Authentic Mole Sauce

Hot chiles and rich chocolate make this authentic mole sauce perfect for topping stewed meats or enchiladas.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups chicken broth

  • 2 dried guajillo chiles, stemmed and seeded

  • 2 dried ancho chiles, stemmed and seeded

  • 3 dried chipotle chiles, stemmed and seeded

  • 1 dinner roll, torn into pieces

  • 2 corn tortillas, cut into 1-inch strips

  • 2 tomatoes, cut in half crosswise

  • 5 tomatillos, cut in half crosswise

  • 1 tablespoon lard

  • 1 onion, halved and thinly sliced

  • 1/2 head garlic, peeled and sliced

  • 1/3 cup chopped peanuts

  • 1/4 cup raisins

  • 2 tablespoons cumin seeds

  • 1 tablespoon dried thyme

  • 3 cinnamon sticks

  • 5 whole cloves

  • 6 whole allspice berries

  • 5 ounces dark chocolate, coarsely chopped

  • 1 cup chicken broth

  • 3 tablespoons white sugar

  • 1 teaspoon salt

Directions

  • 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.