Ingredients and Weight:
- Skinless, boneless chicken thighs: 2 pounds
- Mole sauce (see recipe below): 3 cups
- Chicken broth: 2 cups
- Onion, chopped: 1/2 cup
- Garlic, minced: 2 tablespoons
- Ground cumin: 1 tablespoon
- Ground coriander: 1 tablespoon
- Salt and pepper to taste
Mole Sauce Recipe:
- Ancho chiles, dried: 4 ounces
- Guajillo chiles, dried: 4 ounces
- Pasilla chiles, dried: 4 ounces
- Mulato chiles, dried: 4 ounces
- Chipotle chiles in adobo, canned: 4 ounces
- Ground cumin: 2 tablespoons
- Ground coriander: 2 tablespoons
- Ground cloves: 1 teaspoon
- Ground cinnamon: 1 teaspoon
- Ground allspice: 1/2 teaspoon
- Ground black pepper: 1/2 teaspoon
- Tomato paste: 1/2 cup
- Chicken broth: 4 cups
- Dark chocolate, finely chopped: 4 ounces
Preparation Time:
- 30 minutes for mole sauce
- 15 minutes for chicken and assembly
Cooking Time:
- 2 hours for mole sauce
- 1 hour for chicken
Difficulty Level:
Preparation Method Steps:
For the Mole Sauce:
1. Remove the stems and seeds from the dried chiles. Tear the chiles into pieces.
2. Place the chiles in a blender with the cumin, coriander, cloves, cinnamon, allspice, and black pepper.
3. Pour in 2 cups of chicken broth and blend until smooth.
4. Transfer the mixture to a large saucepan and add the tomato paste. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, for 15 minutes.
5. Add the remaining 2 cups of chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 2 hours, or until the sauce has thickened.
6. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. Add the chocolate and stir until melted.
For the Chicken:
1. Season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper.
2. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Brown the chicken on all sides.
3. Add the onion and garlic to the skillet and cook until softened.
4. Pour in the mole sauce and bring to a simmer.
5. Cover and cook for 1 hour, or until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
Assembly:
1. Serve the chicken with the mole sauce over rice or beans.
Nutritional Information (Per Serving):
- Calories: 500
- Fat: 25 grams
- Protein: 30 grams
- Carbohydrates: 30 grams
Dish Characteristics:
- Rich and flavorful
- Mildly spicy
- Savory and complex
- Perfect for special occasions
User Comments:
- "This was an amazing dish! The mole sauce was so flavorful and the chicken was tender and juicy."
- "I loved the combination of the different chiles in the mole sauce. It was a perfect balance of spice and flavor."
- "This is definitely a dish that I will be making again and again."
Special Precautions and Tips:
- Soak the dried chiles in hot water for 30 minutes before using to soften them and make them easier to blend.
- If you don't have chipotle chiles in adobo, you can substitute 2 tablespoons of canned tomato paste and 1 teaspoon of ground chipotle chili powder.
- Mole sauce is a complex sauce that requires time and patience to make. Don't rush the process and let the flavors develop fully.
