Pumpkin Seed Chicken Mole Food

HERBED PUMPKIN SEED MOLE (MOLE VERDE CON HIERBAS)

Steps:

• In a large skillet with high sides or in a large saucepan, toast the pumpkin seeds, cumin seeds, and oregano over high heat. Toss to make sure they don't burn, but toast until fragrant, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and transfer to a blender or spice grinder and process until ground. Set aside.
• In the same skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion, tomatillos, garlic, and jalapeños and cook until slightly browned, 4 to 5 minutes, tossing a couple of times, but not stirring too much. Carefully place the vegetables in a blender or food processor. Then add the broth, cilantro, parsley, epazote (if using), and salt and process until puréed. Pour back into the skillet and add the ground pumpkin seed mixture. Let simmer until flavors are well combined, about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Serve immediately. Any leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for a couple of days.

PUMPKIN SEED MOLE WITH CHICKEN

Steps:

• Combine chicken stock and water in a pot large enough to hold all the chicken. Add bay leaves and bring to a simmer. Sprinkle all chicken pieces with salt and pepper and add to simmering water. Bring the liquid back up to a light simmer, stir and cover pot. Continue simmering for about 5 minutes, then turn off heat and let chicken finish cooking in hot liquid, covered, about 15 minutes. Check that chicken is cooked completely before transferring to a platter while you make the sauce. Reserve the cooking liquid.
• Add the tomatillos to the cooking liquid and bring to a boil. Cook for about 8 minutes or until tomatillos turn a darker shade of green. Transfer tomatillos to a blender, reserving cooking liquid. Blend tomatillos with cilantro, jalapeño, onion, garlic, and pumpkin seeds until smooth. Work in batches if necessary. Thin with cooking liquid if desired.
• Heat vegetable oil over medium heat in a pot large enough to hold the mole and the chicken pieces together. When oil is hot, add tomatillo-pumpkin seed sauce. Bring to a simmer. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, and jalapeño. When ready to serve, add chicken pieces to the sauce and reheat. Serve immediately, spooning sauce over chicken. Garnish with pumpkin seeds and chopped cilantro.

CHICKEN WITH PUMPKIN-SEED MOLE

Steps:

• Place chicken in a 4-quart pot, and add water to cover by 1 inch. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, and cook until chicken is cooked through, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat, and let stand 15 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate, and cover.
• Place serrano and poblano chiles directly over the flame of a gas-stove burner on high heat. Roast, turning with tongs, until blackened all over. (Alternatively, broil chiles on a baking sheet, turning often, until skin has charred.) Transfer chiles to a bowl, and cover with plastic wrap. Let stand for 15 minutes. Peel chiles, and remove stems, seeds, and ribs.
• Process roasted chiles, onion, garlic, cilantro leaves, 1/2 cup pepitas, cumin, oregano, and 1/2 cup stock in a blender until a coarse paste forms.
• Heat oil in a 4-quart pot over medium heat. Add paste, and cook, stirring constantly, until very thick, about 9 minutes. (Reduce heat if mixture begins to scorch.) Whisk remaining 1 1/2 cups of stock into paste until incorporated. Let mixture cool slightly, then transfer to blender. Add salt and lime juice. Process until sauce is smooth.
• Place chicken in a clean 4-quart pot, and cover with sauce. Cook over medium-low heat until just heated through, about 10 minutes. (Do not simmer.)
• Transfer chicken to a cutting board, and cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Distribute evenly among plates, spoon sauce on top, and garnish with cilantro sprigs and remaining 2 tablespoons pepitas. Serve with rice if desired.

CHICKEN IN PUMPKIN-ANCHO MOLE SAUCE

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, combine 6 cups water, salt, sugar, bay leaf, cinnamon stick, peppercorns, and cloves. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring gently. Once the sugar and salt have dissolved, remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature. Transfer to a large bowl, add the chicken, and refrigerate, covered, at least 2 hours or overnight. Bring the remaining 2 cups of water to a boil in a small saucepan over high heat. In a medium heatproof bowl, add the ancho chiles and cover with the boiling water. Weigh down with a plate so the peppers remain under water and let them soak for 15 minutes. Remove and discard the stems when the peppers have softened.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. On a sheet tray toss the jalapenos, onion, tomatoes, garlic and cumin with 2 tablespoons oil. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Roast until nicely caramelized with good color, 25 to 30 minutes. Add the pumpkin seeds to a dry, hot skillet on high heat. Stir often, until the seeds are golden and begin to pop. Transfer to a food processor along with roasted vegetables. Add the soaked chiles, about 2 tablespoons of chili soaking liquid, the cilantro leaves and the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil to the processor. Puree until smooth. Taste and season with salt and pepper, if needed.
• Remove the chicken from the refrigerator, blot dry with paper towels and put into a large Dutch oven. Pour in the mole sauce and bake, covered, until the chicken is cooked through, about 55 to 60 minutes. Remove from the oven and transfer the chicken to a cutting board to cool. When cool to the touch, shred the chicken and add it back to the sauce. Spoon the mole into corn tortillas and serve with lime wedges, avocado slices, shredded lettuce, red onion, and radishes. Garnish with cilantro leaves and enjoy.

PUMPKIN SEED CHICKEN MOLE

Steps:

• Place a dry cast-iron skillet over low heat.
• Toast the pumpkin seeds, cumin seeds, pepper and oregano, shaking the pan occasionally, until their aromas are released, about 5 minutes.
• Do not brown.
• Set aside to cool and then grind in a blender or food processor to a powder.
• Reserve.
• Combine the tomatillos, serrano chile, garlic, lettuce, cinnamon, cilantro, radish tops, onion and salt in a food processor.
• Puree until smooth.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over high heat.
• Standing back to avoid splatters, pour in the pureed tomatillo mixture, and sizzle for 30 seconds.
• Stir in the stock, reduce the heat and simmer 10 minutes.
• Turn the heat up to high and bring to a boil.
• Stir in the ground nut mixture and remove from the heat.
• Puree in a food processor or blender, in batches if necessary.
• Pass through a fine strainer, pressing with the back of a ladle to extract all the juices, into a 13 x 10-inch flameproof baking dish.
• Place the chicken breasts in the sauce and bring to a boil over moderate heat.
• Cover with foil, transfer to the oven and bake 20 minutes.
• Serve the chicken and sauce over a bed of white rice.
• Sprinkle the radish slices over the top.

PUMPKIN SEED CHICKEN MOLE

Steps:

• In a dry cast-iron skillet toast pumpkin seeds, cumin seeds, pepper and oregano over a low heat, shaking the pan occasionally. Heat until aromas are released, about 5 minutes. Remove before seeds begin to brown and set aside to cool. In a blender grind mixture until a powder forms. In blender or food processor puree tomatillos, serrano chile, garlic, lettuce, cinnamon, cilantro, radish tops, onion and salt until smooth. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large saucepan heat olive oil over a high heat. Carefully, pour in pureed tomatillo mixture, and let sizzle for 30 seconds. Stir in stock. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Turn up the heat to high and bring to a boil. Stir in ground nut mixture and remove from the heat. Puree in a food processor or blender, in batches, if necessary. Pass through a fine strainer, pressing with the back of a ladle to extract all the juices, into a 13 x 10-inch flameproof baking dish. Place the chicken breasts in the sauce and bring to a boil over moderate heat. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Serve the chicken and sauce over a bed of white rice. Sprinkle radish slices over the top.