Mexican poblano mole’ is just one type of mole’ sauce that is loved throughout Mexico. Mole’ is considered to be the national dish of Mexico and it is usually served over chicken or pork. Mole’ is often misunderstood and often referred to as a chocolate sauce.
Most recipes do include chocolate but the sauce is complex with multiple ingredients. In fact I am convinced the term Holy Mole’ came from the nuns who came up with this recipe. It takes a while to make, so patience is a virtue but the end result is simply stunning. A little heat from a combination of chilies, plus nuts and spices and yes a bit of chocolate, are the real stars of the sauce.
Have you ever had homemade Mexican Polabano mole’? Please let me know in the comments below It is a real treat and nothing like those terrible bottled mole’s you may have tried. If you would like more wonderful Mexican recipes plus learn about the country be sure to check out “Our Journey to Mexico“. Also be sure to join the culinary journey around the world so you don’t miss a thing.
Mexican Poblano Mole'
A truly authentic Mole' recipe that is absolutely worth your time in the kitchen to make.
Prep Time 2 hours
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 5 hours
Servings 12 servings
Calories 247 kcal
Ingredients
- 1 small tomato
- 2 tomatillos husked and rinsed
- 1 1/2-inch-thick round slice white onion
- 5 cloves garlic peeled
- 1 cup mild olive oil or vegetable oil, divided
- 8 mulato chiles wiped clean, stemmed, slit open, seeded (reserve the seeds)
- 4 ancho chiles wiped clean, stemmed, slit open, seeded (reserve the seeds)
- 6 pasilla chiles wiped clean, stemmed, slit open, seeded (reserve the seeds)
- 1 corn tortilla
- 1/2 cup blanched almonds
- 1/4 cup hulled raw green pumpkin seeds
- 1/4 cup packed raisins
- 1 1-inch slice baguette
- 1/2 small ripe brown or black plantain, peeled and cut crosswise into 1/2-inch slices
- 1/4 cup sesame seeds
- 1 1-inch piece canela (Mexican cinnamon)
- 6 whole cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon aniseed
- 1/4 teaspoon coriander seeds
- 6 large whole allspice berries
- 1/4 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
- 6 ounces Mexican chocolate
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons fine salt or 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 1/4 cup sesame seeds toasted for garnish
Instructions
- Set the oven to broil and preheat.
- Core the tomato and cut a small “X” through the skin on the opposite end. Roast the tomato, cored side up, and tomatillos on a foil-lined pan, turning the tomatillos over once halfway through, until their tops and bottoms have blackened and cooked to the core and the tomato (without turning) until its top is blackened and it’s cooked to the core this will take about 20-30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, heat a comal, griddle, or heavy skillet over medium-low heat, and roast the onion and garlic turning the garlic over occasionally, until it is just tender and golden brown with some blackened spots, 8 to 10 minutes; and carefully turning the onion slice over once, until it’s softened and charred on both sides, 15 to 20 minutes.
- Heat 1/2 cup of the oil in a medium heavy skillet over medium heat until it simmers. Fry the chiles, a few of the same variety at a time, turning them over with tongs, until puffed and slightly changed in color, 30 to 45 seconds per batch of mulato and ancho chiles, 45 seconds to 1 minute for pasilla chiles, As the chiles are fried, transfer them to a large bowl. When all the chiles are fried, add enough cold water to cover them and let them soak for 30 minutes. Discard the remaining oil from frying the chiles and set the skillet aside.
- Using tongs, hold the tortilla directly over a burner set to medium, turning it over frequently, until it’s dark, golden brown, and some burned spots appear on both sides. Crumble it into the soaking fried chiles.
- Have ready a medium bowl and a metal sieve set over a small heatproof bowl.
- Heat the remaining 1/2 cup of oil in the reserved skillet over medium heat until it shimmers and fry the following ingredients one by one. As they’re fried, use a slotted spoon to transfer them to the medium bowl (for ingredients that are difficult to scoop, empty the contents of the skillet into the sieve to drain first, then return the oil to the skillet and put the fried ingredient into the medium bowl).
- Fry the almonds, stirring, until they are golden, about 2 minutes.
- Fry the pumpkin seeds, stirring, until they are puffed and only slightly browned, about 1 minute.
- Fry the raisins, stirring, until they are puffed, about 1 minute.
- Fry the bread, turning over once, until golden on both sides, about 2 minutes.
- Fry the plantain slices, turning over once, until golden, about 4 minutes.
- Transfer the remaining oil (2 to 4 tablespoons) in the skillet to a 7- to 8-quart heavy pot and set aside.
- Wipe the skillet clean and heat it over medium heat until it’s hot. Toast 3 tablespoons of the reserved chili seeds in the skillet, stirring, until fragrant and a shade darker, about 2 minutes. Transfer the chili seeds to the medium bowl. Toast the sesame seeds, canela, cloves, aniseed, coriander, allspice, and peppercorns in the skillet, stirring, until the sesame seeds are a shade darker, about 1 1/2 minutes. Transfer the mixture to the medium bowl.
- Drain the chilies and discard the soaking water, and puree them in the blender jar with about 2 cups of the stock.
- Heat the reserved oil in the pot over medium heat until hot, then add the chili puree and cook (use a splatter screen so the sauce doesn’t make a mess of the stove), stirring occasionally, until thickened slightly, about 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, working in 2 batches, combine the fried and toasted ingredients (from the medium bowl) with the roasted tomato, tomatillos, onion, and garlic in the blender jar, along with 2 more cups of the stock per batch, and blend until smooth, about 3 minutes per batch. Be careful when you’re blending hot ingredients: Add the mixture to the chili puree in the pot as you blend it, and once you’re done, swish a little liquid around in the blender and add it to the pot.
- Add the chocolate, sugar, and salt to the mole, stirring until the chocolate melts. Simmer, partially covered, stirring occasionally and adding more stock as needed to maintain a velvety consistency that thickly coats a wooden spoon, but isn’t gloppy, about 45 minutes. Season to taste with additional sugar and salt.
- You can add chicken or pork to your sauce and heat up or make some chicken mole enchiladas
Nutrition Facts
Mexican Poblano Mole'
Amount Per Serving
Calories 247 Calories from Fat 126
% Daily Value*
Fat 14g22%
Saturated Fat 4g25%
Sodium 309mg13%
Potassium 496mg14%
Carbohydrates 27g9%
Fiber 6g25%
Sugar 13g14%
Protein 5g10%
Vitamin A 3275IU66%
Vitamin C 8.3mg10%
Calcium 98mg10%
Iron 3.1mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
