Chicken Tacos with Pickled Onions and Mole Sauce

"This recipe features a tasty simplified mole sauce with only 17 ingredients (I say ‘only’ because traditionally there’s over 22 ingredients!). Mole is a savoury South American chocolate sauce. I love this on tacos served with grilled chicken, avocado, queso fresco, cilantro and pickled red onions (my recipe for pickled onions is also included!)" - Rachel McKinley, chocolatier at Purdys

For Mole Sauce:

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp coriander
• 2 medium white onions
• 1 jalapeno
• 2 red chilis
• 4 cloves garlic
• 1 banana
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 can (796ml) of diced tomatoes
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1/2 cup pepitas (hulled pumpkin seeds)
• 1/2 cup peanuts
• 1/2 cup almonds
• 1 cup Classic Dark Chocolate, chopped

For Pickled Onions:

• 1 red onion
• 2 cups apple cider
• 4 tbsp sugar

For Mole Sauce:

1. Roughly chop onions, garlic, banana, jalapeno and chilis.
2. Heat olive oil in a pan on high. When oil is hot, toast the coriander in the oil for 30 seconds then add onions, garlic, banana, jalapeno, chilis and brown sugar.
3. Lower the heat to medium low and cook until everything starts to caramelize—it’ll start to stick to the bottom of the pan but that’s okay!
4. Add can of diced tomatoes and scrape off everything from the bottom of the pan to mix together.
5. Add remaining spices, nuts, and seeds.
6. Mix well and add chocolate, stirring until melted.
7. Let simmer on low for 30 minutes until everything has softened. Pro tip: For more intense flavours, simmer on low for up to 90 minutes, adding a bit of water if mixture starts to dry out.
8. Once simmering is done, pour sauce into blender and blend until smooth.
9. Pour mole sauce over grilled chicken and mix well.
10. Serve on tortilla with avocado, queso fresco or feta, cilantro, pickled red onions and a squeeze of lime juice.

For Pickled Onions:

1. Thinly slice red onions.
2. Pour apple cider vinegar overtop until onion slices are completely covered.
3. Add sugar and stir.
4. Let sit for at least 1 hour before serving.
5. Pickled onions will keep in your fridge for up to 3 weeks.