Mexican food is popular around the world for several reasons. Mexican dishes are always bursting with flavor and spices, allowing it to stand out on its own. People of different races were always excited to try Mexican food and keep on coming back for more. When eating in a restaurant that serves Mexican food, have you ever tasted the rich sauce with a hint of spiciness and smells like chocolate? That is what you call a mole sauce.
Mole contains many ingredients that make it mysteriously delicious. So what makes a mole? 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? This is why mole sauce has a complex flavor – one that you cannot explain directly.
Is there chocolate in mole?
If you think that mole sauce is a chocolate sauce, well, you are not alone. People mistakenly think that mole is also a chocolate sauce, but in reality, not all mole sauce contains chocolate. You see, there are several types of mole sauces – some may contain chocolate but others don’t. However, the chocolate content is only in lower percentage and when the sauce is all done and ready to eat, remember that chocolate is not the biggest ingredient of it; but rather, it is just one of the many ingredients found in a mole sauce.
Types of Mole Sauces you should know
There are several variations of mole sauces and they differ in ingredients. However, there are seven main types of mole sauces that you may have tasted before.
- Mole Poblano
Considered as the national dish of Mexico, this mole sauce is red in color and contains lots of dried chile flavor. It is often served on dishes like braised meat like pork or beef. - Mole Negro
The common mole sauce you get to see served in many Mexican restaurants in the United States. With its dark, bitter and sweet flavor, you could guess that it contains more chocolates than the other types of mole sauces. - Mole Coloradito
Mole Coloradito has a brownish-red in color and contains dried chiles, sweet fruits to taste and other sweet ingredients. It is perfect for enchiladas. - Mole Amarillo
This doesn’t contain chocolate or dried fruits. It mainly consists of dried guajillo chiles and other spices and is often served with meat, seafood, and vegetables. - Mole Manchamantel
Mole Manchamantel contains Spanish sausage, chorizo, tomatoes, ancho chiles and pineapple. - Mole Chichilo
It is the rarest type of mole sauce and is often prepared only during special occasions. It is made from beef stock and thickened with dough made from corn flour. - Mole Verde
Mole Verde is made from cilantro, pumpkin seeds, jalapeños and tomatillos. This sauce is perfect as toppings for chicken breast or thighs.
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