Pumpkinseedchickenmole Recipes

CHICKEN WITH PUMPKIN-SEED MOLE

Steps:

• Place chicken in a 4-quart pot, and add water to cover by 1 inch. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, and cook until chicken is cooked through, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat, and let stand 15 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate, and cover.
• Place serrano and poblano chiles directly over the flame of a gas-stove burner on high heat. Roast, turning with tongs, until blackened all over. (Alternatively, broil chiles on a baking sheet, turning often, until skin has charred.) Transfer chiles to a bowl, and cover with plastic wrap. Let stand for 15 minutes. Peel chiles, and remove stems, seeds, and ribs.
• Process roasted chiles, onion, garlic, cilantro leaves, 1/2 cup pepitas, cumin, oregano, and 1/2 cup stock in a blender until a coarse paste forms.
• Heat oil in a 4-quart pot over medium heat. Add paste, and cook, stirring constantly, until very thick, about 9 minutes. (Reduce heat if mixture begins to scorch.) Whisk remaining 1 1/2 cups of stock into paste until incorporated. Let mixture cool slightly, then transfer to blender. Add salt and lime juice. Process until sauce is smooth.
• Place chicken in a clean 4-quart pot, and cover with sauce. Cook over medium-low heat until just heated through, about 10 minutes. (Do not simmer.)
• Transfer chicken to a cutting board, and cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Distribute evenly among plates, spoon sauce on top, and garnish with cilantro sprigs and remaining 2 tablespoons pepitas. Serve with rice if desired.

PUMPKIN CHICKEN CHILI

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion and Fresno and cook, stirring often, until the onions are translucent and tender, 5 to 6 minutes. Stir in the garlic, chili powder, cumin and bay leaf and cook until the spices are fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the pumpkin puree, then stir and cook until it starts to bubble and brown a bit, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the shredded chicken and season with salt and pepper. Pour in the chicken broth and use a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits on the bottom of the pan. Bring to a low boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and let simmer, stirring occasionally, 1 hour. Stir in the beans and corn and continue to simmer, uncovered, until the liquid has reduced and the chili is thick, about 30 minutes. Cut pumpkins out of the cheese slices with a pumpkin-shaped cookie cutter. Using a paring knife, give each pumpkin eyes, a nose and a mouth to resemble a jack-o'-lantern. Ladle the chili into bowls and top with the cheese pumpkins. Serve with the Greek yogurt, scallions and tortilla chips.

CHICKEN IN PUMPKIN-ANCHO MOLE SAUCE

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, combine 6 cups water, salt, sugar, bay leaf, cinnamon stick, peppercorns, and cloves. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring gently. Once the sugar and salt have dissolved, remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature. Transfer to a large bowl, add the chicken, and refrigerate, covered, at least 2 hours or overnight. Bring the remaining 2 cups of water to a boil in a small saucepan over high heat. In a medium heatproof bowl, add the ancho chiles and cover with the boiling water. Weigh down with a plate so the peppers remain under water and let them soak for 15 minutes. Remove and discard the stems when the peppers have softened.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. On a sheet tray toss the jalapenos, onion, tomatoes, garlic and cumin with 2 tablespoons oil. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Roast until nicely caramelized with good color, 25 to 30 minutes. Add the pumpkin seeds to a dry, hot skillet on high heat. Stir often, until the seeds are golden and begin to pop. Transfer to a food processor along with roasted vegetables. Add the soaked chiles, about 2 tablespoons of chili soaking liquid, the cilantro leaves and the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil to the processor. Puree until smooth. Taste and season with salt and pepper, if needed.
• Remove the chicken from the refrigerator, blot dry with paper towels and put into a large Dutch oven. Pour in the mole sauce and bake, covered, until the chicken is cooked through, about 55 to 60 minutes. Remove from the oven and transfer the chicken to a cutting board to cool. When cool to the touch, shred the chicken and add it back to the sauce. Spoon the mole into corn tortillas and serve with lime wedges, avocado slices, shredded lettuce, red onion, and radishes. Garnish with cilantro leaves and enjoy.

PUMPKIN SEED CHICKEN MOLE

Steps:

• Place a dry cast-iron skillet over low heat.
• Toast the pumpkin seeds, cumin seeds, pepper and oregano, shaking the pan occasionally, until their aromas are released, about 5 minutes.
• Do not brown.
• Set aside to cool and then grind in a blender or food processor to a powder.
• Reserve.
• Combine the tomatillos, serrano chile, garlic, lettuce, cinnamon, cilantro, radish tops, onion and salt in a food processor.
• Puree until smooth.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over high heat.
• Standing back to avoid splatters, pour in the pureed tomatillo mixture, and sizzle for 30 seconds.
• Stir in the stock, reduce the heat and simmer 10 minutes.
• Turn the heat up to high and bring to a boil.
• Stir in the ground nut mixture and remove from the heat.
• Puree in a food processor or blender, in batches if necessary.
• Pass through a fine strainer, pressing with the back of a ladle to extract all the juices, into a 13 x 10-inch flameproof baking dish.
• Place the chicken breasts in the sauce and bring to a boil over moderate heat.
• Cover with foil, transfer to the oven and bake 20 minutes.
• Serve the chicken and sauce over a bed of white rice.
• Sprinkle the radish slices over the top.