Chicken mole, lhj

4 Servings

Ingredients

Quantity Ingredient
2 cups Boiling water
2 ounces Dried Ancho chiles; rinsed, seeds remove
¼ cup Sherry
⅓ cup Raisins
6 smalls Fresh tomatillos; husks removed
1 pounds Plum tomatoes; halved lengthwise
¼ cup Sesame seeds
¼ cup Shelled pumpkin seeds
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
¼ teaspoon Cloves
2 Corn tortillas
14 ounces Chicken broth; canned
1 tablespoon Peanut or vegetable oil
1 medium Onion; chopped
1 tablespoon Minced garlic
¼ cup Whole natural almonds
2 teaspoons Salt
2 ounces Unsweetened chocolate squares; chopped
1 Whole chicken; cut up
½ teaspoon Salt
¼ teaspoon Freshly ground pepper
Toasted shelled pumpkin seeds; for garnish
Cooked rice

Directions

MOLE SAUCE

1. Make Mole Sauce: Pour boiling water over chiles in medium bowl. Heat sherry in small saucepan; add raisins. Let both stand 20 minutes to plump.

2. Meanwhile, heat broiler. Arrange tomatillos and plum tomatoes cut side down on jelly-roll pan. Lightly coat with vegetable cooking spray. Broil 12 to 14 minutes until skin is evenly charred; cool. Peel plum tomatoes; transfer with tomatillos to blender.

3. Toast sesame seeds in medium skillet over medium-high heat, stirring, 1 minute. Transfer to blender. Toast pumpkin seeds in same skillet, until seeds pop. Transfer to blender. Add cinnamon and cloves to skillet; toast 30 seconds to 1 minute, just until fragrant. Transfer to blender. Puree mixture in blender until smooth, adding some of the chicken broth. Pour into Dutch oven.Toast tortillas 2 to 3 minutes, until lightly browned in both sides; tear into small pieces and set aside.

4. Reduce heat to medium. Add oil to skillet. Add onion and cook 3 minutes.

Add garlic and almonds and cook 2 minutes more. Transfer to blender. Add soaked chiles and their liquid, raisins and sherry and tortillas; puree until smooth. Add to Dutch oven with roasted tomato mixture, remaining broth and salt. Bring to boil; reduce heat and simmer partially covered, stirring occasionally, 30 minutes. Stir in chocolate until melted. Makes 5 cups. (Can be made ahead. Cover and refrigerate up to one week.) 5. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown chicken on all sides, about 10 minutes; discard drippings. Add 2 cups Mole Sauce. (Save any remaining for another use.) Reduce heat; cover and simmer 30 minutes until chicken is cooked through.

Sprinkle with pumpkin seeds and serve with rice.

Cooking time: 40 minutes

(C) Copyright 1997, Meredith Corporation, All Rights Reserved.

NOTES : There are many variations of this national dish of Mexico. Our fiery version pairs wonderfully with chicken; the rich flavor also complements pork and turkey. The mole sauce may be made ahead of time.

Recipe by: Ladies Home Journal

Posted to MC-Recipe Digest V1 #940 by "abprice@..." <abprice@...> on Dec 2, 1997

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