Chicken Pepita Mole Food

CHICKEN MOLE

Steps:

• Put the chicken and peppercorns in a large pot, cover with water and season with salt. Bring to a gentle simmer over low heat and cook until tender, about 40 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a large plate and set the cooking liquid aside.
• Toast the sesame seeds in a dry skillet over medium heat, tossing, until golden, about 5 minutes. Set aside 2 tablespoons for garnish and transfer the rest to a blender. In the same skillet, toast the cloves, cinnamon stick, and anise and coriander seeds until fragrant, about 3 minutes. Add to the blender.
• Remove the stems and seeds from the dried chile peppers. Heat 4 tablespoons canola oil in the same skillet over medium heat. Add the chiles and fry until lightly toasted, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a bowl, cover with hot water and set aside to soak until pliable, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, add the raisins, almonds, pumpkin seeds and tortilla pieces to the oil in the skillet and cook, stirring, until the seeds and tortillas are golden brown, about 2 minutes. Add to the blender along with the oil from the skillet. Add the softened chiles and puree, pouring in 2 to 3 cups of the soaking liquid to make a thick, smooth sauce.
• Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the chile sauce and fry, stirring, until thickened, 5 to 6 minutes. Add 4 cups of the reserved chicken cooking liquid and simmer until the sauce starts to thicken, about 20 minutes. Add the chocolate and simmer, stirring frequently, until the chocolate melts and the sauce reduces, about 20 more minutes. Add the sugar and season with salt.
• Add the chicken pieces to the sauce and warm through over low heat. Garnish with the reserved sesame seeds.
• Photgraph by Con Poulos

EASY CHICKEN MOLE

Steps:

• To make the mole sauce, soak the chiles in 1 1/4 cups water for 15 minutes. Drain well and discard the soaking liquid.
• Heat the oil in a large heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and saute until translucent, 5 minutes. Transfer to a blender with the chiles, chocolate, chicken broth, peanut butter, sugar, oregano and tostadas and blend until very smooth. Transfer the sauce to a saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium, cover and simmer for 20 minutes.
• Season with salt and pepper. Add the rotisserie chicken pieces and stir to combine.

CHOCOLATE CHICKEN MOLE

Steps:

• Place a pot over medium heat and coat with the oil. Add the onion and garlic, stirring to soften for 5 minutes. Add the chipotle with adobo, raisins, and tomatoes, stirring to combine. Bring to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes.
• Carefully pour the mixture into a blender. Add the peanut butter, broth, chili powder, and cinnamon. Puree the mixture until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
• Return the mixture to the pot over medium heat. Cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the chocolate and stir until melted. Add the shredded chicken and heat through.
• Transfer the mole to a serving dish and garnish with peanuts, sesame seeds, and orange zest. Serve with cilantro, lime, avocado, and tortillas.

CHICKEN MOLE

Steps:

• Heat the vegetable oil in a Dutch oven or large pot over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken pieces in the hot oil until golden brown on all sides, about 10 minutes. Remove from the pan and set aside. Reduce heat to medium, and stir in the bay leaf, black pepper, cayenne pepper, paprika, cloves, and cinnamon until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the onion and garlic; cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in the tomatoes, brown sugar, and chicken broth, and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Once simmering, stir in the chocolate chips until melted, then return the chicken pieces to the pot. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the chicken is tender and no longer pink at the bone, 15 to 20 minutes. Stir in the raisins, and cook 3 minutes longer. Sprinkle with sesame seeds to serve.

CHICKEN MOLE WITH FOUR CHILES

Steps:

• Remove the stems, veins and seeds from the chiles (you might want to wear gloves when you do this). Heat the lard in a heavy skillet over medium heat. Add the chiles, and cook and stir until the chiles are fragrant, about 1 minute, being careful not to burn them. Remove the chiles and place them in a large bowl.
• Stir in the onion and garlic, and cook until the onion is soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Remove and add to the bowl with the chiles.
• Break the flour and corn tortillas into pieces, and add them to the skillet. Toast on both sides, turning often, until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Remove; add to the bowl.
• If needed, melt a small amount of additional lard in the skillet. Add the plantain pieces to the skillet, and cook and stir until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Remove plantain; add to the bowl.
• Stir the almonds and peanuts into the skillet, and cook and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute. Sprinkle in the sesame seeds and continue cooking until sesame seeds are lightly browned, 15-30 seconds. Remove; add to the bowl.
• Warm the tomatoes over medium heat in the skillet until heated through, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Break the chocolate into chunks and stir into the tomatoes until melted. Pour the chocolate and tomato mixture into the bowl with the chile mixture; stir to combine.
• Working in small batches, puree the mixture in a blender until smooth, adding a small amount of water if needed to make a smooth sauce.
• Place the chicken into a large Dutch oven; pour the sauce over the chicken. Cover and simmer over medium low heat until the chicken falls off the bone, 2-3 hours.

CHICKEN WITH PEPITA SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the pepitas and toast, stirring occasionally, until they begin to pop, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer 2 tablespoons pepitas to a small bowl and add the rest to a blender. Add the cumin seeds to the same skillet and toast until dark brown, about 1 minute. Add to the blender; reserve the skillet. Add the salsa verde, 1/2 cup cilantro, the allspice and 1/2 cup water to the blender. Blend until smooth, adding up to 2 tablespoons more water if needed.
• Pour the puree into the reserved skillet; stir in the chicken and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until warmed through, about 5 minutes; thin with up to 1/4 cup water if needed. Season with salt and pepper.
• Toss the bell pepper, radishes, lime juice and remaining 1/2 cup cilantro in a small bowl; season with salt and pepper. Warm the tortillas in a large dry skillet.
• Divide the tortillas, bell pepper salad and chicken among plates. Sprinkle with the reserved pepitas; serve with lime wedges.

CHICKEN MOLE POBLANO

Steps:

• For the mole: Tear the ancho, anaheim, and chipotle chiles into large pieces and toast them in a dry skillet over medium heat until they change color a bit, about 2 minutes. Put them into a bowl with the raisins and cover them with hot water. Soak unti softened, about 30 minutes. In the same skillet over medium heat, add the almonds, sesame seeds, peppercorns, cinnamon stick, oregano, and thyme. Toast for 2 minutes, grind in a spice grinder, and add the powder to a blender. In the same skillet over medium-high heat add the olive oil, onions, garlic, and serrano. Cook until lightly browned, then add the tomatoes. Cook until vegetables are softened, about 10 to 15 minutes, then add to the blender. Add the chocolate and the soaked chiles and raisins to the blender along with some of the chile soaking liquid. Puree, adding more soaking liquid as needed, to make a smooth sauce. (This makes about 4 cups sauce, the recipe uses 2 cups, the extra can be frozen).
• Pour the lemon juice over the chicken and season it well with salt and pepper. Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed skillet and brown the chicken on all sides; remove the browned chicken to a plate leaving the oil in the pan. Pour 2 cups of the mole sauce into the hot skillet and simmer for about 5 minutes. Add the chicken stock and return the chicken pieces to the pan. Simmer, covered, until the chicken is cooked through, about 20 to 25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, put the onion and radish slices into a bowl. Add the lime juice and remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and season with salt. Mix well and serve with the chicken.
• Serve over cooked white rice with the onion and radish salad. Garnish everything with cilantro leaves.

CHICKEN PEPITA MOLE

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine cajun spice, finely ground pepitas and cracked black pepper; coat both sides of the chicken tenders "well"; set aside.
• You will need to make sure to "rub" the spice into the chicken.
• Heat pan on medium low; add 4 tablespoons grapeseed oil.
• Add chicken for about 50 second each side; set aside on a paper towel to drain.
• NOTE The coated chicken WILL cook VERY quickly and is best to use caution to lower the heat than to have it burn.
• Lower heat to low; add to oil... chilli, cumin, cinnamon and any leftover combination mixture of cajun spice, ground pepitas and cracked black pepper; stir for about 3 - 4 minutes.
• NOTE The pan does "smoke.
• If you have ANY concerns re your pan "smoking", simply remove pan from the stove top; making sure to keep stirring. When your confidence returns, simply return it to the stove top until you are happy with the coloring.
• If the spices soak up all of the oil, you may need to add more oil.
• You WILL want to "continuously" stir the spices in oil as they DO burn easily. Do not say you have not been warned! lol.
• With heat on low, add dark chocolate and stir; combining it with the spices "well.".
• When the dark chocolate is fully melted, add diced tomatoes; stirring until combined.
• Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes.
• I like chicken bites, so I cut my chicken before returning it to the pan and simmered for an additional 10 minutes. Olé!

CHICKEN MOLE

Steps:

• Boil chicken in large stock pot and reserve liquid.
• In dutch oven, add oil, peanut butter, and flour and heat to light carmel color.
• Add enough of the reserved liquid (from boiling the chicken) to create a smooth gravy. (start with about 2 cups and add more as needed until it reaches a smooth gravy texture).
• Add salt, garlic, cumin, bouillon, and chili powder to gravy and stir until combined.
• Add chicken thigh meat and serve over Spanish rice.

SIMPLE CHICKEN MOLE

Steps:

• In the 1 tbsp of oil place the chicken skin down, in a large sauce pan or frying pan. One large enough to make your sauce in later.Fry the chicken on both sides until skin is brown and slightly.
• Season with salt, pepper,and garlic to your own taste,(Garlic being optional,I love it but others don't)
• After chicken is done, set aside and let cool while you make the sauce. Then shred the chicken with a fork or by hand. Removing any veins or fat and skin from the chicken.
• With the drippings in the pan from the chicken put your chili powder and flour, brown very slightly.(should be a smooth paste now if not add some oil,or if too oily add flour)
• Remove from heat and add the water about 1/2 cup at a time while whisking to keep it a smooth paste. Once you have it smooth, return to heat and continue to add water and whisk add about 8 oz. of water then let cook for a few minutes, whisk then add more.
• Repeat water and whisking and heating until it is a thick gravy.
• Now you can add Salt, pepper, cumin and garlic to your own taste.
• After you have the sauce to the desired consistency add the shredded chicken and serve with red rice and flour tortillas.

CHICKEN IN MOLE SAUCE

Steps:

• Cut the chickens into pieces, reserving the breasts. Place chicken pieces except the breasts in a deep saucepan over medium heat; add the onion, garlic, and chicken broth. Cover the pan and simmer 25 minutes.
• Cut the breasts into halves and add to the saucepan; simmer until the chicken breasts are no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, about 20 minutes more. An instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Remove the chicken to a cutting board. Remove the skin and bones from the chicken; cut the meat into bite sized pieces.
• Strain the broth through a fine mesh strainer, reserving the liquid and discarding the onion, garlic, and skimmed fat. If you have less than 3 cups of reserved liquid, add water to make 3 cups. If you have more than 3 cups, return to the pan and bring to a boil; cook until volume of liquid reduces to 3 cups.
• Combine the chili powder, almonds, banana, cinnamon, salt, tortilla pieces, sesame seeds, and pine nuts in a blender. Blend on low, slowly adding the reserved liquid in a stream until the mixture is smooth. Pour the mixture and remaining liquid into a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the butter and chocolate; cook and stir until the butter and chocolate have melted. Stir the chicken pieces into the sauce; continue cooking until the chicken is heated completely through, 5 to 10 minutes.

GREEN PIPIâN MOLE WITH CHICKEN

Steps:

• Make the mole:
• In a sauté pan over moderate heat, toast the pumpkins seeds, stirring frequently and being careful not to burn them. Transfer to a small bowl to cool. Once cool, reserve about 1/4 cup of pumpkin seeds for garnish, then transfer the remaining seeds to a blender and add enough vegetable stock to cover by 1 inch. Blend on high until smooth. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and clean the blender.
• Place the tomatillos, epazote, hoja santa, romaine, cilantro, chiles, onion, garlic, and cumin in a blender, in that order, and blend well. If more liquid is needed, add water or broth, 1 tablespoon at a time.
• In a deep skillet over high heat, heat the oil until shimmering then carefully add the tomatillo mixture and fry, stirring constantly and adding broth or water as needed to achieve a sauce-like consistency, for 1 to 2 minutes.
• Remove the skillet from the heat and add the pumpkin seed mixture. Mix well, then season to taste with salt.
• To serve:
• Divide the rice, chayote or zucchini, green beans, and poached chicken among 4 plates. Coat the chicken with the mole, garnish with the reserved pumpkin seeds, and serve.
• DO AHEAD: Leftover mole can be stored in an airtight container for 3 days in the refrigerator. Or, if frozen properly in an airtight container and wrapped in plastic and then aluminum wrap, it can be held for up to 4 months in the freezer.

CHICKEN MOLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400F.
• Place the chicken breasts in a baking dish and set aside. In a large non-stick saucepan, heat the oil.
• Add the green onions and garlic and saute over medium heat for 1 minute. Add the tomato puree, raisins, water and coriander and cook over low heat for about 10 minutes uncovered.
• Pour the sauce over the chicken and bake for 30-45 minutes until chicken is cooked through.

QUICK CHICKEN MOLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Heat oil in a saute pan over medium heat. Add onion and saute until translucent.
• Add garlic and spices and continue to saute to toast and develop flavor.
• Add diced tomatoes, peppers, chipotles, broth, peanut butter, and chocolate.
• Simmer for 10 minutes.
• Strain and puree until smooth.
• Place chicken skin side down and sear the chicken in a heavy bottomed hot saute pan over medium-high heat until browned on both sides.
• Add to casserole dish, cover with sauce and braise in the oven for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• Garnish with pepitas and serve with rice.