Mojo Rojo Recipes

Steps:

• Process 8 garlic cloves, 2 dried guindilla or New Mexico chiles, 2 teaspoons smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, and 1 teaspoon kosher salt in a food processor, occasionally scraping down sides of bowl, until a smooth paste forms. With machine running, drizzle in 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil and process until well blended. Add 1 teaspoon Sherry vinegar and 1 teaspoon water and process to blend. Season with salt.

Steps:

• Put vinegar, oil, garlic, cumin seeds and oregano in a blender; pulse until well blended.
• Add bell pepper and almonds; pulse until completely pureed.
• Add bread, paprika, cayenne and salt; pulse until smooth.
• If the sauce seems thick, thin with a little water.
• Note: Mojo will keep, covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
• If it separates a little, drain off liquid.

Steps:

• In a large stockpot, bring salted water to a boil. Add the remaining onion and garlic. When the water is at a fast boil, it is time to add the chicken pieces. Reduce the heat to medium and let the chicken cook until done, about 25 minutes (it will be floating on top). Check for doneness, remove and reserve. Strain the broth and reserve for the mole.
• On a comal (flat griddle) or griddle set over medium-high heat, dry-roast the tomatoes, 2 onion halves and 8 cloves unpeeled garlic, about 15 minutes. The garlic will be ready sooner-when it shows brown spots, remove.
• Remove the stems, seeds and veins from the chiles. Dry-roast the chiles on a dry comal. Transfer to soak in hot water, no more than 15 minutes. Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons oil in a skillet and saute the pecans and peanuts. When golden, add the sesame seeds, canela, peppercorns, cloves and oregano. Remove from the heat.
• Transfer the chiles into the blender and add enough water to blend. Process until smooth, strain and reserve.
• Heat the remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons oil in a large cazuela (Dutch oven) set over medium-low heat and pour the chile puree over the oil. Fry for 5 to 10 minutes. Blend the roasted tomatoes, onions and garlic and pass through a sieve. Stir into the chile paste and let the mole simmer until thickened and reduced by 3/4. Add the chocolate, 1 1/2 cups reserved chicken broth, and salt and sugar, to taste. (This will be determined by the taste of the cook, the ripeness of the tomatoes and the brand of chocolate used.) Let the sauce simmer, stirring occasionally, until the mole covers the back of a spoon.

Steps:

• Using a mortar and pestle, mash the garlic and salt to a smooth paste. Add cumin, pimenton, and chile pepper; mash until well combined. Slowly drizzle in olive oil while continuing to mash, until all the olive oil is absorbed.
• Turning the pestle in a slow, circular motion around the mortar, drizzle in 2 teaspoons water and vinegar. Keep at room temperature until ready to serve.

Steps:

• Put vinegar, oil, garlic, cilantro and parsley in a blender.
• Add bell pepper and almonds; pulse until completely pureed.
• Add bread, serrano (or jalepaeno) and salt; pulse until smooth.
• If the sauce seems thick, thin with a little water.
• Note:The mojo will keep, covered in the refridgerator for up to 4 days.
• If it separates a little, drain off liquid.