Earth Day 2023: Mole Chicken Chili
Not too long ago I had my very first experience trying a dish that featured the legendary Mexican sauce, mole. Growing up, I had never been adventurous enough to try it, however after just one taste, I realized I had been missing out big time because it was out of this world delicious. What truly struck me was how complex and rich the flavors were, while still blending so beautifully into one, perfectly balanced earthy sauce. It was at that moment that I knew i’d want to use these flavors in my own cooking, but first, I needed to learn what they were.
What Makes A Mole?
I found quickly that the answer to this question is complicated and full of a history as rich and varied as the sauce itself. There is no definitive answer to where and when it originated; some say that mole has its beginnings with the Aztecs in pre-hispanic Mexico, which does seem to make sense being that the word mole comes from the Nahuatl mulli or sauce. Other tales point to it being the invention of a convent of downtrodden nuns in Puebla in the 18th century, who created it in a panic for a bishop who was visiting them for dinner.
Colorful history aside, the sauce has endured, becoming the national dish of Mexico, and has been transformed over the years into seemingly endless variations dependant on the ingredients one chooses to use in it. This certainly made it more difficult to decipher what ingredients were key, but after viewing many recipes, I think I narrowed it down some.
Every mole sauce has some combination of chilis, spices, fruits, nuts, and vegetables. The most common recipe I saw was for what would be considered Mole Poblano, which has a thick consistency and familiar reddish brown hue from the chilis and famously, chocolate. This was the one that I had enjoyed and therefore, is the one I am pulling influence from. While my dish is not going to be a traditional rendition, let’s take a moment to look at what some of the classic ingredients I am using can do for us magically.
Intention Behind The Ingredients
Chilis: In my research, the quintessential ingredient in nearly every mole recipe are chilis. Some recipes use only one type, while others use many different varieties, and while they do add a level of spice, mostly they are there to add complexity of flavor to the dish. Intentionally chili peppers are perfect for energizing spellwork and initiating action, which will help our other ingredients work their magic even better.
Sesame Seeds: Another classic ingredient, sesame seeds help to bring that familiar nutty flavor to the mole while also adding body to the sauce. Associated with the element of fire and The Sun itself, sesame seeds are being used here to help when you need passageways illuminated and opened.
Pepitas: Against popular belief, pepitas and pumpkin seeds are not the same thing. Pepitas come from species of pumpkins that produce hulless seeds and are more tender than the average pumpkin seed. In mole, they are toasted and ground down to add another source of texture and nutty flavor to further enrich the sauce. I enjoy using them in this recipe to draw in more positive energies and help curb negative habits.
Unsweetened Chocolate: Counted as one of the most treasured ingredients across the world, chocolate is often considered a “food of the gods” and is used in both sweet and savory applications globally. Here, we are using 100% cacao or “unsweetened chocolate” which helps gives this sauce it’s color as well as a slightly earthy, yet luxurious, undertone. While commonly associated with love spellwork and celebratory times, chocolate also holds energy for calming and promotes healing and well-being, which is how we are utilizing it in this particular dish.
Cumin Seed: Incredibly earthy and fragrant, cumin has a long history in cuisines from all over the world and was even used by the Ancient Egyptians during their mummification rites. Here we are using it to build up protective barriers for ourselves as we invite stable but, vivacious energy into our lives.
Almond Butter: While whole almonds and other nuts are classically ground down to make the paste for mole, the slightly bittersweet flavor and creamy texture of unsweetened almond butter works beautifully as a bit of a shortcut in my version of this dish. Intentionally, we are using the almonds here to draw in more abundance to our lives and to help us gain wisdom from the world around us.
Why I Chose Mole for Earth Day
Beyond the fact that the ingredients and flavors of mole sauce are decidedly very complex and earthy, the intention behind choosing this dish for Earth Day this year was to honor the spirit of diversity.
If there was a food that could be a poster child to showcase the diversity of cooking, mole would have to be a top contender for it. You could try this sauce in dozens of different homes or restaurants and every time would be unique. It is one of those foods where every family, every chef, has that personal touch that makes it their own and each of those tweaks is adding to the vast legacy of the dish. It is not only fascinating culturally, but, to me, it is also a broader representation of how beautifully diverse this planet is and how unique each person is on it.
Fundamentally, one of the main tenants that this celebration tries to facilitate is an appreciation of all of the amazing people that make our planet so unique. It’s one of the many reasons why need to take care of ourselves and our earth; to preserve all of the diverse cultural history we’ve had and influence a brighter legacy going into tomorrow.
It’s my hope that through posts like this, I can make even a small impact on how you may look at the food of other cultures as well as maybe encourage you to dive more deeply into learning about that culture. The more we educate ourselves how others live, the more we understand that our global communities are far more tightly knit than we may realize. This will hopefully help to heal the wounds of the past that have divided us and pave the way to work together towards the goal of preserving our planet.
Recipe: Mole Chicken Chili
Mole Chicken Chili
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken thighs, cut into bite size pieces (health, prosperity)
- 1 small onion, chopped (banish negative energy, protection)
- 4 cloves garlic, chopped (healing, health, protection)
- 2 Tbsp avocado oil (health, beauty)
- 1/3 cup pepitas (positive energy, breaking bad habits)
- 2 Tbsp white sesame seeds (creating opportunities, opening doorways, prosperity)
- 2-3 chipotle peppers, chopped, plus 3 Tbsp adobo sauce (energize spell work)
- 1 tsp cinnamon (abundance, protection)
- 1 tsp coriander (encourage new thought patterns, alleviate fears of change)
- 1 tsp cumin seed (protective energy, stability, virility)
- 1 Tbsp chili powder (encourage action upon your spellwork)
- 1 Tbsp oregano (healing, strength, protection)
- 1 1/2 tsp salt (cleansing, protection)
- 1 tsp black pepper (banish negative energy)
- 2 oz unsweetened chocolate, chopped very finely (healing, calming, personal well-being)
- 1 Tbsp dark brown sugar (draw in positive energy)
- 2 Tbsp unsweetened creamy almond butter (wisdom, abundance)
- 28 oz fire roasted diced tomatoes, drained (promotes good health, clarity)
- 1 cup chicken bone broth (health, healing)
- 15 oz red kidney beans, drained (healing, wisdom)
Instructions
- Heat a small dry non-stick pan over low and toast your sesame seeds and pepitas until both are slightly golden and fragrant.
- Place your toasted seeds into a mortar and pestle or spice grinder and grind until they are a coarse powder. It is okay if some of the pieces aren't fully broken down.
- Mix together the cinnamon, coriander, cumin seeds, and chili powder and place in the same non stick pan, dry toast your spices over low heat until fragrant. Be careful not to allow them to burn. Set aside.
- In the slow cooker, place your chicken, onions, garlic, oil, sesame/pepita mixture, and spice mixture and stir to coat. Once coated, add in the oregano, salt, pepper, chipotles, adobo sauce, brown sugar, almond butter, and chopped chocolate. Stir thoroughly. Lastly add in the broth, tomatoes and beans and give it one last stir to combine.
- Place the lid on the slow cooker and set on high for 4-6 hours. Be sure to stir the chili halfway through the cooking process.
- Once finished, serve hot with a side of rice or cornbread and enjoy!
