TL;DR (Quick-Answer Box)
- What it is: A bright, complex Mole Verde sauce that combines toasted pumpkin seeds (pepitas) with spicy jalapeños, tangy tomatillos, and fresh parsley and cilantro.
- Why you’ll love it: A vibrant and authentic Mexican sauce with a deep, nutty flavor that comes together in just 35 minutes, perfect for chicken or enchiladas.
- How to make it: Toast the seeds, cumin, and optional oregano, sauté the aromatic vegetables, and then purée everything with broth, parsley, cilantro, optional epazote, and salt before gently simmering for 15 minutes.
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In Oaxaca, green mole (mole verde) is one of the seven famous moles. What makes this one different is not just the lack of chocolate, but also the fresh herbs, which give it a fabulous green color. Of course, every region or family has its own way of making mole. I learned this recipe from my friend from Puebla, who calls it mole pipían, referring to the pumpkin seeds used in it. Whatever you call it, it’s fantastic with chicken, fish, pork, or as a spicy sauce over a bunch of enchiladas.–Cecilia Hae-Jin Lee
Featured Review
I’ve made this recipe many times and love it! Recently, my husband and I started to make it without first making sure we had all the ingredients and didn’t have tomatillos. We ended up using yellow bell peppers and it turned out great! It was even prettier since the yellow brightened up the green. I didn’t find it too sweet, but I am sure adding lime would correct that for someone who did.
I usually put some in the freezer for a future meal and am always happy I did.
Kristin Barr
If There is Mole, There is a Party
A chef in Mexico once told me that when guests are invited to a party in Mexico, it is not uncommon for them to pose the question, “Is there mole?” If the answer is no, the chef explained, well, there’s no party. To clarify, when most people think of mole, they think of black mole (mole negro), the rich, earthy, equal parts bitter and sweet concoction containing various dried chiles and a couple dozen other ingredients, slowly simmered into a sauce that’s unquestionably worth celebrating. This mole, though, is sort of its antithesis, given its spare ingredient list and a minimal investment of time, is no less party worthy. Nor will there be any fewer compliments.
What is Epazote and Where Can I Find It?
Epazote (eh-pah-ZOH-teh) is a traditional Mexican herb with a strong, earthy, slightly medicinal flavor—think the love child of oregano, anise, and citrus. It adds depth and authenticity to moles, beans, and quesadillas.
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Look for fresh epazote in Latin or Mexican grocery stores. If it’s unavailable, you can use dried epazote), but use about one-third as much.
Pumpkin Seed Mole ~ Mole Verde
Ingredients
- 1 cup shelled pumpkin seeds
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, (optional)
- 1 tablespoon vegetable or olive oil
- 1 white onion, cut into wedges
- 5 tomatillos, husked and halved
- 5 garlic cloves, halved
- 2 jalapeño peppers, sliced
- 2 cups chicken stock, or canned chicken broth
- 1 cup packed coarsely chopped cilantro leaves
- 1 cup coarsely chopped flat-leaf parsley leaves
- 1/2 cup fresh epazote, (optional)
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- In a large skillet with high sides or in a large saucepan over medium-high heat, toast the 1 cup shelled pumpkin seeds, 1 teaspoon cumin seeds, and 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, if using, until fragrant, 3 to 4 minutes. Toss frequently to make sure they don’t burn. Remove from the heat and transfer to a spice grinder or a blender and process until finely ground.
- In the same skillet, heat the 1 tablespoon vegetable or olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the 1 white onion, 5 tomatillos, 5 garlic cloves, and 2 jalapeño peppers and cook until slightly browned, 4 to 5 minutes, tossing a couple of times but not too much.
- Place the vegetables in a blender or food processor, then add the 2 cups chicken stock, 1 cup packed coarsely chopped cilantro leaves, 1 cup coarsely chopped flat-leaf parsley leaves, 1/2 cup fresh epazote (if using), and 1 teaspoon salt and process until puréed.
- Pour the mixture back into the skillet and add the ground pumpkin seed mixture. Let simmer gently until the flavors are melded, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes. Serve immediately. (Leftovers—if there are any—can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to a couple of days.)
Notes
- Substitute for fresh epazote—If you can’t get your hands on fresh epazote, reach for dried epazote), but use about one-third as much. In a pinch, try oregano mixed with a little cilantro or a pinch of anise seed as a stand-in.
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Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe Testers’ Reviews
This is absolutely delicious, a revelation if you’re used to thick, dark moles based on chilies, chocolate, and tomatoes. It’s got a lovely, distinct flavor—the cumin is present but not overwhelming, while the heat of the jalapeños is assertive but not aggressive. Thanks to the pumpkin seeds, it’s got a slightly nutty taste, and the cilantro and parsley really come through in a refreshing and vibrant way. The sauce reminds me a bit of pesto, and seems equally as versatile. We ate it with hake, but I could see using it with a variety of meats and vegetables.
While it’s not a difficult recipe, the “quick and easy” part is slightly misleading. All of the parsley and cilantro leaves you have to pick make it fairly time-consuming, though it’s certainly possible to make it in less than an hour. Also, I’d not advise using a coffee grinder for the seeds and spices—because they’re warm when you put them in there, they create steam, and leave a thick, mucky residue that’s difficult to get off. Better to use an actual spice grinder for this one.
This is an easy mole that’s much faster than many other recipes out there. I used a coffee grinder for the pepita mixture, and it worked well. In the future, I’d like a little more acid, like lime, to brighten the flavor. I’d also crank up the heat a bit. I served this with corn tortillas and grilled chicken, which made for a summery meal—perfect for our unseasonably warm weather. Overall, the recipe was a success.
This is a well-balanced mole in terms of texture, flavor, and spice. I love the slight crunchiness from the pepitas, and the herbal notes from the cilantro, parsley, and epazote. I disagree with the active prep time of 15 minutes, but I tend to be a tad slow. Also, I used a food processor to puree the vegetables, and when I added the broth, the whole thing overflowed. Thus, I had to clean up a big mess and also estimate how much additional broth to add to make up for what was lost. In the future, I’d use a blender, or puree the solid ingredients with a small amount of the broth and then add in the rest of the broth in the pot.
Despite these quibbles, the recipe is simple to put together and versatile—highly recommended. The first night, we had the mole spooned over simple grilled chicken. The second night, I cooked shrimp in the remainder of the mole and spooned it over white rice. Both were great, but the shrimp mole and rice was sublime.
I’m with you, Ryan.
I also “blacken” the tomatillos; not char really, but just enough that they get a little bit of blistering and black spots on the skin. I think this SOP for Mexican salsas based on tomatillos. Also, the garlic cloves (unpeeled) and jalapenos or serranos (whole, not sliced) are treated the same way with the tomatillos, then the garlic is peeled and the chiles sliced. The onion is usually just diced and rinsed with cold water. I think this is detailed often in Rick Bayless’ books and is pretty much standard prep method for “authentic” Mexican recipes.
What does it add? A bit of subtle flavor mellowing and toasting flavor and some black flecks that find their way into the final salsa/mole. Those little black flecks mean “hecho a mano”!!
Jim, when I caramelized onions, I always leave a few tablespoons in the pan and continue cooking so they get really, really dark. I like that slightly bitter, charred flavor contrasted the sweetness of the rest of the onions.
This mole was wonderful. I recommend it for vegetables and chicken. It would also be nice with fish or even pasta. The recipe talks about browning the vegetables but I really like them slightly charred–not solid black but with some blackened areas–to increase the smokey flavor. My first taste of this sauce was “WOW!” Forewarning: this makes a lot so enjoy!
Curious: what do you think the charred veggies add to the dish?