tomatoes into the spice mixture. Let the ingredients meld and caramelize, developing deep, intricate flavors.
5. Deglaze the pan with reserved chicken broth and add the softened chilies. Allow the mixture to simmer, developing a rich, intense sauce profile.
6. Transfer the sauce to a blender and purée until completely smooth and velvety. Reintroduce the sauce to the pan and gently fold in dark chocolate, stirring until it melts seamlessly.
7. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt, black pepper, and a touch of sugar if needed. Carefully return the poached chicken to the sauce, letting it slowly simmer and absorb the complex flavors.
8. Plate the chicken, generously coating it with the luxurious mole sauce. Garnish with a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds and fresh cilantro. Serve alongside warm tortillas or fluffy rice.

Notes

• Enhance the chicken’s tenderness by gently poaching it in the broth, avoiding rapid boiling which can make the meat tough and dry.
• Choose dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa for a deep, rich mole sauce that balances bitter and sweet flavors perfectly.
• Customize the heat level by adjusting the types of chilies used – swap out poblano for ancho or guajillo to create a milder or spicier version.
• Make the dish gluten-free by substituting wheat tortilla pieces with gluten-free corn tortillas or almond flour to maintain the sauce’s thickness and texture.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: Mexican

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 350
• Sugar: 5 g
• Sodium: 600 mg
• Fat: 20 g
• Saturated Fat: 4 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 22 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 25 g
• Cholesterol: 100 mg