Description
Savory chicken with mock mole sauce brings Mexican culinary magic straight to your kitchen, blending rich chocolate undertones with complex spices. Delightful flavors dance across your palate, promising a memorable meal that connects home cooks with authentic South American cuisine.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 6 chicken thighs (bone-in, skin-on) or 4 large chicken breasts
Sauce Base Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (14 ounces/400 grams) can diced tomatoes
- 3 tablespoons peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 12 chipotle peppers in adobo, minced (adjust to taste)
Spices and Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 1/2 tablespoons honey or brown sugar
- Salt & pepper, to taste
Additional Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 1 small corn tortilla, torn into pieces (or 3 tablespoons breadcrumbs)
Garnish and Serving:
- Fresh cilantro, chopped
- Toasted sesame seeds
- Lime wedges
- Cooked rice, tortillas, or roasted vegetables
Instructions
- Prepare a spacious skillet with olive oil, heating it to a medium-high temperature for optimal chicken searing.
- Generously season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper, then place them in the hot pan to develop a rich, golden-brown exterior by cooking 3-4 minutes on each side.
- Transfer the seared chicken to a temporary plate, maintaining its crisp surface.
- Utilize the same skillet to soften onions and garlic, creating a fragrant base for the sauce by cooking them until translucent and aromatic.
- Introduce a complex blend of ingredients including diced tomatoes, creamy peanut butter, rich cocoa powder, smoky chipotle, warm cinnamon, earthy cumin, sweet honey, and savory chicken broth into the pan.
- Incorporate torn corn tortilla or breadcrumbs to provide additional texture and help thicken the developing sauce.
- Gently return the seared chicken to the skillet, nestling the pieces into the sauce.
- Cover and allow the dish to simmer, letting the flavors meld and the chicken cook thoroughly for approximately 25-30 minutes.
- For a velvety smooth consistency, use an immersion blender directly in the pan or carefully transfer the sauce to a standard blender, processing until desired texture is achieved.
Notes
- Perfectly sear chicken by ensuring the skillet is hot before adding meat, creating a golden-brown crust that locks in juicy flavor.
- Use a meat thermometer to check chicken reaches 165°F internally, guaranteeing safe and tender results every time.
- Swap peanut butter with sunflower seed butter for nut-free diets, maintaining the sauce’s creamy texture and rich complexity.
- Adjust spice levels by controlling chipotle amount, making the dish mild or fiery according to personal heat preference.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 670 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 29 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg