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Mole Sauce

Recipe information

  • Yield

    makes 1 1/2 cups

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 dried ancho chile
1/3 cup blanched almonds
2 garlic cloves
2 corn tortillas (6-inch), cut into 1/2-inch-wide strips
1 small onion, halved and thinly sliced
2 plum tomatoes
1/4 cup raisins
1 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
1 ounce semisweet chocolate, chopped
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup water
Coarse salt and ground pepper

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    In a large heavy saucepan, heat oil over medium-high. Add ancho; cook until soft (do not brown), 30 to 60 seconds. Remove with a slotted spoon; discard stem.

    Step 2

    Add almonds, garlic, and tortillas to pan; cook, stirring, until toasted, 2 to 3 minutes; transfer to food processor with slotted spoon.

    Step 3

    Add onion and tomatoes to pan; cook until tomatoes begin to blacken, 8 to 10 minutes (reduce heat if necessary). Add raisins and pepper flakes; transfer mixture to food processor.

    Step 4

    Add chocolate, cinnamon, and ancho to food processor; purée to a coarse paste, about 3 minutes. Add the water; purée until smooth, about 7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. (Sauce can be refrigerated up to 1 week or frozen up to 3 months in an airtight container. Thaw over low heat or in the microwave.)

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