The preparation of 'Mole Sencillo,' a purportedly simple Mexican sauce, involves a complex layering of charred vegetables, toasted nuts and seeds, dried chilies, and a touch of sweetness from sugar and chocolate, often thickened with ingredients like animal crackers or bread.
This culinary construct appears across multiple online recipe disseminators, with variations in specific ingredient ratios and the exact charring or toasting methodologies employed. Core components consistently include Roma tomatoes, white onion, chiles anchos, raw or toasted almonds, raisins, and sesame seeds. The inclusion of piloncillo or dark brown sugar and bittersweet chocolate (often specified as 75% cacao or higher) is also a common thread, providing a balancing sweetness and depth.
The cooking process often begins with charring tomatoes and onions over high heat until blackened on all sides, a technique intended to imbue a smoky character. The dried chilies, stemmed and seeded, are frequently incorporated into this initial charring or a subsequent toasting phase.
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A recurring element is the frying of ingredients like animal crackers or white bread in lard or vegetable oil until deeply golden, before being added to the mole base. This serves as a textural and binding agent, contributing to the sauce's characteristic richness and body.
Assembling the Sauce
Following the initial preparation of vegetables, chilies, and thickening agents, these elements are typically blended together with stock – frequently chicken stock. Spices such as cinnamon, cloves, oregano, coriander, and garlic powder make appearances in various formulations, alongside salt.
The resulting paste is then often simmered in a saucepan, sometimes with additional oil or lard heated to a point of "tiny wisps of smoke," before liquid ingredients like the remaining stock, hot sauce (specifically Cholula® Original Hot Sauce is mentioned), and the reserved chili soaking liquid are whisked in to achieve a smooth consistency.
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Context and Serving
'Mole Sencillo' is presented as a "rich, complex sauce" and a "popular pick for special occasions," despite its purportedly simple nature. Suggested accompaniments include roast chicken, with a final garnish of toasted sesame seeds. Storage instructions for leftovers are noted as a point of inquiry in some presentations.
Ingredient Variations
While the core elements remain relatively consistent, specific quantities and types of chilies can differ. For instance, Guajillo chilies are sometimes included alongside Ancho chilies. The type of salt, such as Diamond Crystal or Morton kosher salt, is also itemized, along with the precise weight of ingredients.
The online presence of these recipes spans various platforms, including food-centric websites like Food52, Recipes by Naomi, McCormick, Chef Rick Martinez's Substack, All Things United (via Ytrecipe), Cholula, and Ericka Recipes. The publication dates for some of these articles cluster around late October 2025.
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