Pavo Mole Turkey Mole Recipes

TURKEY MOLE

Steps:

• Make the turkey: Put the turkey, onion, celery, cilantro sprigs, cloves, allspice, star anise, peppercorns and 1 teaspoon salt in a large pot; add cold water to cover. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to medium low and simmer until very tender, about 1 hour, 30 minutes. Remove the turkey with tongs and transfer to a plate to cool slightly. Strain the broth through a fine-mesh sieve into a large measuring cup or bowl. You should have about 8 cups broth; if you have more, simmer until reduced to 8 cups. Skim the fat off the surface. Remove the turkey skin; refrigerate the meat until ready to use. (The turkey and broth can be made 1 day ahead; cover and refrigerate.)
• Make the mole: Preheat the broiler. Put the tomatillos, tomatoes, garlic and onion on a rimmed baking sheet. Broil, turning, until charred, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a bowl to cool. Remove the skins from the tomatoes and garlic.
• Heat 1/4 cup vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Fry the ancho and pasilla chiles in batches, turning, until softened, 30 to 45 seconds; transfer to a bowl. Fry the tortilla in the hot oil, turning, until browned, 4 minutes; add to the bowl with the chiles. Cover with water and soak 30 minutes, then drain. Add the chiles and tortilla to the bowl with the tomatillo mixture and set aside.
• Meanwhile, discard the oil in the skillet and wipe clean. Heat another 1/4 cup vegetable oil in the same skillet over medium-high heat. Add the almonds and fry, stirring, until golden, 3 minutes. Add the raisins and stir until plump, 30 seconds; transfer to a bowl using a slotted spoon. Add the pepitas and fry, stirring, until they begin to pop, 2 minutes; transfer to the bowl with the almonds.
• Discard the oil in the skillet and wipe clean. Heat the skillet over medium heat. Add the sesame seeds and toast, stirring, until golden, about 3 minutes; transfer to a clean bowl to cool. Add 1 heaping tablespoon of the ancho chile seeds, the allspice, peppercorns, cloves, star anise and cinnamon stick to the skillet and toast, stirring, 2 minutes; transfer to the bowl with the sesame seeds and let cool. Grind the sesame-spice mixture in a spice grinder to make a fine powder.
• Put the fried almonds, raisins, pepitas, sesame-spice powder, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 2 cups of the reserved turkey broth in a blender and blend until smooth; transfer to a bowl. Working in batches, blend the broiled vegetables, fried chiles and tortilla, 1 teaspoon salt and 2 cups turkey broth until smooth.
• Heat the remaining 1/4 cup vegetable oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the pureed chile mixture and cook, stirring frequently, until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes (be careful-the mixture will spatter). Stir in the ground almond mixture and 2 cups turkey broth; bring to a simmer over medium-low heat. Stir in the chocolate until melted. Add the turkey thighs and simmer until heated through, about 30 minutes. The mole should be the consistency of gravy; thin with more broth, if necessary. Season with salt. Serve with rice and tortillas.

MOLE CON PAVO (MOLE WITH TURKEY)

Steps:

• Brown onion in oil until soft and the onion is starting to brown.
• Add in turkey stock and water, and bring to a boil.
• While waiting for it to boil, empty tomatoes into a blender and puree them.
• Add in chocolate, and stir until fully melted.
• Add the rest of ingredients, including tomatoes, into the stock/chocolate mixture and mix well.
• Bring to a boil and then turn down heat and let simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

PAVO MOLE (TURKEY MOLE)

Steps:

• *NOTE: the chilies need to be toasted, seeds, deveined and rinsed.
• Toasting Dried Chilies: Heat an ungreased heavy skillet (I use cast iron) over medium heat. Place the chilies on the grill in single layer. Cook the chilies 1 to 3 minutes until the color changes slightly (do not burn) and the chilies become fragrant but not harsh smelling. As they toast, press down on them with a spatula, and turn the chilies occasionally. Set aside to cool. When the chilies are cool enough to handle but still pliable, cut each chile open lengthwise with scissors. Carefully remove the seeds and the veins (membrane).
• Place the prepared dried chilies in a medium bowl and cover with the boiling water. Let stand 1 hour.
• Toast the sesame seeds in a dry, clean skillet over medium heat. Toast about 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove seeds from heat.
• Combine the whole clove, cinnamon stick, coriander seeds and anise seeds in the same skillet and toast on medium heat about 1 minute. The spices will start to change color and become fragrant. Do not burn. Remove from skillet.
• Heat the vegetable oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat until hot. Add the almonds. Cook and stir about 2-3 minutes until brown. Do not burn. Remove the nuts with a slotted spoon to a paper towel and drain.
• Next add the raisins to the same skillet. Cook and stir 30 seconds or until puffed up. Remove with slotted spoon.
• Sprinkle the turkey pieces with salt. Cook the poultry in the same skillet over medium heat for about 10 minutes or until browned, turning once. Remove to plate. Remove all but 2 tablespoons of the oil from the skillet.
• In a blender place the raisins, processing until finely ground. Coarsely chop the almonds and add to blender. Process until finely ground. Add the onion, garlic and process until finely ground.
• In an electric spice grinder process 2 tablespoons of the sesame seeds in on/off pulses. Add the sesame seeds to the blender.
• Process the clove mixture in the electric spice grinder to a fine powder; add to blender.
• Add the chilies, 1/3 cup of the soaking liquid and the tomato paste to blender. Process until smooth. If too thick, add about 1 teaspoon of the soaking liquid at one time until the blender does not labor and mixture blends easily. **WARNING: Avoid inhaling the ingredients in the blender. Wear a mask, especially if you have a weak respiratory system. Discard the soaking liquid.
• Coarsely chop the chocolate with a knife or grate.
• Reheat the oil in skillet over medium heat again until hot. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the chile mixture. Cook and stir for 5 minutes. Add the chocolate; cook and stir 2 minutes or until the chocolate is melted. Gradually stir in the stock. Cook and stir the chile mixture for 5 minutes.
• Return turkey to the skillet. Reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 45 minutes or until the turkey is tender and juices run clear. Turn the turkey once or twice during simmering. Sprinkle the remaining sesame seeds over the turkey pieces just before serving. Garnish, if desired with fresh cilantro.