Ayocote Beans in Mole Sauce

Adapted from Rick Bayless’s Mexican Kitchen

makes 7 cups
12 ounces (about 2 cups) dry Ayocote Beans
2 to 2 1/2 teaspoons salt, to taste, divided
5 medium dried ancho chilies (2 1/2 ounces), stemmed and seeded
6 medium dried guajillo chilies (1 1/4 ounces), stemmed and seeded
1 morita (chipotle) chile, stemmed and seeded
6 ounces (1 medium to small or 2 small plum) tomatoes
4 garlic cloves, unpeeled
2 tablespoons sesame seeds
1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 generous teaspoon dried mexican oregano
Scant 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, preferably freshly ground
3 tablespoons (about 3/4 ounces) coarsely chopped Mexican chocolate or bittersweet chocolate if thats all you can find
3 to 3 1/2 cups vegetable stock (or chicken stock)
1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
2 to 2 1/2 teaspoons sugar, to taste

Use the method of your choice in our definitive guide to cooking beans. Leave out the aromatics and just cook the Ayocote Beans simply with salted water. 

Toasting the chiles: Heat a dry heavy skillet over medium heat.  Lay a chile flat and press with a metal spatula for a few seconds, until there is a crackle or perhaps a thin wisp of smoke.  Turn and toast the other side.  Repeat with the remaining chiles.  Transfer the toasted chilies to a medium bowl, cover with hot water, and allow the chiles to rehydrate for about 30 minutes.  Drain and discard the water.

Toast the sesame seeds in a dry skillet for a minute or so until they start to pop.  Scrape into a blender jar.

Dry roast the garlic and tomato in the skillet, turning occasionally, for 10-15 minutes, until soft and blackened in spots.  Cool slightly, peel off the skins of the tomato and garlic, and transfer to a blender, along with the rehydrated chilies, cinnamon, oregano, pepper, chocolate, and 1 1/2 cups of broth.  Process until smooth.  Strain through a medium-mesh strainer.

Heat the oil in a heavy, medium-sized saucepan over medium-high.  Once the oil is hot enough to make a drop of the puree sizzle, add the puree all at once and stir for 3-4 minutes, until it’s thickened a bit.  Add 1 1/2 cups of broth, stir, partially cover, and simmer for about an hour, stirring occasionally.  Taste and season with salt, usually about 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons, and the sugar.

Stir the drained beans into the mole.  Simmer for about 20 minutes, which will allow the beans to absorb the flavors, adding more broth if necessary to give a smooth consistency.  Taste for salt and serve with tortillas, some chopped green onions and radish. It's amazing with a fried egg and a sprinkle of cilantro!