What
is mole? Many of us have become enamored of this complex, intoxicating
dish, but relatively few of us know wht's in it (besides chocolate)
or how it's made. Mole's most famous ingredient-chocolate-is actually
a minor player in a sauce that can have more than two dozen ingredients,
including tomatoes, raisins, sesame seeds, whole cloves and oregano.
Many moles don't contain any chocolate at all!
The Spanish
word mole comes from the Aztec word molli, which
was used by the pre-Colonial indigenous peoples of Mexico to refer
to the sauces they made by pounding dried chiles with seeds and
nuts in giant mortars. The Spaniards brought to the New World many
ingredients, especially spices, which were incorporated into the
native sauces. Today, mole remains the most beloved dish of Mexico,
and a different version is made by nearly every cook.
This
80-page cookbook will guide you through the complex process of making
your own mole at home, including recipes for Roast Duck in Orange
Honey Mole, Steak and Cactus Burritos, Turkey Cutlets with Mandarin
Cranberry Mole, Wild Mushroom and Roasted Poblano Enchiladas, and
Monkfish Braised in Saffron-scented Mole Amarillo.
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