Learn how to make this super easy and fast, no-cook, wonderfully flavorful mole sauce from scratch to use for the best chicken mole or enchiladas.
It’s no secret I’m a huge fan of Mexican food. From carnitas and tacos to fajitas and burritos, I’ve got an abundance of beloved Mexican recipes on my blog. One of my favorites is easy chicken mole enchiladas. So what’s the thing that makes them top-notch and truly sets them apart? A rich, complex, sultry homemade mole sauce. This mole sauce recipe is in the style of a mole poblano and is made with dried ancho chiles, tomatoes, cinnamon, and chocolate. It starts with a no-cook enchilada sauce from this chilaquiles recipe from The Minimalist Kitchen: 100 Wholesome Recipes, Essential Tools, and Efficient Techniques, authored by my friend Melissa of The Faux Martha. Her enchiladas sauce recipe was so easy to make and had such depth of flavor I knew it would be just the right base for a killer mole sauce.
In This Post
Why You’ll Love It
- Mole sauce tastes complex, sweet, savory, smoky, and has the perfect level of heat
- This mole sauce is made fast and easy in a blender
- There’s no cooking involved!
- While it’s deceptively easy to make, it doesn’t skimp on flavor
What is Mole Sauce?
Mole (meaning “sauce” in the Nahuatl language), dates back to Mexico’s Aztec empire. There are so many different types of mole sauce with varying degrees of heat, However, most mole sauce recipes consist of a blend of dried chiles, dried fruit, seeds, nuts, spices, and dark chocolate. Some mole sauce recipes also have oregano, cumin, and even raisins.
What is the Secret Ingredient in Molen Sauce?
Chocolate is the secret ingredient in mole sauce, but this mole sauce recipe has another surprising ingredient: peanut butter. Yes, peanut butter sounds like an odd ingredient addition, but the sweetness mellows the earthy spices of the enchilada sauce, creating a complex, well-rounded flavor from simple ingredients.
Mole Sauce Ingredients List
Most mole sauce recipes have a laundry list of ingredients (some have upwards of 20!). Fret not, this mole sauce recipe keeps it nice and easy.
- Hot water—hot water is necessary for moistening the dried chiles, making it easier to blend into a creamy sauce
- Ancho chiles—these dried poblano peppers are slightly fruity and smoky, with a mild to medium heat level
- Sweet onion—I like Vidalia onions for this
- Fire-roasted tomatoes—these deliver a subtly smoky and savory flavor
- Garlic—for a nice savory flavor
- Honey—sweetens the mole sauce just the right amount
- Kosher salt—always, for flavor
- Chocolate chips—I use semisweet but you can use bittersweet if you prefer (either way, don’t skip this crucial ingredient!)
- Creamy peanut butter—this may seem like an unusual addition to mole sauce, but I promise you it’s an important one! The peanut butter lends a mellow sweetness that balances out the sauce.
- Ground cinnamon—a classic spice in mole sauce that adds warmth
Find the complete recipe with measurements below.
What Does Mole Sauce Taste Like?
Mole sauce has a sweet, spicy earthy flavor and smoky heat from the chiles. Even though it may not be an ingredient that you’ll find in most mole sauce recipes, peanut butter cuts any bitterness and imparts a mellow sweetness to the mole sauce that rounds everything out.
How to Make Mole Sauce
With a shorter ingredient list and quick, two-step method, this mole sauce could not be simpler to make. It’s ready in just 12 minutes (and that includes 10 minutes to soak the chiles)!
- Soak those chiles. Let the chiles soak in hot water for 10 minutes (this will help moisten them up and allow them to be blended into a creamy sauce).
- Blend, baby, blend. Add the moistened chiles, onion, tomatoes, garlic, honey, and kosher salt to a blender and blend on high until smooth. Then, add the chocolate chips and peanut butter and blend.
*Note that the mole sauce freezes incredibly well, so you may want to make a double batch just to have it on hand whenever an enchilada craving strikes.
How to Serve Mole Sauce
- In tacos, burritos, or enchiladas
- Use as a marinade for chicken, pork, or fish
- Drizzle over nachos or burrito bowls
- Use as a dipping sauce
- Enjoy with Mexican rice and beans
- Spoon over grilled meats or eggs
Storage Tips
This mole sauce will keep stored in a jar or Tupperware container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days and in the freezer for about 3 months.
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating on this recipe below and leave a comment, take a photo and tag me on Instagram with #foodiecrusheats.
Easy Mexican Mole Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 cups hot water
- 4 dried Ancho chiles , stemmed and deseeded
- ¾ sweet onion , roughly chopped
- 1 15- ounce can fire-roasted tomatoes
- 4 cloves garlic , smashed
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2½ teaspoons kosher salt
- ⅓ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips , melted
- 3 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
Instructions
- In a high-powered blender, add the hot water and submerge the chiles in the water. Let sit for 10 minutes to soften. Add the onion, tomatoes, garlic, honey, and kosher salt and blend on high until smooth. Then, add the chocolate chips and peanut butter and blend for 30 seconds to one minute. This makes 4 cups and can be made in advance and stored covered in the fridge to be served over enchiladas, burritos, or eggs.
Nutrition
More Easy Mexican Recipes to Make
- Beyond Easy Chicken Mole Enchiladas
- Just Like Taco Bell Tacos
- Chicken Taquitos
- Blackened Fish Tacos with Creamy Avocado Sauce
- Beef and Butternut Squash Enchiladas
- Slow Cooker Smoky Pulled Pork Tacos
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