Mole Sauce Casserole
6:00 AM Mexico City, she is all dressed up ready for her office job, working at her own rhythm. Like someone that had mastered the small alley shape kitchen space after years of living there. I didn’t know she could cook, I knew her as the world traveler, elegant, Independent, single and professional aunt. But this time she surprised me. I asked her: What are you cooking? “I am making dinner: Pastel Azteca”, she said.
It will be baked when I come back from work. At that moment, I made a mental note to myself to be there for dinner. How could someone miss it, If mole sauce was invited! That was more than 27 years ago and although this is not the authentic recipe for “Pastel Azteca”, in our home we still call it that way. And every time I prepared it, the time machine takes me back into that kitchen in Mexico City, to that particular morning and to Aunt E. preparing her “Mole Sauce Casserole”
Mole Sauce Casserole
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Heat the sauce in a skillet until it is warm but not hot. The tortillas should be dry to have nice layers, they will soften while baking. These ones in the above picture were left in the oven racks overnight, with the oven OFF. This way, I do not have to fry them to keep its shape. They resemble lasagna sheets. (Please check the ingredients list below)
- Place a few spoons of the sauce to the bottom of your ovenproof dish. Add 3 tortillas and spoon some more of the sauce over the tortillas. Completely covering the tortillas with the sauce.
- Top the mole sauce with 1/3 of the chicken, cheese and onion slices. Repeat process to form the layers.
- Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover during the last 10 minutes of the baking process.
Serve with a salad and enjoy!
Mole Sauce Casserole. It will be baked when I come back from work. At that moment, I made a mental note to myself to be there for dinner. How could someone miss it, If mole sauce was invited! That was more than 27 years ago and although this is not the authentic recipe for Pastel Azteca.
- 9 Corn Tortillas at least one day old or left overnight in your kitchen counter to dry
- 2 cups of cooked chicken finely shredded
- 2 cups of homemade mole sauce. If using store bought paste made according to the instructions in the jar.
- 1 cup of shredded cheese mozzarella and muenster work fine*
- 1/3 of a large onion thinly sliced
- Salt and pepper to season the chicken
-
Preheat your oven at 350 degrees. Heat the sauce in a skillet until it is warm but not hot. The tortillas should be dry to have nice layers, they will soften while baking. These ones in the above picture where left in the oven racks overnight, with the oven OFF. This way, I do not have to fry them to keep its shape. They resemble lasagna sheets.
-
Place a few spoons of the sauce to the bottom of your oven proof dish. Add 3 tortillas and spoon some more of the sauce over the tortillas. Completely covering the tortillas with the sauce.
-
Top the mole sauce with 1/3 of the chicken, cheese and onion slices. Repeat process to form the layers.
-
Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover during the last 10 minutes of the baking process.
• *You can use a mix of half queso fresco and half of your favorite melting cheese.
• – Leftover rotisserie chicken works fine in this recipe
• – If store bought Mole paste is used, try to use a good quality brand. Nowadays Hispanic Stores carry some artisanal local made pastes.
• – You can omit the chicken to make it a meatless dish.
¡Buen provecho!
Mely,
More recipes:
Green Mole / Mole Verde
Chunky Guacamole Recipe
Just beautiful! I have never made it with mole sauce, but you have given me a great idea. Thanks!
querida Mely, tu me quieres matar, ni tengo maseca para hacer tortillas, ese pastel se ve ri-qui-si-mo, ayyyyyy que hice yo para merecerme semejante tortura!
Un abrazo
Tlaz
yey!!! thanks for the recipe!! cant wait to try it!!!
Delicious another great recipe from you.
I am soooo making this one tomorrow night. I am Mexicana and yet I have never made mole from scratch. With your guidance though I feel confident to tackle this daunting task. Thank you so much for all your work!
Sophia in San Diego
Mely, this looks delicious! This is an easy way to cook a meal for many people. I like the idea and will use it for sure.
Have a happy weekend!
Mely, no conocía éste platillo ;D , no lo conocía con mole, debe de saber muy rico verdad? qué lindos recuerdos!!
Saludos amiga.Aquí ando en casa, puedes llamar , salgo hasta las 6.15 hora local.
Hi Mely,
I am sooo excited about finding your recipes!!! I am the oldest in my family and the 2nd oldest granddaughter, after my grandmother passed I decided to learn how to cook some traditional mexican recipes and your site will be a great help. This is absolutely wonderful!!!
This is definitely going to be made at our house soon. The appearance reminds me of that black bean sauce soaked tortilla dish you made. We made that one and loved it. I bet the mole makes this even better.
Hello Everyone,
Thanks for your kinds comments. Please try this easy to make dish. You ans your family will enjoy it.
Have a great week!
Mely
Mely, este plato se ve delicioso, riquísimo de verdad.
besos
Me encanta el mole, este pastel es delicioso, tomo nota de tu receta mil gracias Mely, lindo domingo.
Hola Gaby and Norma,
Estoy segura que a su familia les encantara.
Gracias por su comentario.
Mely
looks excellent & yummy
Tasty Appetite
Hello Jay,
It is really yummy, indeed. I hope you can make it soon.
Mely
Mely, I want to come eat at your house. This looks sooooo good!
Qué bárbara, esa versión no me la conocía, está para fiesta.
beso
Wow! esta receta no me la sabia( como muchas otras jeje) creo que la voy a preparar este fin de semana, en la despensa siempre tengo un vasito de mole Dona Maria por si derepente se antoja.
Gracias Mely por tus deliciosas recetas como siempre!
XOXO
Ruth
Mely, Que sabroso! Y tu step by step pics son siempre una delicia de mirar. Y que bonita presentacion 🙂 Que tengas un hermosa semana!
Abrazotes <3
Mely, donde andas? Te extrañamos! Espero que te encuentres bien. Solo pase a saludarte. XOXO
Que pases un Lindo dia de las madres, Mely!!!
XOXO
Ruth
Hola Ruth and Prieta,
Gracias por pasar a saludar, por aqui ando "living la vida loca" 🙂
Thanks for the invitation, I will stop by your place.
Mely
looks sooo good..love it..:
I want to try Mole. It is just to much work for me to make homemade mole. I would like to know the best store bought brand I can substitute. I love your recipes. Pure authentic Mexican yummmy not the fake stuff. Thank you for sharing with us.
Hello jushomecookin,
Sorry I didn't get back to you before.
There is a good brand of homestyle Poblano mole paste here in the states. Comes in a plastic tube container, the name is Dona Susana.
Let me know where are you located, maybe I can help you find a supplier near you.
Mely
Hola Mely, cómo me antojas con tus platillos. Yo preparo el pastel azteca pero con carne de cerdo deshebrada guisada con poblano en rajas, tomate,elote, queso y crema mmmmm
perfect & yummy…absolutely love it
Pues cuántas cosas has hecho yno había visto!!!!!!!! éste pastel jamás lo he hecho, suena rico!! me gustan los pasteles aztecas!! fácil y rico!!
Saludos, again !! 😀
Delicioso! Can this be premade and popped into the oven later? Would love to do this for a posada!
Hello Karina,
You can do that, only be sure to use corn tortillas that will not break easily.