Green pipián mole, a traditional Mexican dish, is a flavorful and complex sauce made with roasted pumpkin seeds, tomatillos, and various herbs. It is typically served over chicken or other meat and is known for its vibrant green color and rich, nutty flavor. This article will provide a guide to creating the perfect green pipián mole with chicken, including tips on selecting the best ingredients, preparing the sauce, and cooking the chicken to achieve a tender and succulent texture. We will also explore the history and cultural significance of this beloved dish, offering insights into its origins and variations across different regions of Mexico.
Let's cook with our recipes!
GREEN MOLE WITH CHICKEN
Green mole is one of the best destinations I can think of for the tough outer leaves from a head of romaine or leaf lettuce. If you don't eat meat, you can make the mole with vegetable broth and enjoy it over rice and vegetables.
Provided by Martha Rose Shulman
Categories dinner, main course
Time 2h
Yield 6 to 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- To poach the chicken, combine all of the ingredients except the chicken in a large pot and bring to a simmer. Simmer 20 minutes. Add the chicken breasts and skim off any foam when the liquid comes back to a simmer. Partly cover and simmer 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow to cool for 5 to 10 minutes, or longer if possible. Then, using tongs, remove the chicken breasts to a sheet tray or bowl. When they are cool enough to handle, remove the skin. Cover and set aside. Strain the stock through a cheesecloth-lined strainer and measure out 3 cups. Skim off the fat from the top. (If you do this step the day before, chill the stock first, then skim off the fat from the top. Chill any remaining stock, skim off the fat and freeze.)
- To make the mole, heat a heavy Dutch oven or saucepan over medium heat and add the pumpkin seeds. Wait until you hear one pop, then stir constantly until they have puffed and popped, and smell toasty. They should not get any darker than golden, or they will taste bitter. Transfer to a bowl or a baking sheet and allow to cool. Set aside 2 tablespoons of the seeds for garnish.
- If you're using fresh tomatillos, bring a medium pot of water to a simmer, add the tomatillos, and simmer for 10 minutes, flipping them over in the water halfway through, until soft. Drain and place in a blender. If using canned tomatillos, drain and place them in a blender. Add the cooled pumpkin seeds, the chilies, lettuce, onion, garlic, cilantro, and 1/2 cup of the stock. Cover the blender and blend the mixture until smooth, stopping the blender to stir if necessary. If necessary, do this in 2 batches.
- Heat the Dutch oven or heavy saucepan over medium-high heat until a drop of water evaporates immediately on contact. Add the oil, wait for a minute, then drizzle in a bit of the pumpkin seed mixture; if it sizzles loudly, add the rest, holding the lid above the pan, as the mixture will spatter. Cook, stirring, until the mixture darkens and thickens, about 5 minutes. It will splutter, so be careful. Hold the lid of the pot above the pot to shield you and your stove from the splutters. Stir or whisk in the remaining stock, bring to a simmer, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered, stirring often, until the sauce is thick and creamy, 15 to 20 minutes. Season to taste with salt.
- To serve, place the chicken breasts in the pot with the mole and warm on top of the stove, then remove the chicken pieces to a platter and nap with the warm sauce; or place in a large, attractive baking dish, pour on the sauce, cover and warm in a low oven (275 degrees) for 20 minutes. Garnish with cilantro sprigs and pumpkin seeds. Serve with rice.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 199, UnsaturatedFat 9 grams, Carbohydrate 8 grams, Fat 13 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 13 grams, SaturatedFat 3 grams, Sodium 1093 milligrams, Sugar 4 grams, TransFat 0 grams
GREEN PIPIAN
This classic Mexican pumpkin seed sauce, also known as green mole, is tangy, herbal and spicy all at the same time. Serve it with poached or pan-cooked chicken breasts, fish (it's very pretty with salmon), or shrimp. You can bathe grilled vegetables with it, or serve it with white beans and steamed or poached vegetables. Hulled untoasted pumpkin seeds are available in many whole foods stores and Mexican markets.
Provided by Martha Rose Shulman
Categories dips and spreads, one pot
Time 40m
Yield Makes about 1 3/4 cups
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Heat a heavy Dutch oven or saucepan over medium heat and add the pumpkin seeds. Wait until you hear one pop, then stir constantly until they have puffed and popped, and smell toasty. They should not get any darker than golden or they will taste bitter. Transfer to a bowl and allow to cool.
- Place the cooled pumpkin seeds in a blender and add the tomatillos, chiles, lettuce, onion, garlic, cilantro, and 1/2 cup of the chicken stock. Cover the blender and blend the mixture until smooth, stopping the blender to stir if necessary.
- Heat the oil in the Dutch oven or heavy saucepan over medium-high heat. Drizzle in a bit of the pumpkin seed mixture and if it sizzles, add the rest. Cook, stirring, until the mixture darkens and thickens, 8 to 10 minutes. It will splutter, so be careful. Hold the lid of the pot above the pot to shield you and your stove from the splutters. Add the remaining chicken stock, bring to a simmer, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered, stirring often, until the sauce is thick and creamy, 15 to 20 minutes. Season to taste with salt. For a silkier sauce, blend again in batches.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 176, UnsaturatedFat 10 grams, Carbohydrate 9 grams, Fat 13 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Protein 8 grams, SaturatedFat 2 grams, Sodium 416 milligrams, Sugar 4 grams, TransFat 0 grams
GREEN PIPIâN MOLE WITH CHICKEN
Provided by Sergio Remolina
Categories Chicken Rice Fry Poach Dinner Tomatillo Seed Dairy Free Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free Kosher
Yield Makes 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- Make the mole:
- In a sauté pan over moderate heat, toast the pumpkins seeds, stirring frequently and being careful not to burn them. Transfer to a small bowl to cool. Once cool, reserve about 1/4 cup of pumpkin seeds for garnish, then transfer the remaining seeds to a blender and add enough vegetable stock to cover by 1 inch. Blend on high until smooth. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and clean the blender.
- Place the tomatillos, epazote, hoja santa, romaine, cilantro, chiles, onion, garlic, and cumin in a blender, in that order, and blend well. If more liquid is needed, add water or broth, 1 tablespoon at a time.
- In a deep skillet over high heat, heat the oil until shimmering then carefully add the tomatillo mixture and fry, stirring constantly and adding broth or water as needed to achieve a sauce-like consistency, for 1 to 2 minutes.
- Remove the skillet from the heat and add the pumpkin seed mixture. Mix well, then season to taste with salt.
- To serve:
- Divide the rice, chayote or zucchini, green beans, and poached chicken among 4 plates. Coat the chicken with the mole, garnish with the reserved pumpkin seeds, and serve.
- DO AHEAD: Leftover mole can be stored in an airtight container for 3 days in the refrigerator. Or, if frozen properly in an airtight container and wrapped in plastic and then aluminum wrap, it can be held for up to 4 months in the freezer.
Tips:
- Mise en place: Before you start cooking, make sure you have all of your ingredients and equipment ready to go. This will help you stay organized and prevent any scrambling.
- Use fresh, high-quality ingredients: The better the ingredients you use, the better your mole will taste. Look for fresh, ripe tomatoes, onions, and garlic. Use a good quality chocolate, such as Mexican chocolate or dark chocolate.
- Toast your spices: Toasting your spices before grinding them will help to release their flavor. You can toast them in a dry skillet over medium heat for a few minutes, or in a toaster oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 5-10 minutes.
- Simmer your mole for a long time: The longer you simmer your mole, the more flavorful it will be. Aim to simmer it for at least 2 hours, or longer if you have time.
- Serve your mole with your favorite Mexican dishes: Mole is a versatile sauce that can be served with a variety of dishes, such as chicken, pork, beef, or vegetables. It's also great on tacos, burritos, enchiladas, and tamales.
Conclusion:
Green pipin mole is a delicious and complex sauce that is sure to impress your guests. It's perfect for special occasions or everyday meals. With a little planning and effort, you can easily make this mole at home. So what are you waiting for? Give it a try!
Are you curently on diet or you just want to control your food's nutritions, ingredients? We will help you find recipes by cooking method, nutrition, ingredients...
Check it out »
You'll also love