• Make-Ahead

Ingredients

1. One 3 1/2-pound chicken, cut into 8 pieces
2. 2 bay leaves
3. 1 medium onion, chopped
4. 1 whole head of garlic
5. 1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
6. Salt
7. 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
8. 3 cups water
9. One 7-ounce jar prepared mole rojo
10. 2 tablespoons sesame seeds, lightly toasted

Directions

1. In a medium enameled cast-iron casserole, combine the chicken, bay leaves, onion, garlic, peppercorns and a generous pinch of salt. Add the broth and water and bring to a boil. Simmer over moderate heat for 20 minutes, or until the chicken is almost cooked through. Transfer the chicken to a plate and strain the broth into a heatproof bowl. Set aside 4 cups of the broth and refrigerate the remaining broth for another use.
2. Wipe out the casserole and add the mole to it. Whisk in the 4 cups of reserved broth until smooth and bring to a boil. Season with salt. Add the chicken and any accumulated juices to the casserole and simmer over moderately low heat until cooked through, about 10 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a platter and skim any fat from the sauce. Spoon 2 cups of mole sauce over the chicken, sprinkle with the sesame seeds and pass the remaining mole sauce at the table.

Make Ahead

The chicken mole can be refrigerated for up to 3 days. Reheat gently, then sprinkle with the sesame seeds.

Serve With

White rice.