Red Mole Sauce (Conejo en Mole Rojo)

Learn how to make red mole poblano. This Mexican red mole sauce includes chilies, chocolate, and nuts making a rich mole rojo sauce for chicken, turkey or rabbit.

Course Entree

Cuisine Mexican

Level Advanced

Diet Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free

Prep Time 10

1 30

Total Time 1 40

Servings servings

Calories 493kcal

Ingredients

3 - 4 pounds rabbit cut into pieces
2.5 ounces dried ancho chiles
2 ounces dried guajillo chiles
cooking spray
¼ cups raw almonds
¼ cups pumpkin seeds shelled
¼ cups raisins
2 tablespoons chilli pepper seeds (from the ancho and guajillo chiles)
2 tablespoons sesame seeds
½ pod star anise
6 cloves whole
1 cinnamon stick pulverized
½ teaspoon black peppercorns
½ teaspoon Mexican oregano
⅛ teaspoon dried epazote
1 bay leaf large
¼ cups masa harina
3 medium tomatillos scored so they don't pop
1 small tomato scored
1 medium onion sliced
6 cloves garlic
4 cups low sodium chicken stock
salt (to taste)
2 rounds Ibarra Mexican chocolate

Instructions

Place the oven rack in the middle position and heat to 350 degrees F.
Tear the tops off the 2.5 ounces dried ancho chiles and 2 ounces dried guajillo chiles and empty the seeds into a small bowl. Discard the stems and any membranes and tear the chilies into flat pieces. Place them on a foil lined baking sheet in a single layer. Spray generously with cooking spray. Place them in the oven and allow to roast for 5-10 minutes or until they change color and a spicy caramel aroma floats through the kitchen. Be careful not to burn them as this will make your mole taste bitter. Once out of the oven, put them in a bowl and cover with warm water to rehydrate.
2.5 ounces dried ancho chiles, 2 ounces dried guajillo chiles, cooking spray
Put the ¼ cups raw almonds, ¼ cups pumpkin seeds and ¼ cups raisins on the baking sheet, spray with cooking spray and return to the oven until the pumpkin seeds take on a golden color and the raisins are slightly puffy. Again, be careful not to burn them. Set the pan aside and allow to cool.
¼ cups raw almonds, ¼ cups pumpkin seeds, ¼ cups raisins
In a heavy bottomed pan like a cast iron skillet, toast the 2 tablespoons chilli pepper seeds, 2 tablespoons sesame seeds, ½ pod star anise, 6 cloves, 1 cinnamon stick and ½ teaspoon black peppercorns until the sesame seeds just start to change color and the whole thing smells sweet, nutty and spicy like incense.
2 tablespoons chilli pepper seeds, 2 tablespoons sesame seeds, ½ pod star anise, 6 cloves, 1 cinnamon stick, ½ teaspoon black peppercorns
Transfer the seeds and spices to a food processor and process for a few minutes or until it's ground into a powder. Add the roasted almonds, pumpkin seeds and raisins and blitz until there are no chunks. Add the ½ teaspoon Mexican oregano, ⅛ teaspoon dried epazote, 1 bay leaf and ¼ cups masa harina and continue to process until it turns into a powder.
½ teaspoon Mexican oregano, ⅛ teaspoon dried epazote, 1 bay leaf, ¼ cups masa harina
Move the oven rack to the top position and turn the broiler on. Place the 3 medium tomatillos, 1 small tomato, 1 medium onion sliced and 6 cloves garlic on a baking sheet and put it under the broiler. Let the tops of the tomatillos and tomato get completely charred before flipping to char the other side. Remove them from the oven and allow them to cool a bit. Add to the food processor along with 1 cup of the 4 cups low sodium chicken stock and blitz with the spice/seed mixture until it's smooth. Transfer this mixture to a bowl, cover and set aside.
3 medium tomatillos, 1 small tomato, 1 medium onion, 6 cloves garlic
Return the work bowl to the food processor and add the rehydrated chili peppers along with ¾ C of the soaking liquid. Process until smooth.
Generously salt and pepper the 3 - 4 pounds rabbit. Heat a large dutch oven until hot, add a splash of oil then swirl to coat. Place the seasoned rabbit pieces in the pot and allow them to brown for 5-7 minutes without disturbing them. If you go to flip them and they're stuck to the pan they aren't ready to flip. Brown the other side then transfer to a plate.
3 - 4 pounds rabbit
Turn the heat down, then pour the chili pepper puree into the pan through a single mesh strainer, pressing on the solids with a rubber spatula to remove all the skins. Deglaze the bottom of the pan and cook until the mixture is very thick. Pour the spice/seed mixture into the pot through the strainer pressing on any solids. Add the rest of the chicken stock and 2 rounds Ibarra Mexican chocolate, then salt to taste. If you like it even sweeter you can add more sugar.
4 cups low sodium chicken stock, 2 rounds Ibarra Mexican chocolate, salt
Return the rabbit to the pot and simmer uncovered over medium low heat until the rabbit is tender (about 1 hour).
Serve with fresh tortillas, cilantro and lime wedges.

Notes

Nutrition