Ingredients

• 1 cup pumpkin seeds
• 1 cup vegetable stock or canned vegetable broth
• 1 pound tomatillos, husked, rinsed, and quartered
• 2 fresh epazote leaves
• 1 fresh hoja santa leaf (root beer leaf)
• 2 leaves romaine lettuce
• 8 sprigs fresh cilantro
• 2 fresh serrano chiles, chopped
• 1/4 medium onion, chopped
• 1 clove garlic
• 1/8 teaspoon whole cumin seeds
• 3 teaspoons canola or vegetable oil
• Kosher salt
• 4 cups cooked white rice
• 2 cups steamed chayote or zucchini
• 2 cups steamed green beans
• 4 poached skinless, boneless chicken breasts

Instructions

1. In a sauté pan over moderate heat, toast the pumpkins seeds, stirring frequently and being careful not to burn them. Transfer to a small bowl to cool. Once cool, reserve about 1/4 cup of pumpkin seeds for garnish, then transfer the remaining seeds to a blender and add enough vegetable stock to cover by 1 inch. Blend on high until smooth. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and clean the blender.
2. Place the tomatillos, epazote, hoja santa, romaine, cilantro, chiles, onion, garlic, and cumin in a blender, in that order, and blend well. If more liquid is needed, add water or broth, 1 tablespoon at a time.
3. In a deep skillet over high heat, heat the oil until shimmering then carefully add the tomatillo mixture and fry, stirring constantly and adding broth or water as needed to achieve a sauce-like consistency, for 1 to 2 minutes.
4. Remove the skillet from the heat and add the pumpkin seed mixture. Mix well, then season to taste with salt.
5. To serve: Divide the rice, chayote or zucchini, green beans, and poached chicken among 4 plates. Coat the chicken with the mole, garnish with the reserved pumpkin seeds, and serve. DO AHEAD: Leftover mole can be stored in an airtight container for 3 days in the refrigerator. Or, if frozen properly in an airtight container and wrapped in plastic and then aluminum wrap, it can be held for up to 4 months in the freezer.
6. Divide the rice, chayote or zucchini, green beans, and poached chicken among 4 plates. Coat the chicken with the mole, garnish with the reserved pumpkin seeds, and serve.
7. DO AHEAD: Leftover mole can be stored in an airtight container for 3 days in the refrigerator. Or, if frozen properly in an airtight container and wrapped in plastic and then aluminum wrap, it can be held for up to 4 months in the freezer.