Mole Azul Chicken Crepes
Experience the rich flavors of traditional Mexican cuisine with our Mole Azul Chicken Crepes. This dish combines tender, slow-cooked chicken thighs with a beautifully spiced blue mole sauce, creating a delightful harmony of flavors and textures. The unique sauce is crafted from a blend of roasted tomatoes, fresh blueberries, and aromatic spices, adding a delicate sweetness to the dish. Despite the impressive list of ingredients, this recipe is easy to prepare using a crock-pot, making it perfect for busy weeknights or special occasions. Enjoy these crepes garnished with light sour cream and fresh scallions for a wonderful culinary experience that transports you to the heart of Mexican gastronomy.
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
24
Ingredients
Ingredients
Skinless chicken thighs, bone in
3 lbs (None)
Olive oil
1 tablespoon (Drizzle)
Grape tomatoes
1 cup (Washed)
Garlic cloves
3 (Thinly sliced)
Yellow onion
1/2 medium (Rough chopped)
Jalapeño pepper
1 medium (Seeded and rough chopped)
Ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon (None)
Ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon (None)
Whole cloves
1/4 teaspoon (None)
Chili powder
1 tablespoon (Or to taste)
Cinnamon stick
1 (2.5 to 3 inches)
Chicken stock
1/2 cup (None)
Peanut butter
2 tablespoons (None)
Fresh blueberries
1/3 cup (Rinse and drain if frozen)
Brewed coffee
1/4 cup (None)
Sugar-free chocolate syrup
2 tablespoons (None)
Orange juice
1/4 cup (None)
Splenda granular
1/2 teaspoon (None)
Slice of bread
1 (Torn into pieces)
Salt
To taste (None)
Pepper
To taste (None)
Prepared crepes
12-16 (None)
Light sour cream
To serve (None)
Scallions
4-5 (Sliced (both green and white part))
Instructions
1
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). In an 8 x 8 inch baking dish, combine the grape tomatoes, yellow onion, garlic, and jalapeño pepper. Drizzle with enough olive oil to lightly coat the vegetables, then season with salt and pepper to taste.
2
Roast the vegetable mixture in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, stirring halfway through to ensure even cooking.
3
In a small dry skillet, combine the ground cumin, nutmeg, whole cloves, cinnamon stick, and chili powder. Warm over medium heat until fragrant, being careful not to burn the spices.
4
In a blender, combine the roasted vegetables, the warm spice mixture, chicken stock, peanut butter, blueberries, brewed coffee, chocolate syrup, orange juice, torn bread, and Splenda. Blend until smooth and well combined.
5
Place the skinless chicken thighs in a 3.5 to 4-quart crock-pot. Pour the mole sauce over the chicken, ensuring it's well coated. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or until the chicken is tender and easily falls off the bone.
6
Once cooked, remove the chicken from the crock-pot and shred it using two forks. Discard any bones and cartilage. Keep the shredded chicken warm in a low oven.
7
Pour the remaining mole sauce into a medium-sized saucepan and bring to a rapid boil. Reduce the heat and let it simmer gently for 15 to 20 minutes until thickened. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
8
To assemble the crepes, place one crepe on a serving plate. Spoon shredded chicken down the center, leaving about 1 inch on each side. Fold the sides in, then fold the top to center, bringing the bottom up slightly overlapping. Repeat this process with the remaining crepes, allowing 2 per serving.
9
Top the assembled crepes with a generous spoonful of reduced mole sauce, a dollop of light sour cream, and a sprinkle of sliced scallions.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Mole Azul Chicken Crepes?
Mole Azul Chicken Crepes are a Mexican-inspired dish featuring tender slow-cooked chicken in a unique blue mole sauce made from blueberries, roasted tomatoes, and aromatic spices, served inside folded crepes.
What type of chicken is best for this recipe?
The recipe calls for 3 lbs of bone-in, skinless chicken thighs to ensure the meat remains tender and flavorful during the slow-cooking process.
How are the vegetables prepared for the mole sauce?
Grape tomatoes, yellow onion, garlic, and jalapeño are drizzled with olive oil, seasoned with salt and pepper, and roasted in the oven at 375°F (190°C) for 20 minutes.
Which spices are used in the blue mole?
The mole features a blend of ground cumin, nutmeg, whole cloves, a cinnamon stick, and chili powder.
Should the spices be toasted?
Yes, you should warm the ground cumin, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon stick, and chili powder in a dry skillet over medium heat until they become fragrant.
What ingredients make the mole sauce unique?
The sauce includes unique additions like fresh blueberries, peanut butter, brewed coffee, sugar-free chocolate syrup, and orange juice.
How is the mole sauce blended?
The roasted vegetables are combined in a blender with the toasted spices, chicken stock, peanut butter, blueberries, coffee, chocolate syrup, orange juice, torn bread, and Splenda.
What is the recommended crock-pot size?
A 3.5 to 4-quart crock-pot is the ideal size for cooking the chicken thighs in the mole sauce.
How long does the chicken cook in the crock-pot?
The chicken should be cooked on the low setting for 6 to 8 hours until it is tender and falls off the bone.
How do I shred the chicken?
Once cooked, remove the chicken from the crock-pot and use two forks to shred the meat, discarding any bones or cartilage.
How do I thicken the mole sauce after cooking?
Pour the sauce into a saucepan, bring it to a rapid boil, then simmer for 15 to 20 minutes until it has reduced and thickened.
How many crepes are needed for this recipe?
The recipe requires approximately 12 to 16 prepared crepes.
How do you assemble the crepes?
Spoon shredded chicken down the center of a crepe, fold the sides in, then fold the top to the center and bring the bottom up to overlap.
What are the suggested garnishes?
The crepes should be topped with a spoonful of the reduced mole sauce, a dollop of light sour cream, and a sprinkle of sliced scallions.
Can I use frozen blueberries?
Yes, you can use frozen blueberries, but they should be rinsed and drained before being added to the blender.
Is this recipe spicy?
It has a mild kick from the jalapeño and chili powder, but the spice level can be adjusted by altering the amount of chili powder used.
What is the role of bread in the mole sauce?
A single slice of bread is torn into pieces and blended into the sauce to act as a thickening agent.
Why is peanut butter added to the sauce?
Peanut butter provides a rich, nutty depth and creamy texture characteristic of traditional Mexican mole recipes.
Can I use sugar instead of Splenda?
While the recipe specifies Splenda granular for a lower sugar content, you can likely substitute it with a small amount of regular sugar.
Do I need to peel the garlic?
The recipe calls for thinly sliced garlic cloves, which should be peeled before slicing and roasting.
What kind of coffee should I use?
The recipe calls for 1/4 cup of standard brewed coffee to add complexity to the sauce.
How many crepes are in a single serving?
The assembly instructions suggest allowing 2 crepes per serving.
Can I prepare the chicken in advance?
Yes, after shredding the chicken, you can keep it warm in a low-temperature oven while you finish the sauce reduction.
Is the cinnamon stick left in the sauce?
The cinnamon stick is warmed with the spices and then blended into the sauce, so it is fully integrated into the mole.
What part of the scallions should be used for garnish?
You should use both the green and white parts of the scallions, thinly sliced.
What is the purpose of orange juice in this dish?
Orange juice provides acidity and a bright citrus note to balance the heavier, earthy flavors of the spices and chocolate.
What temperature should the oven be for roasting vegetables?
The oven should be preheated to 375°F (190°C).
How do I prepare the jalapeño?
The jalapeño should be seeded and rough chopped before roasting with the other vegetables.
Can I use other types of tomatoes?
The recipe specifically uses grape tomatoes for their sweetness, but cherry tomatoes would be a suitable substitute.
Is the chicken skin removed?
Yes, the recipe specifies using skinless chicken thighs.