Mole Chili Recipes

MOLE (MO-LAY) SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large saucepan over med.
• low heat.
• Add onion, garlic, oregano, cumin and cinnamon.
• Cover and cook until onion is almost tender, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes.
• Mix in chili powder and flour, stir for 3 minutes.
• Gradually whisk in chicken broth.
• Increase heat to med. high.
• Boil until reduced, about 35 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Remove from heat.
• Whisk in chocolate; season with salt and pepper, if desired.

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.

SLOW-COOKER MOLE CHILI

Steps:

• In 12-inch skillet, cook beef, onion and garlic over medium-high heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently, until beef is thoroughly cooked; drain.
• In 4- to 5-quart slow cooker, mix beef mixture and remaining ingredients except cilantro.
• Cover; cook on Low heat setting 7 to 8 hours. Top individual servings with cilantro.

MOLE CHILI

Steps:

• In 3- to 4-quart saucepan, cook beef over medium-high heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thoroughly cooked; drain, if necessary. Add onion and garlic; cook 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender.
• Stir in tomatoes, water, chili powder, chocolate, cumin, salt and oregano. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover; simmer 7 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thoroughly heated. Serve immediately. Top individual servings with sour cream and cilantro.

MEXICAN MOLE POBLANO INSPIRED CHILI

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large, heavy pot over medium-high heat. Stir in onions, green peppers, green chilies, and garlic. Cook and stir until onions are soft and translucent, about 8 minutes. Add the stew meat to the pot, cook until well browned, about 5 minutes.
• Stir the chili power, cumin, basil, cayenne pepper, crushed red pepper, oregano, thyme, bay leaf, and cinnamon stick into the pot. Cook and stir until spices are aromatic, about 2 minutes.
• Pour the crushed tomatoes, beef broth, and beer into the pot; stir in the tomato paste. Bring chili to a simmer and cook until beef is very tender and the liquids have thickened, about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
• Mix the chili beans and chocolate into the chili. Simmer until the chocolate has melted and the chili is hot, 5 minutes. Remove cinnamon stick and bay leaf. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

CHILI MOLE

Steps:

• Rinse the beans and pick out any rocks or dirt. Place all of the bean ingredients in the Instant Pot and cook on manual (high pressure) for 25 minutes. Allow the pressure to release naturally for at least 10 minutes before venting.
• Grind and mix the spices, then set them aside.
• Add the oil to a large pan set over medium heat on the stove top. Saute the onions for 4-5 minutes, then add the peppers and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes. Add garlic and spices, cook for 2-3 minutes further.
• Add sauteed veggies to beans. Pour some liquid from beans into the pot to deglaze the pan and scrape out the browned bits, then add this mixture back to the beans.
• Set the pressure cooker to saute for 30 minutes (the default on the Instant Pot). Stir in the tomatoes and tomato paste after 10 minutes, then continue to cook.
• Use a slotted spoon to remove large tomatoes (if you used whole), any big pieces of jalapeno, and a generous helping of the beans and liquid. Add to a blender, food processor, or container for immersion blender.
• Combine the removed portion of the chili with cocoa, peanut butter, tahini, and chipotles in adobo & sauce (if using). Blend to form a thick paste. Stir this paste into the chili and mix well. Salt to taste.
• Serve with fixings. Tastes even better if made in advance.

MOLE CHICKEN CHILI

Steps:

• In 4-quart Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat.
• Add chicken; cook 5 to 6 minutes, stirring frequently, until browned.
• Add onion, bell pepper, garlic and jalapeño chiles; cook 2 minutes, stirring frequently.
• Stir in tomatoes, water, cocoa, chili powder, salt and cinnamon.
• Heat to boiling.
• Reduce heat to low; simmer uncovered 15 to 20 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink in center and chili is desired consistency.
• Sprinkle individual servings with pepitas.
• Serve with corn tortillas.

SLOW COOKER CHICKEN MOLE CHILI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Spread almonds evenly on a rimmed baking sheet, and bake in preheated oven until toasted, about 6 minutes.
• Combine toasted almonds, tomatoes, onion, broth, chiles, adobo sauce, chocolate, salt, cumin, and cinnamon in a blender; process until smooth, about 30 seconds. Transfer mixture to a 6-quart slow cooker; add chicken thighs and beans. Cover and cook on LOW until chicken thighs pull apart easily and a thermometer registers 165°F when inserted in thickest portion of chicken thighs, about 8 hours.
• Using 2 forks, shred chicken into large pieces without removing from slow cooker. Stir in lime juice. Garnish with avocado, radish, and cilantro.

PINTO-BEAN MOLE CHILI

Steps:

• Slit chiles lengthwise, then stem and seed. Heat a dry heavy medium skillet over medium heat until hot, then toast chiles, opened flat, turning and pressing with tongs, until pliable and slightly changed in color, about 30 seconds. Tear into small pieces.
• Pulse cumin seeds and chiles in grinder until finely ground. Transfer to a small bowl and stir in oregano, cinnamon, and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt.
• Cook onions in oil in a large heavy pot over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until softened. Add garlic and cook, stirring, 1 minute, then add chile mixture and cook, stirring, 30 seconds. Stir in zucchini and kale and cook, covered, 5 minutes. Add zest, sugar, chocolate, tomatoes with their juice, and water and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes.
• Stir in beans and simmer 5 minutes. Season with salt.

MOLE CHILI

Steps:

• Hot pickled vegetables, drained and chopped (recommended: Giardiniara), for serving
• Put the chiles in a pot with the stock and bring to a boil over medium heat. Then lower heat to a simmer until softened, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the oil, 1 turn of the pan, over medium-high heat in a large Dutch oven or soup pot. When the oil smokes, add the bacon and cook until crispy, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add the meat, raise the heat to high and brown for 8 minutes. Lower the heat a bit, add the onions and garlic and cook for 5 to 6 minutes to soften. Season the meat and onions with black pepper, to taste, (hold off on the salt until the chili is completed due to the addition of the bacon and the stock).
• Add the anchos with the stock to a food processor and puree until smooth. Set aside.
• Add the tomato paste to the meat mixture, stir 1 minute, then pour in the ancho stock. Stir in the tomatoes, spices, cocoa and cinnamon. Simmer for a few minutes, adjust the seasoning and add a touch of salt, if needed.
• Serve the chili in shallow bowls topped with cheese, raw red onions, and spicy chopped vegetables.