Mole with Chicken, Pork, and Pineapple (Manchamanteles de Cerdo y Pollo)

Name: Mole with Chicken, Pork, and Pineapple (Manchamanteles de Cerdo y Pollo)
Total time: PT0D0H0M
Yield: serves 4
Ingredients: 6 medium dried ancho chiles, stemmed, seeded, deveined, and halved; 5 Tbsp. lard; 1 small white onion, chopped; 5 cloves garlic, halved; 1 lb. lean boneless pork shoulder, cut into 2" cubes and patted dry; 2 bone-in chicken breast halves (about 1 1⁄4 lbs.), halved cross-wise and patted dry; 3 black peppercorns; 2 whole cloves; 1 (1⁄2"-long) piece canela (Mexican cinnamon) or cinnamon stick; 2 (1⁄2"-thick) slices firm white bread, torn into small pieces; 2 Tbsp. cider vinegar; Salt; 1 ⁄ 2 large ripe pineapple, peeled, cored, and cut into 1 1⁄2" cubes; 1 ripe medium plantain, peeled and cut into 1" cubes; 1 1 ⁄ 2 Tbsp. sugar

Serves
serves 4

SAVEUR

Manchamanteles, a spicy, stewlike dish from Mexico, is considered to be one of the seven classic moles of Oaxaca. This recipe is based on one in Authentic Mexican: Regional Cooking from the Heart of Mexico by SAVEUR consulting editor Rick Bayless (William Morrow and Company, Inc., 1987).

Ingredients

6 medium dried ancho chiles, stemmed, seeded, deveined, and halved
5 Tbsp. lard
1 small white onion, chopped
5 cloves garlic, halved
1 lb. lean boneless pork shoulder, cut into 2" cubes and patted dry
2 bone-in chicken breast halves (about 1 1⁄4 lbs.), halved cross-wise and patted dry
3 black peppercorns
2 whole cloves
1 (1⁄2"-long) piece canela (Mexican cinnamon) or cinnamon stick
2 (1⁄2"-thick) slices firm white bread, torn into small pieces
2 Tbsp. cider vinegar
Salt
¹⁄₂ large ripe pineapple, peeled, cored, and cut into 1 1⁄2" cubes
1 ripe medium plantain, peeled and cut into 1" cubes
1 ¹⁄₂ Tbsp. sugar

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Instructions

Step 1

Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Working in batches, toast chiles on both sides, pressing them down with a metal spatula, until aromatic, about 1 1⁄2 minutes. Transfer chiles to a large bowl, cover with boiling water, weight down with a plate, and let soak, 30 minutes. Drain.

Step 2

Heat 4 tbsp. of the lard in the skillet over medium-low. Add onions and fry until softened, 5–6 minutes. Add garlic and cook until onions are golden brown, about 18–20 minutes. Remove onions and garlic from skillet with a slotted spoon and transfer to a blender, leaving lard in the skillet. Increase heat to medium, add pork, and cook, turning often, until golden brown on all sides, 12–14 minutes. Transfer pork to a paper towel–lined plate and set aside. Add chicken to the skillet and cook, turning often, until golden brown on all sides, about 10 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer chicken to plate with pork and set aside. Reserve skillet with any remaining lard.

Step 3

Put peppercorns, cloves, and canela into a mortar and crush with a pestle to a powder. Transfer spices to a blender. Add 1 cup water, drained chiles, and bread and blend until smooth, 2–3 minutes. Strain mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a medium bowl, pressing on solids with the back of a spoon. Discard solids.

Step 4

Heat reserved skillet over medium heat, carefully add chile mixture, and fry, stirring constantly, until thickened, 4–5 minutes. Transfer chile mixture to a large heavy pot. Add pork, 2 cups water, vinegar, and salt to taste and stir to combine. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until pork is very tender, about 2 1⁄2 hours. Add chicken and pineapple and cook, covered, until chicken is cooked through, about 20 minutes.

Step 5

Meanwhile, melt remaining lard in a medium skillet over medium heat. Fry plantains, turning often, until golden brown on all sides, about 5 minutes. Transfer plantains to the mole and stir to combine. Add sugar and salt to taste and continue to cook for 10 minutes more. Serve with corn tortillas, if you like.