I love Chicken Mole, order  it is a staple in my house.  Growing up I always loved the smell of it, more about  the cinnamon and chocolate, clinic  the earthiness of it, I could eat it almost every day.   We never made it from scratch as that was considered way too much work.  Thankfully chefs have been able to shorten the normal 2-3 days it takes to make this chocolate, cinnamon goodness.  Unfortunately I have not done this, but one day I will conquer this mammoth task.  Until then I refer to my childhood version, or the closest I can come to it.  Being on the East Coast has made life a little more challenging to make my Mexican comfort foods but I have and continue to seek out the ingredients I need and the foods I crave.  Usually  I end up making it myself, like west coast Chorizo.  Here in NYC the Spanish version is popular.   It’s good but its a hard, almost salami like sausage, as apposed to the crumbly spicy sausage I am used to.   I grew using  a can of dry Mole spices that you add to stock, here on the east coast it’s a jar of paste.  I had seen it on the west coast when I lived there but always went for the dry can.   I usually add a little more cinnamon and a small amount of sugar, just to get it the way I like it.  I have also come to the conclusion that onions are key to helping get that sweetness that I remember.  Now I’m not big on super sweet Mole but there should be a hint of that sweetness in there.  Also a little heat is nice.  I find when I order it at restaurants they skip that part and I am usually disappointed.  So last night to continue with my comfort food week,  I made Chicken Mole!!!  I paired it with the beans I  made on Sunday along with some flour tortillas and had a great flashback to my childhood and the comforts good food can bring.
- 1 Whole Chicken
 - 3 Quarts of Water
 - 1 Tablespoon of Salt
 - ½ Tablespoon of Pepper
 - 2 Medium Onions chopped- divided
 - 1 Clove of Garlic chopped
 - 1 Jar of Mole paste
 - ¼ teaspoon of sugar
 - ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon
 - Pinch of chile flakes(optional)
 
- In a large stock pot add chicken and water.
 - Add one onion, garlic, salt and pepper
 - Bring to boil and reduce heat to low/medium
 - Simmer for about 20 minutes or till chicken is done
 - Set chicken aside in colander in sink to cool
 - Save broth
 - When chicken is cooled off enough to handle, strip meat from bone, set aside
 - Keep bones and skin for stock.
 - Measure 4 cups of broth and save the rest
 - Combine stock and mole paste in stock pot
 - Simmer on low to medium heat till paste is dissolved(use whisk)
 - Add sugar and cinnamon
 - Add chicken and second onion
 - Simmer for about 10 minutes or till onions are translucent
 - consistency should be thick but not too thick.
 - Serve immediately
 
Recent Comments