Mole Rub Food

GRILLED CHICKEN MOLE

Steps:

• For the brine and chicken: In a medium saucepan, combine 1 cup water, the salt, sugar, garlic and bay leaves. Bring to a simmer to dissolve the sugar and salt. Once boiling, remove from the heat and add 3 cups ice. Once the liquid is cool, pour into a freezer bag. Add the chicken to the brine, making sure it is completely submerged. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
• For the dry rub: Combine the ancho chile powder, granulated garlic, salt, cumin, onion powder, cinnamon and black pepper together and toast in a dry pan until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Remove the chicken from the brine and pat dry. Sprinkle the chicken on all sides with the dry rub, massaging the spices into the meat and ensuring that all sides are completely coated. Return to the refrigerator and marinate for 1 hour.
• For the mole sauce: In a medium saute pan over medium heat, add the canola oil and onions and cook until translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another minute. Stir in the tomatoes, chocolate, almonds, cinnamon, cumin, ancho chiles and chipotles with their liquid and simmer for 5 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a food processor, add in the chicken stock and puree until smooth. Add the currants and process again. Set half of the sauce aside for serving and reserve the other half for basting the chicken.
• Preheat a grill to medium-high heat. Grill the chicken, turning occasionally, until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F, 10 to 15 minutes per side. Using a silicone pastry brush, baste with the mole sauce for the final 5 to 8 minutes of cooking time.
• Garnish with cilantro and lime wedges. Serve with steamed white rice and extra mole sauce slathered over the top.

MOLE SPICE RUB

Steps:

• Whisk together the chile powders, salt, cocoa, sugar, cinnamon, chile de arbol, allspice, cloves and black pepper in a small bowl. Store in an airtight container or small jars with tight-fitting lids for up to 6 months or use in the Mole-Rubbed Braised Chicken Thigh Tacos.
• Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Rub both sides of each thigh with some of the mole spice rub.
• Heat the oil in a Dutch oven large enough to fit the chicken thighs in a single layer. Add the chicken and cook until golden brown on both sides, about 4 minutes per side. Remove the chicken to a plate. Remove all but 2 tablespoons of the fat from the pan.
• Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring, for 4 minutes. Add the broth and cilantro; bring to a simmer. Return the chicken to the pot, reduce the heat to low, cover and cook until the chicken is tender, about 40 minutes. Remove the chicken to a plate and let cool slightly then shred with a fork; discard the bones.
• Meanwhile, continue to cook the braising liquid uncovered until reduced by half and thickened, about 15 minutes. Return the shredded chicken to the pot.
• While the braising liquid is reducing, preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Wrap the tortillas in aluminum foil and warm in the oven.
• Heat a small cast-iron pan over medium heat until heated. Remove a warm tortilla from the foil and cook in the dry pan until slightly charred on both sides. Fill with the chicken, top with guacamole, pickled onions and/or shredded cabbage.

MOLE RUBBED GRILLED STEAKS WITH CHARRED CORN

Steps:

• 1. Smash the garlic cloves, sprinkle with a pinch of salt, and with the flat side of a large knife, mash and smear the mixture to a coarse paste. Mix paste in bowl with the olive oil ancho powder, cocoa, cumin, and cinnamon. Rub the spice mixture all over the steaks and set aside for 15 minutes.
• 2. Preheat a grill to high and oil the grate. Lay the steaks on the hottest part of the grill and cook until charred, about 4 minutes. Turn and grill the other side until charred, about 4 minutes more for medium-rare. Transfer steaks to a cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes.
• 3. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a medium skillet and add the corn. Cook, shaking and stirring until the corn chars and butter smells nutty, about 5 minutes. Stir in the cilantro and season with salt and pepper. Serve steaks with the corn.

MEXICAN "MOLE" RUB

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients and mix to blend.
• Can be stored in a jar away from light for 3 months.

MEXICAN MOLE SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat, and cook the onion until tender. Mix in cocoa powder, cumin, cilantro, and garlic. Stir in the tomato soup and green chile peppers. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 10 minutes. Transfer to a gravy boat or pour directly over food to serve.

AUTHENTIC MOLE SAUCE

Steps:

• Toast guajillo chiles, ancho chiles, and chipotle chiles in a dry pan over medium heat, stirring constantly, until warm and aromatic, about 3 minutes. Transfer to the blender with chicken broth.
• Heat 2 cups chicken broth in a saucepan until it begins to simmer, about 5 minutes. Pour broth into a blender.
• Toast dinner roll pieces and tortilla strips in a dry pan over medium heat, stirring constantly, until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Transfer to the blender with chicken broth and chiles
• Allow the chiles and toasted bread and tortillas to soak, fully submerged, in the chicken broth until softened, about 10 minutes. Blend the mixture until smooth.
• Cook tomatoes and tomatillos in a dry skillet on medium-high heat until soft and blackened, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Place tomatoes in the blender with the chile puree.
• Melt lard in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in onion, garlic, peanuts, raisins, cumin seeds, thyme, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and allspice berries; cook and stir until onions are soft and golden, 5 to 8 minutes. Remove the cinnamon sticks and other whole spices; add onion mixture to the blender with the chile-tomato mixture and blend until smooth.
• Pour chile puree into a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in chocolate chicken broth, sugar, and salt. Bring mixture to a simmer; stir until chocolate is melted and sauce is thickened and slightly reduced, 10 to 15 minutes.

A SIMPLE MOLE ROJO RECIPE

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Heat the lard in a large skillet over medium-low to medium heat.
• Add the onion and garlic and cook until the onions become translucent, about 8 to 10 minutes. When the onion softens enough to drape over your spatula, set the skillet aside. Reserve.
• In a high-speed blender, puree the roasted tomatoes with the peanuts or peanut butter.
• Add the Mexican oregano, cinnamon, anise seeds, peppercorns, thyme, clove, and cocoa powder and blend at high speed to make a smooth paste.
• Add the reserved sautéed onions to the blender and puree again until the mixture becomes very smooth.
• Add the raisins and soaked chiles and blend into a smooth paste.
• Pour 4 cups of chicken broth in a medium pot, and reserve 1/4 for later use.
• Whisk the masa with the reserved 1/4 cup of chicken broth to create a roux.
• Stir the roux into the pot and whisk until smooth.
• Add the pureed ingredients to the pan. Cover and simmer for 1 hour until the mole turns thick and aromatic.
• Uncover, taste, and add salt, if needed.
• Use your homemade mole as a sauce over your preferred dishes. Enjoy!