Step 1

Set the oven to broil and preheat.

Step 2

Core the tomato and cut a small “X” through the skin on the opposite end. Roast the tomato, cored side up, and tomatillos on a foil-lined pan, turning the tomatillos over once halfway through, until their tops and bottoms have blackened and cooked to the core and the tomato (without turning) until its top is blackened and it’s cooked to the core this will take about 20-30 minutes.

Step 3

Meanwhile, heat a comal, griddle, or heavy skillet over medium-low heat, and roast the onion and garlic turning the garlic over occasionally, until it is just tender and golden brown with some blackened spots, 8 to 10 minutes; and carefully turning the onion slice over once, until it’s softened and charred on both sides, 15 to 20 minutes.

Step 4

Heat 1/2 cup of the oil in a medium heavy skillet over medium heat until it simmers. Fry the chiles, a few of the same variety at a time, turning them over with tongs, until puffed and slightly changed in color, 30 to 45 seconds per batch of mulato and ancho chiles, 45 seconds to 1 minute for pasilla chiles, As the chiles are fried, transfer them to a large bowl. When all the chiles are fried, add enough cold water to cover them and let them soak for 30 minutes. Discard the remaining oil from frying the chiles and set the skillet aside.

Step 5

Using tongs, hold the tortilla directly over a burner set to medium, turning it over frequently, until it’s dark, golden brown, and some burned spots appear on both sides. Crumble it into the soaking fried chiles.

Step 6

Have ready a medium bowl and a metal sieve set over a small heatproof bowl.

Step 7

Heat the remaining 1/2 cup of oil in the reserved skillet over medium heat until it shimmers and fry the following ingredients one by one. As they’re fried, use a slotted spoon to transfer them to the medium bowl (for ingredients that are difficult to scoop, empty the contents of the skillet into the sieve to drain first, then return the oil to the skillet and put the fried ingredient into the medium bowl).

Step 8

Fry the almonds, stirring, until they are golden, about 2 minutes.

Step 9

Fry the pumpkin seeds, stirring, until they are puffed and only slightly browned, about 1 minute.

Step 10

Fry the raisins, stirring, until they are puffed, about 1 minute.

Step 11

Fry the bread, turning over once, until golden on both sides, about 2 minutes.

Step 12

Fry the plantain slices, turning over once, until golden, about 4 minutes.

Step 13

Transfer the remaining oil (2 to 4 tablespoons) in the skillet to a 7- to 8-quart heavy pot and set aside.

Step 14

Wipe the skillet clean and heat it over medium heat until it’s hot. Toast 3 tablespoons of the reserved chili seeds in the skillet, stirring, until fragrant and a shade darker, about 2 minutes. Transfer the chili seeds to the medium bowl. Toast the sesame seeds, canela, cloves, aniseed, coriander, allspice, and peppercorns in the skillet, stirring, until the sesame seeds are a shade darker, about 1 1/2 minutes. Transfer the mixture to the medium bowl.

Step 15

Drain the chilies and discard the soaking water, and puree them in the blender jar with about 2 cups of the stock.

Step 16

Heat the reserved oil in the pot over medium heat until hot, then add the chili puree and cook (use a splatter screen so the sauce doesn’t make a mess of the stove), stirring occasionally, until thickened slightly, about 10 minutes.

Step 17

Meanwhile, working in 2 batches, combine the fried and toasted ingredients (from the medium bowl) with the roasted tomato, tomatillos, onion, and garlic in the blender jar, along with 2 more cups of the stock per batch, and blend until smooth, about 3 minutes per batch. Be careful when you’re blending hot ingredients: Add the mixture to the chili puree in the pot as you blend it, and once you’re done, swish a little liquid around in the blender and add it to the pot.

Step 18

Add the chocolate, sugar, and salt to the mole, stirring until the chocolate melts. Simmer, partially covered, stirring occasionally and adding more stock as needed to maintain a velvety consistency that thickly coats a wooden spoon, but isn’t gloppy, about 45 minutes. Season to taste with additional sugar and salt.

Step 19

You can add chicken or pork to your sauce and heat up or make some chicken mole enchiladas