TIME TO THROWDOWN ANOTHER HEALTHY RECIPE WITH OUR FRIENDS AT THE FIREFIGHTER THROWDOWN! THIS RECIPE IS FOR A SIMPLER VERSION OF A TRADITIONAL MEXICAN DISH CALLED MOLE POBLANO. MOLE POBLANO IS A SAUCE THAT HAS MANY VARIATIONS DEPENDING ON THE REGION OF MEXICO, THIS PARTICULAR RECIPE IS DERIVED FROM THE MOLE FOUND IN THE STATE OF PUEBLA. MOST OF THESE TYPES OF SAUCES HAVE AT LEAST 20 DIFFERENT INGREDIENTS, SOME WITH AS MUCH AS 30 AND USUALLY TAKE A COUPLE DAYS TO PREPARE AND ALL SHARE ONE COMMON INGREDIENT, CHILE PEPPERS. THE HEAT FROM THE PEPPERS IS BALANCED OUT WITH THE ADDITION OF CHOCOLATE, IN THIS CASE I USED DARK CHOCOLATE TO UP THE ANTIOXIDANTS. I LOVE MOLE SAUCE BUT WANTED TO MAKE A FIREHOUSE "FRIENDLY" VERSION USING SOME INGREDIENTS COMMONLY FOUND IN THE FIREHOUSE. I ALSO ADDED COCONUT MILK WHICH IS NOT TRADITIONAL. WHY? BECAUSE I LIKE THE TEXTURE AND FLAVOR IT IMPARTS WHILE ADDING HEALTHY FATS TO THE DISH. WHILE TRADITIONALLY SERVED OVER TURKEY, YOU WILL OFTEN SEE IT SERVED OVER CHICKEN AND PORK.
*Makes enough for approximately 8-9 pork chops. Approximately 900 calories for the whole batch so around 100-120 calories per serving.
1/2 ONION, CHOPPED
2 CLOVES OF GARLIC, CHOPPED
6 TBS. CHILI POWDER
2 TBS. CUMIN
1/2 TBS. CINNAMON
1 TBS. PAPRIKA
1 TBS. OREGANO
1 8OZ. CAN TOMATO SAUCE
1 CHIPOTLE IN ADOBO SAUCE, CHOPPED WITH 2 TBS. OF THE ADOBO SAUCE
1 CAN COCONUT MILK
3 TBS. DARK CHOCOLATE CHIPS
OLIVE OIL
SALT AND PEPPER TO TASTE
In a medium sauce pan, heat a drizzle of olive oil over medium heat.
Add the onion and garlic and spices, stir and saute until the onion is soft
Add the tomato sauce and chipotle pepper with adobo sauce
Simmer for 20 minutes, remove and puree in a blender ( Let cool a little before blending, cover the top with a dishcloth and hold down with your hand to prevent a blender "explosion")
Return the puree to the pot over low heat, add the coconut milk and simmer for an hour
Just before serving stir in the chocolate
*I served this over grilled pork chops that I brined and it was fantastic. Traditionally the sauce is topped with sesame seeds, but I used thin sliced red onion and scallion because thats what I had on hand. To learn about how to brine meat, check out the previous Tips To Throwdown.