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What You Need:
(To Serve: 4)
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A 3- to 3½-pound chicken, cut into 6 or 8 serving pieces
THE SAUCE
6 dried ancho chilies
1 cup boiling chicken stock, fresh or canned
1 cup coarsely chopped onions
3 medium tomatoes, peeled, seeded and coarsely chopped (see salsa cruda), or substitute 1 cup drained, canned Italian plum tomatoes
1 teaspoon finely chopped garlic
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon sugar
½ teaspoon ground coriander seeds
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
1½ teaspoons salt
¼ teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
4 tablespoons lard
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Translate this recipe:
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| How To Cook: |
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1. Under cold running water, pull the stems off the chilies, break them in half, and brush out the seeds. With a small, sharp knife, cut away any large ribs. Tear the chilies into small pieces, pour 1 cup of boiling stock over them and let them soak for 30 minutes.
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2. Pour the chilies and the stock into the jar of a blender and puree at high speed for about 15 seconds. Add the onions, tomatoes, garlic, vinegar, sugar, coriander, cinnamon, cloves, salt and black pepper, and blend for 30 seconds, or until the mixture is reduced to a thick puree.
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3. To make the sauce by hand, puree the chilies, onions, tomatoes and garlic a cup or so at a time-in a food mill set over a bowl. Then stir in the vinegar, sugar, coriander, cinnamon, cloves, salt and black pepper.
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4. In a heavy 8-inch skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the lard over moderate heat. Add the puree and cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat; cover the skillet to keep the sauce warm.
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5. Preheat the oven to 350°. Pat the chicken pieces dry with paper towels (they will not brown well if they are damp). In a heavy 10- to 12-inch skillet melt the remaining 3 tablespoons of lard over moderate heat until a light haze forms above it.
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6. Brown the chicken a few pieces at a time, starting them skin side down and turning them with tongs. As the pieces turn a rich golden brown, place them in a 3-quart heatproof casserole.
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7. Pour the chili sauce into the casserole and turn the chicken about in it until the pieces are thoroughly coated with the sauce. Cover the casserole tightly and bake, undisturbed, in the middle of the oven for 45 minutes. Then remove the cover and bake 15 minutes longer, basting the chicken every now and then with its sauce.
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8. Serve directly from the casserole or arrange the chicken attractively on a serving platter and pour the sauce over it.
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