Chicken Mole is a delicious and deeply flavoured Mexican dish which is prepared using a variety of spices with an addition of chocolate.
Yes! you heard it right, this chicken dish has chocolate in it. The addition of chocolate gives a mild sweet and mild bitter taste and also, in addition, gives a rich texture to the dish. Mole is a traditional marinade and sauce originally used in Mexican cuisine. The sauce is prepared using a mix of spices like cinnamon, cloves, fennel, cumin etc along with the garlic, onion and tomatoes with the addition of melted chocolate. This combination gives a unique flavour to the dish and also, pairs perfectly with the grilled or baked chicken. Instead of serving chicken aside, the chicken pieces can also sautéed first and then cooked along with the gravy. In this way, the chicken absorbs all the flavour from the gravy and gives a delicious taste. Though the dish looks and sounds complicated, it is quite easy to prepare.
This is one of the dish which I wanted to try for long time but I was very sceptical because of the addition of chocolate along with the chicken. Finally, got a chance to try this dish and to my surprise, everyone at my home loved it including my kiddo.
This chicken mole can be served with a plain steamed rice or brown rice or Mexican rice. Apart from serving with rice, we can also include shredded chicken to the gravy and serve it as tacos.
Looking for more chicken recipes ? Then, try these....
Creamy Butter Chicken using Macadamia nuts
Chicken & Walnut in Spinach gravy
About the event...
Sending this Mexican delicacy to an event "Shhh Cooking secretly challenge" which is happening every month among food bloggers with an interesting theme. This group is managed by an amazing blogger Mayuri di who blogs at Mayuri's Jikoni. Every month, one of the blogger will get a chance to select the theme and followed by bloggers getting paired with each other. Sounds Interesting right ! Likewise, for the month of August, the theme of chocolate was suggested by Mayuri di. She is a wonderful, dedicated blogger and her blog page has loads of amazing recipes in all categories like Gujarati Khana, Kenyan Cuisine, Gluten free, Fasting recipes etc. Especially I liked her Beetroot blueberry pops, Maharage Ya Nazi, Pan de Yuca and Kansar. Head to her page for more interesting recipes.
For this month, I was paired with a lovely blogger Pavani Gunikuntla who blogs at Pavanis Kitchen. She page is loaded with many mouthwatering recipes like Rasagulla, Tawa chicken tikka, Nutella brownies which is made using 3 ingredients, Instant Malpua using condensed milk etc. And also, I just loved her food pictures which is so tempting and appetizing. For more delicious recipes, do visit her page. Coming to the secret ingredients, Pavani gave me Cinnamon and Fennel seeds as my secret ingredients. So, I have used those ingredients along with the chocolate and prepared this delicious Mexican dish. Likewise, I gave Eno and milk as secret ingredients and using those, she prepared a delicious biscuit cake. Click HERE to get a detailed recipe of her cake.
Here comes the recipe for the Chicken Mole...
Recipe adapted from vahrevah.
Ingredients :
For paste :
2 Tbsp Oil
1 Tbsp Coriander seeds
1 Tsp Jeera / Cumin seeds
3 Cloves
1 inch Cinnamon stick
1 Tsp Saunf / Fennel seeds
6 Almonds
8-10 Raisins
1/2 Tsp Dried Oregano
3 Garlic pods, chopped
1 Big Onion, Finely chopped
6 Medium sized tomatoes, chopped
For Gravy :
2 Tbsp Oil
2 Tbsp red chilli paste
1 Cup Chicken stock or water
1/2 Cup Melted Chocolate
Salt to taste
For Air fried Chicken :
3 Chicken breast
2 Tsp red chilli powder
1/2 Tsp Turmeric powder
Salt to taste
Method :
Heat pan and add coriander seeds followed by cumin seeds, cinnamon stick, cloves, fennel seeds, almonds, oregano and raisins.
Dry roast all the ingredients and add garlic pods followed by the chopped onion.
Add oil followed by the chopped tomatoes and saute well.
Cook until the tomatoes turns soft and mushy.
Once done, remove from the flame, cool the ingredients and grind into smooth paste. Keep aside.
Now heat oil in a pan and add the ground paste followed by red chilli paste.
Cook it until the gravy starts bubbling.
Now add salt followed by the melted chocolate and cook it again for 5 - 7 minutes.
Remove from the flame and keep aside. Mole is ready.
To air fry the chicken, marinate the chicken breast using red chilli powder, turmeric powder and salt for 30 minutes.
Then air fry them for 20 - 30 minutes in batches. Flip the chicken for every 15 minutes.
Plating :
Serve the steamed rice on the plate, place the air fried chicken and pour the mole on it.
Serve with lemon wedges and coriander leaves.
Serving Options :
Serve with grilled or air fried chicken and rice.
For more chicken recipes, Click HERE!
If you try this recipe, please don't forget to share with me :) Do send me your feedback to priyasmenu@gmail.com or tag me @priyas.menu on instagram.
Being a vegetarian I really cannot say much but by the looks of it I am sure the chicken lovers will go gaga over it ..sharing it with my chicken lovinh friends
ReplyDeleteI came to know about 3 years ago that chocolate is added in chicken or some savory meat dishes and I was shocked. I will try it with my daughter as she loves chicken and chocolate both. Beautiful presentation
ReplyDeletePriya, your mole sauce or gravy took me back to a few years ago when we were visiting our son in Montreal and he took us to an authentic Mexican restaurant (not the Tex Mex kind). Though the vegetarian food I could order was limited, they served me refried beans in mole sauce and tortilla. I was a bit hesitant and like you was wondering how chocolate would taste in a savory dish. Must say the mole sauce was delicious. A unique recipe for the theme.
ReplyDeleteI guess yours is the only savory dish in this whole theme. I have been seeing a few savory recipes with unsweetened chocolate but have always been hesitant. That sauce and that spice mix sounds very intriguing. I must place this up on my to-do list... That plate looks amazing, I would have enjoyed them with some tortillas... yum!
ReplyDeleteThis is quite new to me, chicken mole. Chocolate used in chicken, I am hearing for the first time. It must be delicious and a treat for non-veg lovers. Loved your presentation.
ReplyDeleteI have heard about chocolate being used in mole, but I'm so glad to actually see it. You have executed the recipe brilliantly!
ReplyDeleteThe mole sauce looks lovely. Do you think I could recreate a vegetarian version of this recipe?
Now this is something unique , chocolate in a savory spicy sauce to pair with chicken . Sounds interesting ! Loved the look of the dish as well.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely new recipe for me. I am sure it tasted delicious. Beautifully captured. Unique recipe!!
ReplyDeleteThis is very interesting chocolate recipe, i never heard about this recipe. Surely it will be the best recipe that non veg lovers will enjoy to have it, chicken and chocolate combination is very interesting .
ReplyDeleteChocolate in a chicken curry is something I have never heard of. Such a interesting recipe and would love to try it.
ReplyDeleteThis looks like interesting combination never heard before. Being fan of both chocolate and chicken, I should try this and see. Looks so delicious.
ReplyDeleteMy cousin's wife being mexican explained o us how the chocolate is used in mole. It was a real cuilinary exploration. I am so glad to see that you have the recipe here with magazine perfect images. Wow!
ReplyDeletethis is so unique for chocolate and chicken lovers.. amazing pics and lovely styling there, Priya..
ReplyDeleteThis is actually new to me.. Chicken with chocolate combination is not much known to me but I cab make a try to check the taste.Lovely presentation and its looking good
ReplyDeleteWow! what a unique recipe. Never tried the combo of chicken and chocolate.It looks so delicious.Great share.
ReplyDeletechocolate in a savory dish, quite interesting priya !
ReplyDeleteI must say the mole sauce seems so delicious. An unique recipe.......