Ingredients
- 3 pounds beef stew meat cut or beef shank meat cut into 1 1/2-inch to 2-inch chunks and bones added to the pot
- 1/2 white onion
- 3 bay leaves
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 tablespoon kosher or coarse sea salt or to taste
- 10 cups water
- 1 large sprig of fresh mint or between 10 and 12 leaves
- 3 dried ancho chiles stemmed and seeded
- 3 dried pasilla chiles stemmed and seeded
- 1 pound (about 4) ripe tomatoes preferably roma
- 1/4 pound tomatillos (about 1 or 2 depending on size)
- 2 tablespoons sesame seeds lightly toasted
- 2 chayote squashes peeled and cubed (about 3 cups)
- 1 large zucchini cubed (about 3 cups)
- 3/4 pound green beans trimmed and cut into about 1-inch pieces (about 2 cups)
- 3 ears of fresh corn husked and cut into thirds
- 3/4 cup finely chopped white onion for garnish
- 3/4 cup Chopped fresh cilantro for garnish
- 3 to 4 limes quartered, for garnish
To Prepare
- In a large heavy-bottomed casserole or pot, place the meat, half onion, garlic cloves, bay leaves, mint and a tablespoon of salt. Cover with 10 cups of water and bring to a rolling boil over medium-high heat. Skim off any foam that rises to the surface, and reduce the heat to low or medium-low heat, cover and simmer for an hour.
- Meanwhile, place the ancho and pasilla chiles in a medium bowl, cover with boiling water and let them rehydrate for 10 to 15 minutes. Place the tomatoes and tomatillos in baking dish under the broiler, until they are completely charred and mushy, about 10 minutes. In a small skillet set over medium heat, place the sesame seeds and toast, stirring constantly, anywhere from 1 to 2 minutes until they start to become golden brown, but not completely dark brown.
- In the jar of a blender, place the soaked chiles, along with 1/4 cup of the soaking liquid, the broiled tomatoes and tomatillos, and the toasted sesame seeds, and puree until completely smooth.
- Remove the lid from the large casserole, remove the cooked onion, mint and garlic cloves (if some remains, it is totally fine) and pour the chile mixture in with the meat. Stir, cover again and cook for another half hour.
- Remove the lid, raise heat to medium heat, add the cubed chayote squash and the corn, and cook partially covered for 15 minutes. Add the green beans and zucchini, and cook partially covered for another 10 minutes. Taste for salt and add more if need be.
- Serve in bowls, making sure that each bowl has a serving of meat, corn, chayote, green beans and zucchini. Place white onion, cilantro and halved limes at the table, for people to add as last seasonings and garnishes.
- Note: Traditionally, this recipe uses xoconostles, which are hard to find in the US. Instead, I use tomatillos, which have a similar tart flavor.
Comments
57comments inMole de Olla
Liz
Feb 01
Hi Pati, I’m enjoying making this soup.
It’s. Delicious !!
Pati Jinich
Feb 01
So happy to hear Liz! Mole de olla is so fulfilling and comforting, I just love it!
Kristine
Dec 17
I have made this a lot and love it each and every time. The key in the flavour is all about the chiles, the mint, and all the fixings (cilantro, onion, lime) but I swap out the “stew” ingredients with what I have available. I’ve done carrots, potatoes, parsnips, zucchini, even butternut squash. It’s a much more flavourful and interesting beef stew than most and it’s a staple in our home. Thanks Patti!
Pati Jinich
Dec 20
My pleasure Kristine, so glad you enjoy mole de olla as much as I do!
Quiqui Vasquez Dagle
Mar 03
You’ve done it again, definitely surprising family with what looks and sounds amazing! Thank you 🙏🏼
Pati Jinich
Mar 13
Thanks Quiqui, hope everybody enjoys it!
Esteban
Feb 28
¡Hola Pati! Si hago esta receta en olla exprés (específicamente en una Instant Pot), ¿por cuánto tiempo debo cocinar la carne en el primer párrafo de tu receta (y transcurrido el tiempo bajo presión, si debo hacer “natural release” o despresurizar inmediatamente)? El resto de los pasos los haría sobre la estufa, sin presión.
¡Gracias!
Pati Jinich
Mar 13
Hola Esteban, mil gracias por tu mensaje. Te cuento que no tengo Instant Pot y no quisiera darte una informacion equivocada. Saludos!
Mary
Aug 07
I need it for 4 people this recipe, please
Pati Jinich
Aug 09
You will just need to cut the recipe in half Mary, enjoy!
Mark H
May 22
I have made this twice. Comforting And delicious. Followed recipe but used chuck roast. Good use of summer vegetables. Well received by all on a hot summer day.
Pati Jinich
May 25
So glad you all enjoyed it Mark, yay!
Liz
Dec 13
Pati, this recipe literally brought tears to my eyes. Not only was it delicious, but it tasted exactly like the Mole de Olla my mom would make. She passed a few years ago and I miss her. Your recipe brought back wonderful memories. What a gift! Thank you so much for sharing. BTW, she would make it with chicken as well.
Pati Jinich
Dec 21
So happy my Mole de Olla brought back sweet memories of your mom Liz, love to share my recipes with you guys 😉
Franzine
Dec 05
Thank you for generously sharing your recipe, Ms. Jinich. The only beef stew I knew to cook before this was kaldereta. Now, I have something else to eat. 😅 I can’t wait to make it again!
Pati Jinich
Dec 06
So glad you liked it Franzine, it is one of my favorite stews, especially in this cold weather 😉
Kristi Rettmann
Sep 06
Pati, our family so enjoys watching your show. Your love of food and the origins of every dish and ingredient is intoxicating. My son and I are making this particular dish this weekend. I haven’t like traditional (chocolate-based) mole before but that was because I had no idea there were so many types. Thanks to you, I’m enjoying so many more dishes to their fullest. Well wishes for you and your family!
Pati Jinich
Sep 06
I really hope you like this Mole the Olla Kristi, it is so full of flavor and completely different from the traditional Mole Poblano. There are so many recipes of Mole that do not involve chocolate, here is another one for you to try, enjoy! http://patijinich.com/pati_2020/amarillito-mole-with-chicken/
Kristi Rettmann
Sep 07
Amarillito mole with chicken looks AMAZING! We will try it next. Thank you so much!
Ivy
Aug 23
Thank you so much for all your wonderful and uplifting episodes. I’m originally from El Paso and live in Florida so your show and recipes take me home along with your beautiful Spanish and your accent. I look forward to making this dish. In our home when you are on tv my five year old shouts Pati!! Gracias again for the comforting recipes!
Pati Jinich
Aug 23
Thanks so much for the kind words Ivy, hope you give the Mole de Olla a chance, you guys are going to love it 😉
Steve in AZ
Aug 22
Made this first time, was a huge hit. My nieces call it “holy mole”. Thanks very much!
Pati Jinich
Aug 23
🙂 🙂 So glad to read this, thanks Steve!
Maria Solorio
Jul 28
Gracias Pati por una receta tan maravillosa y deliciosa. A mi familia le encantó.
Pati Jinich
Jul 31
Me alegra mucho saberlo Maria, mil gracias. Un abrazo a todos!
John y Roxie
May 27
HOLAloha Pati🌺,
My husband & I have spent much of our “cuarentena” time watching you cook & have loved every episode! Tonight, for our first family dinner together with our kids & nietos in many months, we cooked up a pot of your Mole de Olla & your Salpicòn recipe topped with carne asada. What a treat! We loved the soup & salad almost as much as our sweet reunion! We are so thankful for your amazing gift of cooking & simplified teaching. Although we’re at home in Hawaii, we’ve visited so many beautiful towns & cocinas in Mexico with you as our guide & can’t wait to travel safely again! God bless and keep you and your family. May His face shine upon you!
Pati Jinich
May 28
Thank you so much Roxie for such sweet words. So glad to know that the show has kept you guys entertained during these trying times. Stay safe and healthy and keep cooking 😉
Martha E Munguia
Dec 17
This is a family favorite, since it was cool had to make it!!
Pati Jinich
Dec 18
Awesome, Martha!
Cat Dominguez
Oct 23
Yipppo!
Where do I purchase those o so cute bowels? Thanks for the delicious recipe.
Pati
Oct 24
Oh I’ve collected my dishes throughout my travels…a lot of my Mexican dishware is from a town called Tlaquepaque in the state of Jalisco. The company that makes them is called El Palomar.
Martha B
Oct 13
Hola
Paty,
Soy una admiradora, me gusta como cocinas, y sobre todo compartiendo tus recetas con mucho amor para las Familias de México y USA.
Que Dios te siga bendiciendo, con esos dones para trasmitir el amor por medio de la cocina.
Saludos
Pati
Oct 18
Mil gracias, Martha!
Grace
Sep 05
Hi Patti . I love your show and have made a lot of your dishes and have learned a lot . My question is where can I buy you cook books. You are an inspiration.
Pati
Sep 10
You can find them on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Pati-Jinich/e/B00C5URXXU/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1 Or Barnes and Noble, Books a Million, or Indie Bound. I hope you love them, Grace.
Daniel
Nov 28
Hello Pati, I live in California and so far the markets I have been to sell a bag of chiles called “Pasilla-Ancho Chiles.” However, based on your video it looks like they are ancho chiles that are mislabeled. Could there be another name for Pasilla chiles? If I use Guajillo chiles, would that also work?
Pati
Nov 30
Thank you for the question, Daniel! In some parts of the US Ancho chiles are also called Pasilla chiles. Pasilla chiles are more slender and longer than Anchos. Here are some pictures to help you determine which chiles they are selling in the bag http://patijinich.com/pati_2020/pasilla_chile/ http://patijinich.com/pati_2020/ancho_chile/
Anonymous
Jun 09
I have the same problem. I cannot find Pasilla Chiles or ancho chiles. The bag I am able to find is called “pasilla-ancho chiles”. Since I could not find the chiles listed by name, I used 6 of the pasilla-ancho chiles and it tastes great.
Pati Jinich
Jun 10
Great job, thanks for sharing 😉
Moira
Oct 26
Hi Pati,
I’m wondering if you think it would be possible to make this recipe without meat? I’ve made other, similar soups (like pozole) with a parmesan rind and other additions for flavor & fat in the broth, but I’m not sure if it would work here.
Pati
Nov 13
Yes you can adapt the recipe to make it meatless!
Samia
Apr 11
Hello Pati. I am gathering the ingredients to make this and wondering what would be a good substitute for the chayote squash…? Because it is actually a fruit it is hard to imagine anything that would be close…?
Pati
Apr 24
Hi Samia, you can substitute chayote for zucchini, but it will take about 1/5 of the time to cook!
Liz
Nov 22
Hi Pati! I”m so excited to make this, I”m actually making it for Thanksgiving 🙂 I’ve seen the episode twice on TV and am inspired to finally do it. One question, can I substitute fish for the meat, and if so, what kinds of fish would you recommend? Thanks for your amazing show and cooking over the years. I bought the first cookbook….
Pati
Nov 22
Absolutely! I would try to add some meaty fish, of your choice, and make sure you don’t over cook it. So you may want to make the broth with the head, tail and bones (ask your fishmonger for that). Then at the end add the chunks of fish!
Rita C.
Aug 04
Pati: I made this today in my crockpot, it is rich and delicious. I saw the episode where you made this recipe and I was hooked – I’ve now purchased both of your books and am looking forward to trying many more of your recipes. Thank you!
Pati
Aug 10
THANK YOU RITA!!! Yay!
Stephanie A
Jul 13
Pati, I want to thank you so much for bringing this wonderful recipe into my life! My mother and I made it again last night for the second time and we are completely addicted and in love with this soup. I will without a doubt be making it for the rest of my life. It reminds me so much of the tortilla soup my aunt makes (which I adore as well), so we added some tortilla strips last night, a nice and crunchy addition. Thank you! Thank you! I will be trying out those dreamboat hotdogs soon. They sound delicious. Have a lovely summer 🙂
Pati
Jul 13
Thank you so much, Stephanie! Wow, your note is so special. I am so happy that you and your mother like the mole de olla and can share it together. And adding the tortillas–brilliant!
John
Dec 07
Any suggestions on cutting this down. I live alone. I am running the proportions in my head and some of the amounts are getting to be small enough that I have found it problematic in the past.
Pati
Dec 09
Cutting it in half will work! It is also good as leftovers for a couple of nights! =)
Michelle G
Oct 17
I could not find ancho chiles, I don’t know if that will make the flavor different.
Pati
Oct 19
Hola Michelle! Definitely try your local Mexican or Hispanic market! If that doesn’t work, check out MexGrocer.com!
Barbara A.
Oct 07
Thank you for stressing that ancho and pasilla chiles are not the same. In the SW Poblanos are often mistakenly labelled as pasillas, saying they are interchangeable. Apparently the error started in CA and they don’t seem to want to correct it. It looks like a wonderful recipe that I want to try.
Pati
Oct 15
Thank you for writing to me, Barbara!! Let me know how the recipe turns out for you! =)
Steve
Jun 28
I made the Mole de Oila yesterday. It turned out magnificent. So flavorful and healthful. I used beef shanks adding the bone too, seems to add great flavor. The only slight ad-libs were that I used some very nice heirloom tomatoes and I added a 1/2 teaspoon of sesame seed oil to sesame seeds after toasting (love that flavor). I am betting it will be wonderful for several days of enjoyment as the flavors meld.
Pati
Jul 01
Hi Steve, Yes, it will only get better! The sesame oil is a great idea.