Spicy Chocolate Mole Chicken with Ruby's Hot Sauce
Hey there, flavor adventurers! Ready to blow your taste buds' minds with something absolutely incredible? Today we're diving headfirst into the most amazing fusion recipe that'll have your dinner guests begging for your secrets – Spicy Chocolate Mole Chicken featuring our game-changing chocolate mole hot sauce!
If you've never experienced the magic of chocolate and heat dancing together on your palate, oh honey, are you in for a treat! This handcrafted hot sauce brings together the rich, velvety smoothness of cocoa with the perfect kick of Caribbean spices, creating a symphony of flavors that'll make your weeknight dinners feel like a fancy restaurant experience.
Why This Recipe is Pure Kitchen Magic
Let's talk about why this dish is about to become your new obsession! Traditional mole is already a masterpiece – that complex Mexican sauce that combines chocolate, chilies, and warm spices into liquid gold. But when you add our small batch hot sauce to the mix? Game changer, my friends!
Our chocolate mole hot sauce takes all that traditional complexity and cranks up the convenience factor. No need to toast dozens of chilies or grind your own spices (though we totally respect those who do!). This unique hot sauce flavor brings authentic mole vibes with a Caribbean twist that'll have your taste buds singing hallelujah.
Ingredients That'll Make Your Kitchen Smell Like Heaven
For the Chicken:
- 6 bone-in chicken thighs (skin-on for maximum flavor!)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
For the Mole Sauce Magic:
- 3-4 tablespoons Ruby's Chocolate Mole
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 tablespoons almond butter (trust me on this one!)
- Salt to taste
Step-by-Step to Flavor Town
Step 1: Season Those Beautiful Birds
Pat your chicken thighs dry and season generously with salt, pepper, cumin, and smoked paprika. Let them hang out at room temperature for about 15 minutes while you prep everything else. This little rest period helps the flavors penetrate and ensures even cooking!
Step 2: Get That Golden Sear
Heat olive oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Once it's shimmering hot, place chicken thighs skin-side down. Don't move them! Let them sear for 5-6 minutes until the skin is gorgeously golden and crispy. Flip and cook another 3-4 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside – we're coming back to these beauties!
Step 3: Build Your Flavor Foundation
In the same pot (don't you dare wash it – all that crispy goodness is pure flavor!), add diced onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook another 30 seconds until fragrant. Your kitchen should smell absolutely amazing right now!
Step 4: Create the Mole Magic
Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1 minute. Add diced tomatoes, chicken broth, brown sugar, cinnamon, oregano, and that gorgeous chocolate hot sauce. This is where the magic happens, friends! Whisk in the almond butter – it adds this incredible richness and helps thicken the sauce naturally.
Step 5: Bring It All Together
Nestle those beautiful seared chicken thighs back into the pot, skin-side up. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then reduce heat to low. Cover and let it bubble away happily for 35-40 minutes until the chicken is fall-off-the-bone tender and the sauce has thickened into liquid velvet.
Serving Suggestions That'll Make Everyone Happy
This gorgeous Caribbean mole sauce chicken is incredibly versatile! Serve it over fluffy jasmine rice to soak up every drop of that incredible sauce, or go the traditional route with warm corn tortillas for easy hand-held heaven.
For a fusion twist that'll knock your socks off, try it over coconut rice with a sprinkle of toasted coconut flakes – the Caribbean influence in our handcrafted hot sauce pairs beautifully with those tropical flavors!
Roasted vegetables are also phenomenal alongside this dish. Try roasted sweet potatoes, bell peppers, or zucchini drizzled with a little extra chocolate mole hot sauce for consistency.
Vegetarian Variation: Because Everyone Deserves This Goodness
Don't eat meat? No problem, beautiful! This recipe adapts brilliantly for plant-based eaters. Swap the chicken for thick portobello mushroom caps or extra-firm tofu cut into hearty chunks.
For mushrooms: slice them thick and sear them the same way you would the chicken. For tofu: press it well, cube it, and give it a good sear before adding to the sauce. Both options will absorb that incredible mole flavor like champions!
Use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth, and you've got yourself a show-stopping vegetarian meal that'll convert even the most dedicated carnivores.
Pro Tips for Maximum Flavor Impact
The Guyanese Twist: Here's where we get creative with our Caribbean roots! Add a tablespoon of tamarind paste or a squeeze of lime juice just before serving. That little tang plays beautifully with the rich chocolate and creates a flavor profile that's uniquely ours.
Make-Ahead Magic: This dish actually gets better with time! Make it a day ahead and let those flavors meld overnight in the fridge. Reheat gently and taste for seasoning – you might want an extra splash of our chocolate hot sauce for good measure.
Heat Level Customization: Our chocolate mole hot sauce brings the perfect amount of heat for most palates, but if you're a heat seeker, add some of our other handcrafted hot sauce varieties for extra kick. The garlic hot sauce pairs surprisingly well with the chocolate notes!
Texture Perfection: If you want your sauce extra silky, blend half of it once it's cooked and stir it back in. This creates an incredible velvety texture while still maintaining some rustic charm.
Global Fusion Fun
This recipe is your playground for creativity! Try serving it over polenta for an Italian twist, or alongside plantains and black beans for a Caribbean feast. The unique hot sauce flavors in our chocolate mole blend work beautifully with so many different culinary traditions.
For an Asian-inspired variation, serve over steamed rice with pickled vegetables on the side. The sweet-heat balance in our small batch hot sauce plays nicely with those bright, acidic flavors.
The Perfect Weeknight Wonder
Here's the beautiful thing about this recipe – it sounds fancy enough for entertaining but comes together easily enough for a Tuesday night dinner. Most of the cooking time is hands-off simmering, which means you can prep tomorrow's lunch or help with homework while dinner basically cooks itself.
The leftovers (if you're lucky enough to have any!) reheat beautifully and taste even better the next day. Try shredding the leftover chicken and using it in quesadillas, or spooning it over nachos for an incredible game-day snack.
This Spicy Chocolate Mole Chicken proves that weeknight dinners don't have to be boring! With our chocolate mole hot sauce doing most of the heavy lifting, you get all the complex flavors of traditional mole without the all-day cooking process. It's comfort food with a kick, fusion cooking made simple, and proof that the best meals come from mixing traditions with a little creative spirit!
So grab that bottle of Ruby's Chocolate Mole and get ready to create some serious kitchen magic. Your taste buds (and your dinner guests) will thank you!