Go Back
–+ servings
A wooden spoon inserted into the middle of a cast-iron skillet filled with mole poblano sauce.

Mexican Mole Poblano Sauce

Course: Sauce
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: how to make mole sauce, Mexican mole poblano sauce recipe
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours
Chili Soaking Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 3 hours
Servings: 8
Calories: 238kcal
Author: Kris Longwell
Mexican Mole Poblano Sauce
Print Recipe

Equipment

  • 1 Blender or small food processor
  • 1 large sturdy skillet preferably a 12-inch cast-iron8

Ingredients

  • 8 ancho chilis
  • 6 guajillo chilis
  • 2 morita chilis or arbol
  • boiling water
  • 1 corn tortilla yellow or white
  • 1 tsp oregano dried, preferably Mexican
  • ½ tsp ground cloves
  • 3 tbsp olive oil divided
  • ½ cup onion cut into strips
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 1 tbsp almonds sliced or chopped
  • 1 tbsp pecans chopped
  • 1 tsp anise seeds
  • 1 tsp whole black peppercorns
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • ½ tsp allspice berries
  • 2 tbsp raisins
  • 3 slices banana about 1/2-inch each slice
  • 4 cups chicken stock divided
  • ½ cup whole tomatoes drained
  • 2 oz Mexican chocolate
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar dark
  • 1½ tsp salt

Instructions

  • Bring a saucepan of water to a boil (about 3 cups).
  • Cut the stems from the chilis and remove most of the seeds inside. It's okay if you tear the chilis open to help get rid of seeds.
    8 ancho chilis, 6 guajillo chilis, 2 morita chilis
  • Place the chilis in a heat-proof bowl and pour the boiling water over them. Place a small plate (or anything heat-proof) over the top of the chilis to help keep them all submerged. Allow them to soak for 30 minutes.
    boiling water
  • While the chilis are soaking, turn your grill to medium-high. Place the tortilla over direct heat and cooked until dried out and browned in places. Turn off the grill and bring the cooked tortilla inside. (This can also be done over a gas stove or under the broiler).
    1 corn tortilla
  • Drain the chilis into a colander over another heatproof bowl, reserving the soaking liquid.
  • Transfer the soaked chilis to a blender and pulse several times, using a small spatula to scrape down the edges and un-lodge any pieces that might have gotten caught in the blade. Add the oregano, ground cloves, and about ½ cup of the soaking liquid and purée again. The mixture should be very thick. Add another ½ cup soaking liquid and purée again. The mixture should not be runny, but almost like a paste.
    1 tsp oregano, ½ tsp ground cloves
  • Transfer the chili purée to a sieve over a bowl. Use a wooden spatula to press the chili mixture through. Keep pressing until everything but the skins have passed through. You should have about 1 to 1¼ cups of the chili purée. Set aside. Clean out the blender vessel and place on its base.
  • Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a large skillet (preferably cast iron) over medium heat. Once the oil is shimmering, gently place the onions and garlic in the center of the skillet and let cook for 4 minutes, gently pushing around with a wooden spoon (but not too much).
    3 tbsp olive oil, ½ cup onion, 4 cloves garlic
  • Place the following ingredients around the onion and garlic in the hot oil: Almonds, pecans, anise seeds, peppercorns, cinnamon stick, allspice berries, raisins, and banana slices. Cook for another 4 minutes, until very fragrant and the onion slices are slightly charred on the edges.
    1 tbsp almonds, 1 tbsp pecans, 1 tsp anise seeds, 1 tsp whole black peppercorns, 1 cinnamon stick, ½ tsp allspice berries, 2 tbsp raisins, 3 slices banana
  • Use a large spoon to scoop up and transfer the lightly fried skillet ingredients into the cleaned blender. Once all has been transferred, pulse the blender a few times. Use a spatula to scrape the edges and pulse again.
  • Add 1 cup chicken broth, close the lid to the blender, and purée again until smooth, about 1 minute. Break up the tortilla and add to the blender along with the tomatoes. Purée for another minute. The mixture will be light brown and somewhat thin.
    4 cups chicken stock, ½ cup whole tomatoes
  • Meanwhile, clean out the large skillet. Then, over medium heat, heat the remaining 1 tbsp vegetable oil. Add the chili purée and cook, stirring often for about 2 minutes. Stir in the thin mixture from the blender. Keep stirring until fully mixed. The color should turn to a deep burnt orange or brown.
  • Stir in the chocolate and mix until fully melted. Stir in the brown sugar and salt. Continue cooking (stirring often) for 1 hour, adding more chicken stock to maintain a velvety sauce consistency (usually about 3 cups of stock over the hour). The sauce is now ready to use or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
    2 oz Mexican chocolate, 1 tbsp brown sugar, 1½ tsp salt

Notes

See the video near the top of the blog post for visual guidance. If you liked the video, please subscribe to our YouTube channel. 
You'll want to use approx. 8 ounces of dried chilis. Chili options include
  • Ancho
  • Guajillo
  • Morita
  • Arbol
  • Pasilla
  • New Mexico
SPICE LEVELS: Morita peppers are dried red jalapeños and pack plenty of heat (similar to a chipotle). Arbol peppers and New Mexico carry quite a bit of heat, too. Ancho and pasilla chilis are mild. Guajillo chiles are between mild and spicy.  NOTE: Use any combination of these, but remember, if you go with more than a couple of spicy chilis, your mole will have a kick to it. 
For the nuts, you can use one of the following, or any combination:
  • Almonds (these are almost always used)
  • Pecans
  • Walnuts
  • Peanuts
The mole will keep in the fridge (covered) for up to a week and can be frozen for up to 2 months. 

Nutrition

Calories: 238kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 690mg | Potassium: 999mg | Fiber: 13g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 10064IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 52mg | Iron: 3mg