Food Network: Chicken Mole

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Chicken Mole
Recipe courtesy Emeril Lagasse, 2003

Ingredients
1 (4-pound) chicken, cut into pieces
1 medium white onion, peeled and quartered
5 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
1 sprig oregano
1 sprig thyme
Cilantro stems
1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns
Steamed white rice or Mexican rice, accompaniment
Chopped cilantro leaves, for garnish
Corn Tortillas, accompaniment

Mole Sauce:
4 dried ancho chiles, stemmed, seeded, and deveined
4 dried mulato chiles
4 pasilla chiles
1 quart chicken stock, reserved from poaching chicken, above
5 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
2 tablespoons sesame seeds
2 tablespoons shelled unsalted peanuts
1 medium white onion, cut into large dice
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 cinnamon stick, broken into pieces
3 black peppercorns
2 whole cloves
1/2 teaspoon coriander seeds

1/2 corn tortilla, torn into small pieces
2 ounces Mexican chocolate or unsweetened chocolate, chopped
3/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions
In a large pot, place the chicken, quartered onion,
garlic, oregano, thyme, cilantro, and peppercorns. Cover with water by 2 inches
and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer until the chicken is just cooked
through, 20 to 30 minutes, occasionally skimming any foam that rises to the
surface. Remove the chicken and set aside. Strain the stock through a fine mesh
strainer and reserve for the mole.

In a large heavy dry skillet, toast the chiles to a deep brown color over
medium-high heat, turning, 1 to 2 minutes. Place in a bowl, cover with hot stock,

and soak for 20 to 30 minutes. Drain and transfer to a blender. Puree, adding
chicken stock as necessary, to blend.

In a large skillet or saute pan, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium-high
heat. Add the sesame seeds and peanuts, and cook, stirring, until golden brown, 2
to 3 minutes. Drain on paper towels and add to the blender with the chiles. Heat 1
tablespoon of the oil in the pan over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and
cook, stirring, until soft and starting to color, 6 to 7 minutes. Add the
cinnamon, black peppercorns, cloves, and coriander seeds and cook, stirring, until
golden brown, about 2 minutes. Add to the blender. Increase the heat to
medium-high, add the tortilla pieces, and cook until golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes.
Add to the blender with enough of the chile soaking liquid (or chicken stock) to
puree to a paste.

To the skillet, heat the remaining 3 tablespoons oil over medium heat. Add the
paste and and simmer, stirring constantly, for 5 minutes. Add 2 cups of chicken
stock, the chocolate, and salt, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, and cook,
stirring, to melt the chocolate. Add the cooked chicken and simmer, stirring
occasionally, for 20 minutes, adding more stock, as needed, if the sauce becomes
too thick, and basting the chicken occasionally as it cooks. Remove from the heat
and adjust the seasoning, to taste.

To serve, spoon the rice into the center of a large platter. Arrange the chicken
and sauce over the top, garnish with chopped cilantro, and serve with hot corn
tortillas.