Chicken with Tomato Chocolate Sauce Mole Style
Elevate your dinner table with this bold and flavorful Chicken with Tomato Chocolate Sauce Mole Style, a dish that expertly blends savory and sweet notes for a truly unique experience. Featuring tender, seared bone-in chicken thighs bathed in a rich, spiced tomato sauce infused with dark chocolate, this recipe is a modern homage to classic Mexican mole. A medley of warm spices like cumin, cinnamon, and chili powder brings depth to the sauce, while a touch of brown sugar balances the dark chocolate’s subtle bitterness. Finished with optional garnishes of toasted sesame seeds and fresh cilantro, this dish is as visually stunning as it is delicious. Perfect for pairing with rice or warm tortillas, it’s a show-stopping recipe that’s surprisingly easy to prepare, making it ideal for weeknight meals or entertaining.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 4 pieces chicken thighs (bone-in, skin-on)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion (chopped)
- 4 garlic cloves (minced)
- 1 cup canned crushed tomatoes
- 1.5 cups chicken broth
- 2 ounces dark chocolate (70% cocoa, finely chopped)
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 0.5 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground chili powder
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons toasted sesame seeds (optional, for garnish)
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro (optional, chopped for garnish)
Instructions
Season the chicken thighs on both sides with salt and black pepper.
Heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the chicken thighs skin-side down and sear for 5-7 minutes per side until golden brown. Remove the chicken and set aside.
In the same skillet, lower the heat to medium and add the chopped onion. Sauté for 4-5 minutes until softened, then add the minced garlic and cook for another minute.
Stir in the crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, ground cumin, ground cinnamon, ground chili powder, and brown sugar. Mix well to combine the flavors.
Bring the mixture to a simmer, then return the chicken thighs to the skillet. Spoon some of the sauce over the chicken to coat.
Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes, occasionally stirring the sauce and basting the chicken.
After 30 minutes, remove the chicken thighs again and stir the finely chopped dark chocolate into the sauce until fully melted and blended.
Return the chicken to the skillet, spooning the sauce over the top. Simmer uncovered for another 10 minutes to thicken the sauce slightly.
Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt or pepper, if needed.
Serve the chicken with a generous amount of sauce, garnished with toasted sesame seeds and fresh cilantro if desired. Pair with rice or warm tortillas for a complete meal.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
2069 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 148.7 g | 191% | |
| Saturated Fat | 45.0 g | 225% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2.7 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 486 mg | 162% | |
| Sodium | 4050 mg | 176% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 69.4 g | 25% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 15.0 g | 54% | |
| Total Sugars | 38.0 g | ||
| Protein | 123.9 g | 248% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 336 mg | 26% | |
| Iron | 19.2 mg | 107% | |
| Potassium | 2968 mg | 63% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
