Mole is a generic term for a whole family Mexican sauces. They are some of the most complex sauces in the culinary world consisting of dozens of ingredients. My favorite family of Mole comes from the southern state of Oaxaca (wih-ha-kah). Over there, they use chocolate, peanut butter, pumpkin seeds… all amazing ingredients. I know chocolate doesn’t seem to fit in with savory cooking, but it  does. While cooking mole seems to be a very daunting task, I found a simplified recipe over here: http://adventuresincooking.com/2014/07/braised-mole-beef-tacos-with-cilantro.html

Feel free to use this recipe to make tacos, burritos, salads, you name it.

1. First get all your ingredients ready including:
   • Combine in a small bowl
     • 0.5 a teaspoon chipotle powder (if you don’t have it, buy it because it is a great seasoning to add smokiness and a kick
     • 0.5 a teaspoon of garlic powder
     • 0.5 a teaspoon of oregano
     • 0.25 of a teaspoon of cumin
     • 0.25 of salt
     • 1 tablespoon of regular chili powder
   • 1 tablespoon of olive oil
   • 2 pounds of lean stew meat or beef chuck that are in 3/4 inch cubes (trim any excess fat and even the stew meat might need to be cut into smaller pieces)
   • 1 yellow onion diced
   • 1/2 a cup of water
   • 1 cup of beef stock
   • 1/3 a cup of tomato paste
   • 1 ounces of semi sweet chocolate (chocolate chips are fine)

2. Heat up a dutch oven or large pot. Add the olive oil and brown the meat in two batches.

Place the meat on a plate when the pieces are brown.

3. If there is a lot of left over grease after you are done browning the meat, pour most (not all) of the excess grease. I used lean meat so I didn’t have to pour any grease out. If you have nothing left in your pan, add in a little oil. Saute your onion in the left over grease for about 5 minutes until you start seeing it brown.

4. Add in the rest of the ingredients (including the juices that accumulate of the beef plate) except the chocolate. Stir to combine. Once it starts boiling, turn down the heat, cover the pot, and let the mixture simmer for 30 minute while mixing every so often.

5. After 30 minutes mix in the chocolate and stir until the chocolate is incorporated. Let the mixture simmer for 1 hour. The mixture will really thicken up during this time.

6. While the beef mole is cooking down. I sauteed some roasted garlic and veggies. I like Trader Joe’s bagged raw veggies because it takes a lot of prep work out of the way without compromising nutrition. You pay a little extra, but it is worth it. I sauteed it until it shrunk by half

I made a burrito with some of the beef mole, veggies, low calorie tortilla, non-fat refried beans and feta cheese. Who needs Chipotle?

The below nutrition is for the above combo. This makes pretty generous portions.