Molé Sauce

Man Monday returns!!

This ain’t no Batman Returns or even Superman Returns. Those movies can go back to the production wasteland they belong in. Man Monday Returns belongs on the shelf with movies like Return of the Jedi, or Lord of the Rings: Return of the King. I mean business!

So why the long absence? Well, for those of you who ACTUALLY follow our blog, you’ll know that I recently became a father. Not only that, but I’m also working a lot more. How much you ask? Well, if I were to quantify it in hours… we’re talking around 60+ hours a week. Aaaand I’m starting my Master’s Degree. But you guys don’t care about that right? Let’s talk FOOD!

I’m assuming most of you have seen Diners Drive-ins and Dives right? Well, my home-town boasts several visits by Guy Fieri. One of those places he visited was the Red Iguana in Salt Lake City, UT.

Now, I’m about to say a HUGE statement here.

I’m not sure if you are ready for it.

This is one of those “absolutes” statements… Ready?

The best restaurant-made Mexican food you will ever eat is at Red Iguana! The best Mexican dish I’ve ever had in my entire life was at Red Iguana!

Now, I know that “molé” is not a very well known recipe. I didn’t know what it was until just a few years ago, but I’m telling you, Red Iguana’s molé has the power to change your life. Really.

So, with all that blabbering out of the way, let me introduce to you my best effort at creating a good molé.

Molé Sauce

{Warning: this makes a lot of molé. Of course, I like to freeze it and eat it for weeks…}
Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 cup pan roasted peanuts (I added a few pistachios for funsies – turned out great)
• 2 pablano peppers, seeds and stems removed
• 2 jalepeños, seeds and stems removed
• 1 medium onion, thickly chopped (that means don’t waste your time trying to get all teary eyed with this, you’ll end up pureeing it anyway).
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• 1/4 cup raisins
• 1 can diced tomatoes (28 oz)
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon allspice
• 1 oz unsweetened baking chocolate
• 1/2 cup water

Directions:

1. Heat up your oil in a pot or large sauce pan. Add the peanuts, peppers, jalepeños, onion, and stir.
2. Add your garlic, cilantro, raisins, diced tomato, and all your salt and spices. Stir well, and let this whole witches brew simmer on low heat for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. In a food processor or blender, turn the whole concoction into a paste. Put it back into the pot and add your chocolate. Mix well, until chocolate is consistently incorporated into the molé.
4. Return the brew to the blender and puree the heck out of it. You may need to add your water, a little at a time, to get a saucy consistency you like.
5. Serve on whatever Mexican dish you want to taste amazing! You can do what I did and make these enchiladas (following steps 1-3) and just add the molé as a sauce. Done.

Well, what do you think? Was Man Monday Returns the cinematic masterpiece you had hoped for? I hope so. Maybe next week I’ll follow my wife’s advice and make a recipe that isn’t so “obscure.” But I’m telling you, do Man Monday Returns a favor and just try this molé out! You may be a returning customer. *Zach slaps knee and dork-laughs*