Mole is a term used in Mexican cuisine to describe a type of sauce. The word mole (pronounced MOE-lay) comes from Nahuatl, the language of the Aztec Empire and the modern-day Nahua people, who are the largest indigenous group in Mexico. The original Nahuatl word is molli, which simply means sauce.
Does mole mean sauce?
The term “mole” stems from the Nahuatl world “molli,” which means “sauce” or “concoction.” Mole comes from a family of sauces prepared throughout the Oaxaca and Puebla regions of Mexico and is characterized by a complex, layered flavor derived from intricate blends of dried chiles, spices, fruits, and seasonings.
What kind of dish is mole?
…
Mole (sauce)
Chicken in a dark red mole sauce | |
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Type | Sauce and Marinade |
Place of origin | Mexico |
Main ingredients | Chili pepper , spice and nut |
Cookbook: Mole Media: Mole |
What’s mole made of?
Mole is created from dried chiles, nuts, seeds and sometimes, chocolate and more ingredients. Did you know that many traditional moles require 30 ingredients and some may even have 100 or more?
What flavor is mole?
Every mole tastes different, but is typically rich, nutty, sweet, and earthy. Mole generally isn’t too spicy. Texturally, mole is a very smooth purée, in traditional preparations, mole is made using a metate (stone mill), but it’s usually made in a blender or food processor.
Is guacamole a mole?
So, yes, guacamole is a mole in the sense of the definition and common recipe for traditional Mexican cuisine.
Did the Aztecs eat mole?
Based on facts, Mole had its origin in pre-hispanic Mexico, when it was called mulli and was made with turkey and served in Aztec rituals and other festive occasions.
What can I use mole sauce for?
- Tacos, enchiladas, burritos, nachos, etc. …
- Stuffed peppers: Mole poblano is one of my favorite dishes, made with stuffed roasted poblano peppers.
- Baked proteins: Use mole as a simple finishing sauce for baked chicken, steak, pork, tofu, etc.
What is Mexico’s national dish?
Mexico’s National Dish, Turkey with Chocolate Chile Sauce: Mole Poblano.
How do you eat mole sauce?
Mole is commonly served with chicken in a dish called pollo en mole. It is also served with enmoladas which are enchiladas prepared with mole instead of salsa. It may sound strange, but you should try scrambled eggs with mole.
What is Mexican mole sauce used for?
Besides being added to meats, mole is often used as a sauce for enchiladas. Mole can also be used in burritos and tacos along with meat or just as a saucy addition to vegetables, rice or beans.
How spicy is mole?
Spice Level:
This Mole Sauce is Medium spicy. To add additional heat you could leave some of the seeds and veins in the dried chiles, increase the amount of crushed red pepper, add chile de arbol chiles, or add some chipotle peppers.
Is mole tasty?
Mole is a smooth and very tasty sauce (great with chicken) – I think its the chocolate that gives it the silkyness…
Does avocado really mean testicle?
When the Aztecs discovered the avocado in 500 BC, they named it āhuacatl, which translates to “testicle.” It is likely that the texture, shape, and size of the fruit, as well as the way it grows in pairs, inspired the name of the avocado.
Why is mole important to Mexico?
Mole is one of the most recognizable dishes in Mexican cuisine. Symbolic of the way Mexico blended European and Aztec cultures in the years after the Spanish Conquest, mole is made from a unique mixture of chocolate and hot peppers. This provides a rich, unique and complex topping for a variety of dishes.
Are moles blind?
Moles are often thought to be blind when in fact they can see, they are, though, colorblind and have poor vision only adapted to recognize light. To find food and to navigate the dark underground, moles rely on their keen sense of smell and touch. … Moles are small, burrowing mammals who live underground.
Is mole pre Hispanic?
Mole is a pre-Hispanic dish with a base of dried or fresh chiles that was originally thickened by tortillas or masa and seasoned by wild plants, herbs, and other indigenous ingredients that was eaten with tortillas or tamales. … Of the over 300 moles found throughout Mexico, around 250 are Oaxacan moles.
What is France national dish?
Pot-au-Feu, France’s National Dish | History Today.
Why was mole poblano invented?
One alleges that a convent in Puebla created the dish in a panic from what few ingredients they had, due to the impending visit of an archbishop. It went down a treat served up with roasted turkey. Other tales suggest that several spices accidentally got mixed up, and thus mole was born.
What foods go well with mole sauce?
Tortillas, black or refried beans and rice make nice accompaniments, of course. Mole can also be added to masa (the starchy dough made from corn) or meat when wrapped in banana leaves or corn husks for tamales, served in a bowl alongside tortillas for dipping, or drizzled over eggs for breakfast.
Can I buy mole sauce?
You can buy a premade mole or paste and add you own ingredients and flavors. If you want to try making your own mole at home, check out this complete written Homemade Mole Sauce Recipe.
Is mole sauce healthy?
According to the Institute of Medicine, mole sauce is an excellent source of Vitamin B, riboflavin, phosphorus, iron, magnesium, calcium, zinc, and niacin. Chocolate is rich in flavonoids, helping to protect your cells and organs from free radicals, and it provides you with an energy boost.
What is the most eaten food in Mexico?
Corn is the most eaten staple among Mexican consumers. It is the base ingredient of tortillas, a type of slim flatbread and, one of the most representative and widely consumed food products in the country, used for the preparation of both tacos and quesadillas.
What is Mexico Favourite food?
- Chilaquiles. This popular traditional breakfast dish features lightly fried corn tortillas cut into quarters and topped with green or red salsa (the red is slightly spicier). …
- Pozole. …
- Tacos al pastor. …
- Tostadas. …
- Chiles en nogada. …
- Elote. …
- Enchiladas. …
- Mole.
What is the most commonly eaten food in Mexico?
Tacos. Recognized as the most popular Mexican dish worldwide, the taco has become an art. Some say is the “art of eating with tortilla” and, of course, Mexicans would never deny a taco to anybody. Hundreds of fillings can be put on a corn tortilla!
What is in Mexican chocolate?
Mexican chocolate is not your average chocolate. Made from ground roasted cocao nibs, sugar, and cinnamon, it has a slightly granular texture and a distinctive spiced flavor. Besides cinnamon, Mexican chocolate may also contain other spices like nutmeg or allspice, as well as chilies for heat, and nuts for texture.
What is green enchilada sauce made of?
Green enchilada sauce, or verde sauce, primarily consists of tomatillos, green chilies, onions and garlic. Sometimes spices such as cumin are included, as well as cilantro. I prefer green enchilada sauce because I adore tomatillos. See my tomatillo produce guide for more information and recipe inspiration!
Does mole paste go bad?
Yes it will go bad, i’ve bought from mayordomo and had a few bags pass the expiry date, when i opened them to cook they clearly went rancid 🙁 5.
Is a mole a rodent?
Contrary to popular belief, moles are not rodents.
Do moles eyes?
Moles are small, burrowing mammals. Their eyes are poorly developed, but what they lack in sight, they make up for in their sense of touch. All moles have very sensitive snouts and long, clawed digits that they use to dig tunnels.
When was mole sauce invented?
A nun at the Santa Rosa convent in Puebla is said to have invented the recipe in the 17th century, when she heard of the impending visit of Juan de Palafox, Viceroy of New Spain and Archbishop of Puebla. To honour her guest, she emptied the larder, mixing indigenous ingredients (chilli peppers, tomatoes, cocoa, etc.)
Can you have a mole as a pet?
Known commonly as a garden pest, moles are not good pets and often die quickly in captivity. … Many moles survive off of worms, some prefer other insects. Moles must eat every hour to survive, so providing the correct food is important to keeping your mole alive.
Can you eat a mole?
Although poison and gassing became the preferred methods of mole control toward the end of the twentieth century, recent years have seen a revival of interest in traditional mole trapping techniques. … But I was surprised to read that in Upper Wharfedale, Yorkshire, dried mole meat is a prized delicacy.
What does mole negro sauce taste like?
Your Mole Negro Sauce is ready to use! It will taste heavenly- deep, earthy, and smoky, spicy, rich, slightly bittersweet from the chocolate. All the good flavors!
Is Oaxacan mole spicy?
This mole gets it’s flavor and color from extra pumpkin seeds, cilantro, tomatillos, and jalapenos. Fresh herbs stand in place of chocolate, giving the sauce an added brightness that other moles lack. Black mole, the ultimate sweet and spicy combination, is the most complex version of the sauce.
What does word guacamole mean?
Guacamole is a Spanish word that’s based on the Aztec language Nahuatl’s ahuaca-molli, a combination of ahuacatl, “avocado,” and molli, “sauce.” In the United States, guacamole has surged in popularity over the last several decades, with avocados especially in demand right before Super Bowl Sunday and Cinco de Mayo.
What does Aguacatl mean?
The Nahuatl word for the avocado (Persea americana) /a:wakatl/ (variously spelled ahuacatl, aguacatl, auacatl etc.) comes from a proto-Nahuan word *pawata which also means “avocado” – the word pawatl is still used for wild avocado in some Nahuatl varieties.
How do the British say avocado?
In American English avocado avocado in British English avocado avocado in Australian English avocado
Where did Mexican mole come from?
What color is mole?
A normal mole is usually an evenly colored brown, tan, or black spot on the skin. It can be either flat or raised. It can be round or oval. Moles are generally less than 6 millimeters (about ¼ inch) across (about the width of a pencil eraser).
Can a mole bite you?
Moles can bite and they are able to carry rabies, but there is no historical data that suggests any human has ever contracted rabies from a mole bite. And, since moles don’t generally come in contact with humans unless they are handled, it is not likely that you will be bitten by a mole.
Can moles swim?
While moles prefer to stay underground and dry, all moles can swim if the need arises. They have been observed to swim up to an hour at a time and can cover distances of a half a mile while swimming. They use their powerful arms to swim through the water, much like the way they move through the dirt.
Do moles have teeth?
Moles are not rodents and do not have characteristic rodent features such as large, sharp front teeth. Rather, they have sharp, pointed teeth (like a cat) used for catching and eating grubs and earthworms.