Authentic Mexican Mole: A Brief History

If you are looking to find authentic Mexican Mole – as well as the best Mexican food in Fort Worth – then we kindly encourage you to visit Benito’s Restaurant.

The authentic Mexican (not Tex-Mex) menu includes several kinds of authentic Mexican mole, including Mole Poblano and Mole Verde. Benito’s also offers a wide variety of authentic Mexican appetizers, beers, and desserts – providing true Mexican taste that is sure to delight and add a little heat to your life.

Sadly, there are many people who have never tasted the famous Mexican sauce, mole. Some don’t even know what mole is… let’s fix this!

What Exactly is Mole Sauce?

Mole sauce is the taste of Mexico, a time-honored sauce that is used in many traditional and authentic Mexican dishes. Mole recipes are a great point of pride in Mexico, and many families pass their recipes on from generation to generation like treasured family heirlooms.

Authentic mole sauce generally comes in two varieties: Mole Poblano, a deep red or brown sauce often poured over meat dishes such as Carne Asada or Pollo (chicken), and Mole Verde, or green mole.

Mole Verde features pumpkin seeds and green chili peppers, which give the sauce its distinctive color. Mole Verde recipes vary greatly depending on their region of origin, but a good Mole Verde sauce could include chili poblano, green tomatoes, garlic, onion, cilantro, celery, and radish leaves.

Meanwhile, Mole Poblano – a bit more commonly served in the United States – is also a bit spicy, with a base of chili pepper, usually one or more fruits, and an array of Mexican spices. Again, each recipe can vary quite a bit based on where the recipe originated from.

Both varieties of fantastic mole are available on a number of dishes at Benito’s Mexican Restaurant. You can check out our full Dinner Menu, and decide which kind looks (and of course tastes) best for yourself. You may have to try them all, just to be sure!

The History of Mole – How Did Mole Become So Popular?

Mole is largely considered to be the national dish of Mexico, and is prevalent throughout the different regions of the country.

The sauce has great historical context, as stories and the history of mole have been passed down for generations.

Mole is intended to symbolize and celebrate Mexico’s blend of Aztec and European cultures following the Spanish conquest. This is why most mole recipes feature 20 or more ingredients, and why recipes change so much from region to region.

One legend comes from Puebla, Mexico, with origins stemming from a convent in Santa Rosa. A cadre of nuns prepared for the visit of the archbishop, cobbling together what they could from local spices, chili peppers, nuts, and breads. They even added a bit of chocolate to the sauce in anticipation of the archbishop’s visit.

The archbishop loved the sauce, and after the meal asked for the name of the dish. One of the nuns stated that she “made a mole”. This was the Spanish way of saying molli, which is Aztec for “sauce” or “mix”.

This event is said to mark the first creation of an international dish in North America, which is why Mexicans hold mole sauce with such esteem and reverence.

Meanwhile, two states of Mexico each claim to be the source of mole: Puebla, as mentioned above, and Oaxaca. And, truth be told, both states hold very legitimate claims.

Today, authentic Mexican mole can be found throughout the world, and it is available at choice restaurants. At Benito’s Restaurant, you can come in for authentic Mexican mole, the best Mexican food in Fort Worth, and perhaps the best authentic Mexican food north of the border.

What Does Mole Taste Like?

Mole Verde tends to be a bit spicier, as the main ingredient is often green Mexican chilis. Other ingredients can include a bit of cayenne, onion, or garlic – it changes from chef to chef.

Meanwhile, Mole Poblano has a contrasting taste, as the bittersweet hints of chocolate or cocoa offset the spicy tones that the peppers provide.

The common thread between all types of mole is that the sauces use chili peppers as their base ingredient. Some of the Mexican chilis that can be found in mole sauce include ancho, chipotle, mulato, and pasilla peppers.

Chefs and sauce makers then begin to add their own blend of spices, which can include anise, clove, cumin, black pepper, garlic, and sometimes different dried fruits. The blends also almost include special Mexican spices such as achiote and herbs such as hoja santa.

Both types of authentic Mexican Mole are available at Benito’s Mexican Restaurant. Benito’s makes the most authentic mole in Fort Worth. Come try them for yourself, and experience the true taste of Mexico.

Where to Find Authentic Mexican Mole

Benito’s Mexican Restaurant features Mole poblano and Mole Verde on our menu, and we gently encourage people who have never tried mole to select one of our authentic Mexican dishes that feature the sauce.

Mole is the true taste of Mexico, and Benito’s humbly believes that we offer the best Mexican food in Fort Worth. If you haven’t experienced mole, we suggest you stop in and give our authentic sauce a try.

Where to Find Benito’s Mexican Restaurant

Benito’s has been proudly serving their loyal customer base since 1981, and operates in the Fairmont area in Fort Worth’s hospital district.

We are located right on Magnolia Avenue, open 11AM-9PM Monday through Thursday and open late until 2AM on Friday and Saturday nights.

The best Mexican food in Fort Worth can be found at Benito’s Restaurant, as we feature a delicious, authentic menu of real Mexican entrees, appetizers, desserts, and Mexican beer.

Stop in today to try our full selection of mole sauces. If you have any questions, please feel free to call us at (817) 332-8633. You can also contact us online with any additional questions.

Lastly, follow the Benito’s Restaurant blog to keep up-to-date on the latest specials, area news, and new menu items.