Secret Sauce
High quality fruit and vegetables are abundant throughout Mexico, and the local market is the best place to taste the variety. Unlike chain supermarkets, where produce must travel a long supply chain, fruit often comes directly from a farm to the market. At the market you’ll find fresh and local produce, baked goods, coffee, cacao and…all the BEST makings for mole.
If you have visited Mexico or a truly authentic Mexican restaurant here in Houston, they most certainly serve mole, the national dish of Mexico. Authentic Mole, sauce (pronounced MOH-lay), is made by toasting and blending sweet and earthy ingredients and spices including dried chiles, nuts, seeds, chocolate and spices, that when done correctly, makes your taste buds dance.
Considered to be one of Mexico's first international dishes, mole holds a special place in the cultural history of the vibrant country it calls home. This sauce was seen as something that was very special, shared between families and often served at special events and celebrations.
My first encounter with authentic mole sauce was during a trip to Monterrey, Mexico. I ordered enchiladas with mole sauce and it was a truly incredible dish. I had eaten at many Mexican restaurants, but nothing compared to the flavors in this dish. I was staying with my friend's family in Monterrey and was lucky enough to get to share their kitchen and learn their secrets to making the perfect sauce.
The first step to making the perfect sauce at home was to collect the best ingredients. While I was visiting, we went to their local outdoor market. They were selling all kinds of dried and fresh chilies. I purchased a bag of the chilies and happened to find a beautiful bag of cacao that had been harvested in a city nearby. I brought them home to test out a mole recipe and only wish that I had purchased more.
With Houston's large melting pot, there is no shortage of Mexican restaurants, but if you want to experience the true taste of mole sauce, I highly recommend finding an authentic Mexican restaurant or making the sauce at home. Here’s my recipe:
Stop by one of the Fiesta Mart shops or the Houston Farmer's Market located at: 2520 Airline Dr, Houston, TX 77009 where you can find fresh ingredients, locally grown.
Traditional recipes can take an entire day to make but my recipe can be made in less time. There are many different varieties of mole that range from sweet to savory to spicy. For all the different types of mole, there are just as many variations for making it! This is the basic version I was taught to make, but the flavor profile can be tweaked to suit your preference of sweet and spice.