Fall

Yellow Mole with Chicken and Masa Dumplings

October 25, 2013
0
0 Ratings
Photo by Penny De Los Santos
  • Serves 6-8
Author Notes

There are so many different Mexican mole sauces that the safest bet is not to guess a number at all. However, you can bet that a mole-based dish is present in most Mexican homes during the Day of the Dead celebration: a time where people build a bridge to connect with those who have departed. It is a joyous, yet bittersweet, occasion when families reminisce on what their dear ones loved the most. Especially their favorite foods. Traditional mole dishes are always on top of anyone's list.

One of my favorites is the amarillito, or “little yellow.” It is a classic and so easy compared with how laborious some of Mexico’s other moles can be—it can be made, as we Mexicans say, “with one hand on your hip.” It is light and bright, but despite the fact that it’s not actually yellow, the name has stuck.

The dish comes from Oaxaca, a state in southern Mexico known in the culinary world for its many versions of mole. The chochoyotes, or dimpled corn masa dumplings, enrich and thicken the sauce, and the dimple in the center of each one holds the sauce like a tasty, fluffy edible spoon. For celebrating Day of the Dead, or for any occasion when there is anything to celebrate, this dish speaks of a happy gathering. —Pati Jinich

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • Yellow Mole with Chicken
  • 2 ancho chiles, rinsed, stemmed, and seeded
  • 2 guajillo chiles, rinsed, stemmed, and seeded
  • 1 pound pound tomatillos (6–8), husks removed, rinsed
  • 1 medium ripe tomato
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • 2 whole cloves
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano, preferably Mexican
  • 2 teaspoons kosher or coarse sea salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1/4 cup chopped white onion
  • 5 cups chicken or vegetable broth, homemade or canned
  • 3 medium fresh hoja santa leaves or 5 dried, or 2 cilantro sprigs (optional)
  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 8 chicken breasts, thighs, or drumsticks, or a combination
  • Kosher or coarse sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • Masa Dumplings (recipe follows)
  • Masa Dumplings
  • 1 cup instant corn masa flour, such as Maseca
  • 3/4 cup lukewarm water
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons lard or vegetable shortening
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt, or to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar
Directions
  1. Yellow Mole with Chicken
  2. TO MAKE THE SAUCE: Heat a comal or large skillet over medium heat until hot. Lay the chiles flat in the pan and toast them for 10 to 15 seconds per side until they become fragrant and pliable and their color darkens. Take care not to let them burn, or they will turn bitter. Remove from the heat.
  3. In a medium saucepan, combine the toasted chiles with the tomatillos, tomato, and garlic. Add water to cover and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a medium simmer and cook for 10 minutes, or until the tomatillos and tomato are soft. Remove from the heat.
  4. With a slotted spoon, transfer the chiles, tomatillos, tomato, and garlic to a blender or food processor and let cool slightly. Add the cloves, cinnamon, oregano, salt, and pepper and puree until smooth.
  5. In a large pot, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and saute? for 3 to 4 minutes, until soft and translucent. Add the tomatillo puree and cook until it thickens, about 10 minutes, stirring often.
  6. Add the chicken broth and hoja santa leaves, if using. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook for about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat.
  7. Meanwhile, make the masa for the dumplings.
  8. In a deep skillet or Dutch oven, heat the 3 tablespoons oil over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking. Sprinkle the chicken pieces with salt and pepper to taste. Working in batches, add the chicken to the pan skin side down and brown on each side for 4 to 5 minutes.
  9. Return all the chicken to the pan, pour the mole sauce on top, and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Make the dumplings as directed below. One by one, add them to the mole and cook for another 15 minutes, or until the dumplings are cooked through and the mole has thickened enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon. Serve.
  1. Masa Dumplings
  2. In a large bowl, mix the masa flour with the water, then knead for about 1 minute, until the dough is smooth and free of lumps. Add the lard, cinnamon, salt, and sugar and mix for another minute, until well incorporated and smooth.
  3. Roll the dough into 1-inch balls, then, with your little finger, make a dimple in the middle of each dumpling.
  4. Keep covered until ready to cook.

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • SylMer
    SylMer
  • carolcamille
    carolcamille
  • WhileItRises
    WhileItRises
I forgo my job in the Washington DC policy research world to research, test, taste, cook, write, teach and talk about Mexican food. Not only because of nostalgia and desire to connect to my roots, but because I love sharing all I learn and I am fascinated by Mexico cuisine's richness and depth.

3 Reviews

SylMer February 3, 2015
very much enjoyed this dish, have never made mole before, and although this was not the labor-intensive kind it was satisfying with a depth of flavor and spice! highly recommend and worth the effort!
 
WhileItRises November 11, 2013
Just made this with leftovers from a preliminary turkey test (yes, really). Wonderful! And a good one to keep for when we have turkey coming out of our ears in a couple weeks. I was so relieved that this comes together so quickly, I think one hears "mole" and assumes it's going to take hours, if not days.
 
carolcamille October 29, 2013
What a great recipe ,especially for those who are gluten free! I love Patti! I bought her cookbook. I did not think I needed another Mexican cookbook, but it turned out that I needed hers.