Ancho Chile and Sesame Seed Sauce: for meats (or, y'know, not)
Ancho Chiles and Sesame Seeds
6 Ancho chiles, seeded and deveined (reserve 1 tablespoon of the seeds)
1/4 teaspoon anise seeds
3 whole cloves
5 peppercorns
3/4 cup sesame seeds
1 garlic clove
3 tablespoons lard or olive oil
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 medium white onion, chopped
salt, to taste
Notes:
If you already have some chicken broth on hand, the red sesame seed sauce can be prepared in advance. Make double batches of the sauce and use it as a condiment for other meats — it will freeze well.
Heat a skillet over medium heat. Toast the ancho chiles lightly by flattening and pressing the chiles for no more than 5 seconds, inside down, using a metal spatula. In a large bowl, cover the chiles with hot water and soak for about 10 minutes.
Toast the reserved ancho chile seeds until golden brown. Set the seeds aside to cool. Once cooled, add the seeds to the cinnamon stick, cloves, and peppercorns in a spice grinder, food processor, or mortar and pestle. Grind the spices to a fine powder.
Toast the sesame seeds until aromatic and lightly browned. Set the seeds aside to cool before grinding to a fine texture.
Transfer the soaked ancho chiles to a blender. Add the garlic clove and 1 cup of the reserved chicken broth. Blend to a smooth puree.
Heat a skillet or saucepan over low heat. Fry the ground seeds and spices over low heat for 3 minutes while constantly stirring.
Add the blended chiles to the fried spices and cook for about 5 minutes while constantly stirring.