The Best World Sauces: How Many Have You Tried?

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Mole Poblano - Mexico

Never cooked savory dishes with chocolate before? This rich and flavorful Mexican sauce is a delicious place to start. Mexico is famous for its mole sauces, of which there are many varieties, but all of them include one or more chili peppers as a base, often combined with nuts, dried fruits and spices that are roasted and ground together into a fine powder or paste. On average, mole poblano has about 20 ingredients and is a real labor of love. It's used in countless Mexican dishes as a delectable sauce and is popularly served with turkey for special occasions and holidays. Try it served over grilled or roasted meats, in enchiladas, tacos or burritos, or even in slow-cooked meat stews.

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup (60g) olive oil
• 2 onions, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, chopped
• 2 cups (500ml) chicken stock
• 2 tomatoes, crushed
• 1 tortilla, cut into slices
• 1/4 cup (40g) raisins
• 1/4 cup (30g) pumpkin seeds
• 1/4 cup (25g) ground almonds
• 1.5 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tbsp paprika
• 2 tbsp sesame seeds
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves
• 1/4 tsp ground coriander
• 1 pinch of ground Cayenne pepper
• 1/4 cup (30g) cocoa powder
• 2 tbsp honey

Instructions:

1. Heat the olive oil in a saucepan. Add the onions and garlic. Lightly brown them for 3-4 minutes, then pour in the chicken stock and add the crushed tomatoes. Cover and simmer for 5 min.
2. In a frying pan over medium-high heat, add the tortilla slices, raisins, pumpkin seeds, ground almonds, chili powder, paprika, sesame seeds, salt, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, ground coriander and Cayenne pepper. Toast everything for 3-4 minutes until nice and fragrant.
3. Add the cocoa powder and honey, plus the toasted ingredients to the tomato-onion mixture. Bring to a boil, then cover, reduce the heat to low and let simmer for 5 minutes.
4. Puree the sauce with an immersion blender and serve warm.