Pipián Verde

A white plate with two pieces of chicken covered in vibrant Pipian Verde sauce and pumpkin seeds, served with sautéed zucchini and corn. A bowl of pumpkin seeds is nearby on a wooden surface.

4.86 from 7 votes

Pipian Verde is a traditional Mexican green mole sauce that delivers incredible flavor. Rich, creamy, and naturally dairy-free!

Prep Time15

Cook Time1

Total Time1 15

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: Mexican

Servings:

Calories: 380kcal

Author: Maggie Unzueta

Ingredients

1 cup pepitas or pumpkin seeds
8 tomatillos
1 onion divided
6 garlic cloves divided
2 serrano peppers (or more, if you like it spicy)
1 whole chicken cut up into pieces.
Water
1 bay leaf
Salt to taste
1 tablespoon olive oil

Instructions

Toast the pepitas in a skillet.
Stir frequently. Be careful not to burn.
Once they start popping, remove immediately.
Roast tomatillos, ½ onion, 5 garlic cloves, and serrano peppers.
You can do this on the stove or under the broiler until the skin on everything is charred.
Place the pepitas and the roasted ingredients in a blender.
Blend until smooth.
Set aside.
In a large stock pot, add the chicken, water, bay leaf, salt, ½ onion, and 1 garlic clove.
Place a lid on the pot and cook thoroughly.
In a separate pot, heat the oil and add the green mole sauce.
Bring to a simmer.
Add the cooked chicken.
Bring to a simmer again.
Let cook for 10 minutes on medium-low heat.
Serve with rice and enjoy!

Video

Notes

There is NO substitute for pepitas.

Here we are making the sauce and serving it with chicken. Swap out for pork.

Make the sauce your own, by adding:

2 cups of lettuce
handful of spinach
1 roasted poblano pepper
half bunch of cilantro
For a milder sauce, use jalapenos (instead of serrano peppers)

Storage & Reheating

Store leftover Pipián Verde in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop over low heat, stirring occasionally. If the sauce becomes too thick after refrigeration, add a splash of chicken broth or water until it reaches your desired consistency. You can also freeze the sauce and chicken together for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Nutrition