Easy Enmoladas (Mole Enchiladas) Recipe

I had never actually had enmoladas until recently. It all started after a visit to El Naranjo, whose chef and founder won a James Beard award for Best Chef in 2022. As it was my first time, I asked the waitress for a recommendation, and she raved about their famous duck mole. (Little did I know the waitress was none other than Iliana de la Vega, the James Beard winner herself!) Their mole negro de Oaxaca is made with 30+ ingredients, "including the rare chile chilhuacle, almonds, pecans, sesame seeds, peanuts, and a hint of Oaxacan-style chocolate" and tops a juicy, medium-rare duck breast.

It comes as no surprise that the next time I saw a similar dish-- this time duck mole enchiladas at El Alma on Barton Springs-- I was hooked with the enmolada trend. While this recipe calls for shredded chicken instead of duck, you can certainly substitute it if duck is easily accessible to you!

What are Enmoladas?

Enmoladas are essentially mole enchiladas. They are very similar to enchiladas but feature a unique twist: they are smothered in mole sauce, instead of green or red enchilada sauce. Enmoladas are made with corn tortillas that are filled with queso fresco and shredded chicken, rolled, then topped with an aromatic mole sauce. Mole enchiladas are a comforting dish that you'll want to make over and over!

Why You'll Love These Mole Enchiladas

• Quick & Easy - This enmolada recipe uses pre-made mole sauce, which you can find at most grocery stores, making it a quick and easy dinner option! By using store-bought mole sauce, instead of making it from scratch, you can make enmoladas in under 30 minutes.
• Delicious - Mole combines a wide array of ingredients, such as chiles, spices, nuts, seeds, and chocolate. These diverse ingredients make it a rich and flavorful sauce that's perfect for a spin on traditional enchiladas.

Recommended Tools for This Recipe

• Frying Pan - Use a frying pan to panfry your tortillas. This will make them slightly crispy on the edges and soft in the middle, adding texture to your dish.

Ingredients for Doña Maria Mole Sauce Enchiladas

• Corn Tortillas - Corn tortillas are the base to the enmoladas. I prefer to use white corn tortillas due to their mild flavor and softer texture.
• Mole Sauce - I used half a package of Doña Maria Ready to Serve Mole Sauce to top my enmoladas with. Doña Maria has one of the best sauces out there, and this box packaging is super easy to open and put away for later.
• Queso Fresco - Queso fresco, or "fresh cheese" is a white, crumbly cheese with a mild flavor. While it does not melt, its crumbly texture makes it ideal as a topping for many Mexican dishes, including these mole enchiladas and tostadas.
• Shredded Chicken (optional) - Make your enmoladas more filling by adding shredded chicken!

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