Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes: Turkey Mole Bowls
If you’ve never made homemade mole sauce at home, it’s time to give it a try. This traditional Mexican sauce is jam-packed with flavor and can be used in many ways.
About The Recipe: Turkey Mole Bowls
Awhile back, I found a recipe for mole sauce on Carpé Season.
If you’ve never had mole (mo-lay) sauce, you should give it a go. It’s a traditional Mexican sauce that contains all sorts of seemingly random ingredients: Tomatoes, peppers, raisins, nuts, spices, and even chocolate. But trust me, it all comes together in the end.
It’s a little bit spicy, a little bit smoky, a little bit nutty, and a little bit sweet. It goes great with chicken or turkey, smothered on burritos or enchiladas, or on top of Mexican rice with a side of refried beans.
Looking at the long list of ingredients, you may be reluctant to call this a cheap recipe. But hear me out. It makes a really big batch and it freezes well.
I have made many meals out of one batch of mole sauce. I’ve made several mole “bowls”, with a random combination of leftover food items. This particular bowl featured leftover turkey, pinto and black beans, tomatoes, avocado, and scallions.
Want More Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes?
- Lots of Thanksgiving leftover ideas all in one post
- Leftover turkey chili
- Fried Thanksgiving croquettes
- Turkey-cranberry wontons
- Turkey lettuce wraps with peanut sauce
- Turkey and cranberry sauce nachos
- Thanksgiving leftover burritos
- Turkey empanadas (pictured below)
Turkey Mole Bowls
First time trying mole sauce? Use it much like you would use enchilada sauce. Or get creative and use it in lieu of tomato sauce on Mexican-inspired pizza.
Ingredients
For mole sauce
- 1 can (28 ounce) whole tomatoes
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 dried ancho chile peppers, stemmed and seeded
- 2 tablespoon adobo sauce from a can of chipotle peppers
- 1/2 cup toasted almonds
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 3 ounces bittersweet baking chocolate, finely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
To assemble bowls
- Rice
- Black beans
- Leftover turkey
- Avocado
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a food processor or blender. Puree until smooth.
- Transfer sauce to a large saucepan and simmer for about 15 minutes. Choose your mole bowl ingredients and top with about 1/3 cup of sauce. Freeze any leftover sauce in an airtight container up to four months.
No really do you have a mouse, like a real one?
Mole is such a perfect idea for turkey leftovers! Of course, who doesn’t want an excuse to eat as much mole sauce as possible?
I am so with you! Mole is awesome.