ole' mole chicken

Total Time: 2 hrs 45 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 2 hrs 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 1/4 cup sesame seeds
• 1/2 cup slivered almonds
• 1 dried new mexico chiles or 1 california dried chili
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1/3 cup raisins
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon anise seed, crushed
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 4 lbs chicken thighs
• 1 (14 ounce) can diced tomatoes (unflavored!)
• 2 cups water
• 1/4 cup tomato paste
• 1/4 cup tequila
• 1 ounce unsweetened chocolate, chopped up

Recipe

• 1 toast the sesame seeds in a small, hot frying pan until golden brown, watch them closely.
• 2 remove from pan.
• 3 put almonds in pan and toast them to a golden brown.
• 4 don't cheat on these steps, the golden brown color imparts a lot of flavor.
• 5 remove from pan.
• 6 put the chili in the pan and heat until it is softened well.
• 7 remove from pan.
• 8 in a six quart oven proof pot, with lid, combine onion, garlic, raisins, chile powder, coriander, cloves, anise seeds, cinnamon, chile, almonds and sesame seeds.
• 9 rinse the chicken, pat dry, and place on top of the mix.
• 10 pour in tomatoes.
• 11 pour in 2 cups water.
• 12 mix tomato paste and tequila, pour over the chicken.
• 13 cover and cook at 325 for 2 hours.
• 14 check every 20 minutes to make sure there is still liquid in the pot.
• 15 when chicken is tender, remove it to a plate.
• 16 remove cinnamon stick and the stem of the chile.
• 17 put the rest of the mix in a food processor and chop it up until it is smooth.
• 18 add the chocolate and pulse it twice.
• 19 wait a few minutes for the chocolate to melt from the heat of the mix.
• 20 then whirl the mixture a few more times until well blended.
• 21 remove the skin and shred the chicken into a large serving dish.
• 22 pour the mole sauce over it.
• 23 prepare to enter heaven.
• 24 serve with corn tortillas and more tequila.
• 25 cooked chayote squash makes a nice accompaniment.