Chicken Mole Torta Recipes

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

CHICKEN MOLE

Steps:

• Sprinkle chicken with salt; place in a 5- or 6-qt. slow cooker. Place the tomatoes, onion, chiles, almonds, raisins, chocolate, oil, chipotle pepper, garlic, cumin and cinnamon in a food processor; cover and process until blended. Pour over chicken., Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or until chicken is tender; skim fat. Serve chicken with sauce, and sprinkle with cilantro if desired. , Freeze option: Cool chicken in mole sauce. Freeze in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through slowly in a covered skillet or Dutch oven until a thermometer inserted in chicken reads 165°, stirring occasionally and adding a little broth or water if necessary.

MOJO CHICKEN TORTA

Steps:

• For the marinade: Mix the oil, lime juice, orange zest and juice, garlic, onions, chili powder, cumin and salt in a bowl until combined. Adjust seasoning if necessary. Transfer the marinade into a large freezer bag. Add the chicken and marinate in the fridge for 2 to 4 hours.
• For the carrot slaw: In a mixing bowl, combine the carrots, vinegar and agave. Toss to coat and season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• For grilling: Heat a grill pan to medium-high heat and lightly coat with 1 tablespoon of the canola oil. Pull the chicken out of the marinade and grill each side until dark grill marks form, 6 to 8 minutes a side. Then let rest for at least 5 minutes.
• Toss the scallions with the remaining 1 tablespoon canola oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill until charred on all sides. Chop and set aside.
• For the sandwich build: Spread 1 tablespoon of the Poblano Crema on the bottom of a roll. Then add some sliced chicken, Charred Salsa, carrot slaw and charred green onions. Cut on the diagonal and serve with additional salsa on the side.
• Peel, stem and seed the poblanos. Place in food processor and pulse until smooth. Add the Mexican crema, agave and lime juice, and season with salt and pepper. Pulse until just combined. Scoop into a bowl and spread on everything.
• Heat a large grill pan to medium-high heat. Add the tomatillos, garlic, tomatoes, onion, ancho and poblano chiles. Char on all sides until blackened in parts, removing the charred vegetables and chiles to a cutting board once blackened. Depending on their size, each vegetable will char at a different rate.
• Place the charred ancho chile into a small bowl and pour enough hot water to cover it. Allow to sit until the chili is softened, 8 to 10 minutes. When softened, remove the stem and seeds.
• Remove the stem and seeds from the charred poblano as well as the stem and skins from the charred garlic cloves and onion quarters.
• Put the soaked ancho and poblano chiles, tomatillos, garlic, tomatoes, onion, cilantro, agave and lime juice into the bowl of a food processor and blend until mostly smooth. Season with salt and pepper to your heart's content.

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.