Chicken Enchiladas with Mole Sauce

These authentic chicken enchiladas with mole sauce were inspired by a dish served at Seattle's la Carta de Oaxaca restaurant. Chocolate and dried chiles make a rich and flavorful sauce that tops the moist and tender chicken enchiladas.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 1 hr 15 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 45 mins
• Calories: 739 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon salt
• salt to taste
• 2 tablespoons lard
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 4 cups chicken broth
• ½ onion, sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, sliced
• 2 teaspoons cumin seeds
• 5 cloves garlic, sliced
• 1 tablespoon cumin seeds
• 12 corn tortillas
• 1 teaspoon white sugar, or more to taste
• ½ cup crumbled queso fresco
• 2 dried ancho chiles, stemmed and seeded
• 2 poblano peppers, seeded and thinly sliced
• 2 Anaheim peppers, seeded and thinly sliced
• 4 skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cut into chunks
• 4 dried guajillo chiles, stemmed and seeded
• 1 corn tortilla, cut into 1-inch strips
• 4 tomatoes, cut in half crosswise
• 3 tomatillos, cut in half crosswise
• 3 ounces dark chocolate, coarsely chopped
• ½ bunch fresh cilantro, coarsely chopped

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Melt 2 tablespoons lard in a stockpot. Stir in 1/2 onion, 2 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 tablespoon cumin seeds, poblano peppers, and Anaheim peppers; cook and stir until onions are soft, 5 to 8 minutes. Add chicken thighs and 4 cups chicken broth, cover, and simmer until reduced, about 40 minutes.

Step 2

Heat 2 cups chicken broth in a saucepan until it begins to simmer, about 5 minutes. Pour broth into a blender.

Step 3

Toast guajillo chiles and ancho chiles in a dry skillet on medium-high heat until hot and aromatic, 3 to 4 minutes. Place toasted chiles and tortilla strips in the blender with hot broth. Press them down so they are fully submerged and soak until softened, about 10 minutes. Blend chile and tortilla mixture until smooth.

Step 4

Cook tomatoes and tomatillos in a dry skillet on medium-high heat until soft and blackened, 3 to 4 minutes per side.

Step 5

Melt 2 tablespoons lard in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in 1/2 sliced onion, 5 garlic cloves, 2 teaspoons cumin seeds; cook and stir until onions are soft and golden, 5 to 8 minutes. Add onion mixture to the blender with chile mixture and blend until smooth.

Step 6

Pour chile puree into a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in 2 cups chicken broth, salt, sugar, and chocolate. Bring mixture to a simmer; cook and stir until chocolate is melted, about 5 minutes.

Step 7

Toast tortillas in a dry skillet over medium heat until golden and soft, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Fill each tortilla with 1/3 cup chicken mixture. Roll and place seam-side down on a plate. Continue with remaining tortillas, 3 per plate. Top each trio of tortillas with 1/3 cup mole sauce, 1 to 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro, and 1 to 2 tablespoons queso fresco.