A silky mole sauce enriched with ground almonds, dried chiles, and aromatic spices. This protein-rich family celebration sauce offers a creamy, nutty elegance over chicken or pork.
Remove seeds and stems from the chiles, then toast them for 30 seconds per side in a dry skillet over medium heat until fragrant, being careful not to burn.
Soak toasted chiles in hot chicken broth for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, toast almonds in a dry skillet over medium-low heat until golden, then set aside.
Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a large pot over medium heat. Sauté chopped onion, garlic cloves, and cubed tortilla until the onion is soft and tortilla is lightly crisped, about 5 minutes.
Add almonds, chiles with broth, tomato, cinnamon, cloves, peppercorns, anise, salt, and sugar. Simmer over low heat for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Blend the mixture in batches until ultra-smooth. Return sauce to the pot, add chicken pieces, cover, and cook gently over low heat for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. The sauce should thicken and coat the chicken luxuriously.
Finish with the remaining 1 tbsp oil for added sheen and sprinkle with sesame seeds before serving.