Skip to main content

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.)

Everyday Food: Light
Read More
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
Filberts, goobers, scaly bark nuts: Explore the world beyond almonds in this guide.
Apple pie in doughnut hole form? We’re in love.
Like crispy gnocchi caprese and raspberry—brown butter skillet cake.
The secret to flavorful, never-greasy eggplant parm? Brine the eggplant first.
Our go-to banana bread recipe is moist, nutty, and incredibly easy to make.
Like hot honey chicken with peaches and a dirty martini spritz.
Just as great with coffee for breakfast as it is with amaro for dessert.