PProvenance
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Cooking in
North Vancouver · Metro Vancouver
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Mexican

Coloradito

Coloradito is one of the seven classic moles of Oaxaca, listed among the region's canon of poultry preparations in Diana Kennedy's *The Art of Mexican Cooking*. It falls within a broader tradition of mole-based chicken cookery that Kennedy situates firmly in the peasant roots of Mexican cuisine, where domestically raised birds—poached rather than roasted dry—form the backbone of heavily sauced festival dishes. The technique follows the foundational mole method: toasted seeds (sesame and pumpkin) are ground to a coarse paste, fried in lard until deeply colored, then married with a blended chile-and-herb purée and the reserved poaching broth. The sauce is cooked down until it thickens and fat pools visibly on the surface before the par-cooked chicken is added. Kennedy recommends sourcing a better-quality bird than a standard supermarket chicken, as firmer, more flavorful flesh holds up to the extended braising the dish demands.

‹Swipe for the next dish›
Serves8–10
Within reach7of 15 in North Vancouver

Seven in town · eight not yet within reach.

How the 15 are reached
In town
7 · white onion, coarsely chopped, garlic cloves, peeled, salt to taste, garlic cloves, unpeeled, white onion, quartered, fresh thyme (or 1/4 tsp dried), cloves, crushed
Not yet within reach
8 · chicken pieces, bone-in, ancho chiles, wiped clean, stems and seeds removed, guajillo chiles, wiped clean, stems and seeds removed, fresh marjoram (or 1/4 tsp dried), black peppercorns, crushed, cinnamon stick, crushed, pecans and almonds (quantity continues on pages not available), lard, for frying
Cook
I

The Market List

The benchmark for each ingredient, and who stocks it near you. Tap a stockist to go straight to the product.

10 large
chicken pieces, bone-in
Not yet within reach of North Vancouver · each reach is counted
1 medium
white onion, coarsely chopped
8
ancho chiles, wiped clean, stems and seeds removed
Not yet within reach of North Vancouver · each reach is counted
18
guajillo chiles, wiped clean, stems and seeds removed
Not yet within reach of North Vancouver · each reach is counted
1/3 cup (83 ml)
sesame seeds
Your own market
1 medium
4 sprigs
fresh thyme (or 1/4 tsp dried)
4 sprigs
fresh marjoram (or 1/4 tsp dried)
Not yet within reach of North Vancouver · each reach is counted
4
black peppercorns, crushed
Not yet within reach of North Vancouver · each reach is counted
1-inch (2.5 cm)
cinnamon stick, crushed
Not yet within reach of North Vancouver · each reach is counted
Pecans and almonds (quantity continues on pages not available)
Not yet within reach of North Vancouver · each reach is counted
Lard, for frying
Not yet within reach of North Vancouver · each reach is counted

Within reach counts in town, delivered, shipped and the nearest city. A staple counts once it has a local seller. Charted from each shop's own pages; not yet vouched by a cook who shops here.

The larder of North Vancouver →

Each tap is counted, so the stockist sees the demand Provenance sends them.

II

The Method

1
Toast anchos and guajillos on a dry comal over medium heat, pressing flat, 20–30 seconds per side until pliable and fragrant. Do not scorch. Soak in hot water 20 minutes, drain.
2
On the same comal, char unpeeled garlic cloves and quartered onion until softened and darkened in spots. Peel garlic.
3
Toast sesame seeds in a dry pan, stirring constantly, until golden.
4
Blend chiles, sesame seeds, charred garlic and onion, thyme, marjoram, cloves, peppercorns, cinnamon, pecans, and almonds to a smooth, thick paste, adding minimal cooled broth only as needed to keep the blender moving.
5
Heat a generous layer of lard in a heavy cazuela or Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering, approximately 175–185°C (347–365°F). Add the paste carefully — it will spatter. Fry, stirring constantly, 8–12 minutes until darkened and fragrant.
6
Ladle in warm chicken broth gradually, stirring to incorporate, until the mole reaches a sauce consistency that coats a spoon. Season with salt.
7
Add cooked chicken pieces. Simmer together 15–20 minutes. Serve with rice and warm tortillas.
III

What to Pour

Pouring for British Columbia · ·

The pairing
El Silencio Espadin Mezcal
El Silencio Mezcal · Oaxaca — Mezcal
Not yet stocked in British Columbia
Agave spirit
From British Columbia
1897 Amber Ale
Stanley Park Brewing · Metro Vancouver
Stanley Park Brewing · Vancouver →
Beer
Without alcohol
Americano — Burundi Kayanza (Gatukuza Women Group)
Gatukuza Women Group
Not yet stocked in British Columbia
Coffee

Each tap is counted, so the stockist sees the demand Provenance sends them.

Why each one works is part of membership — Enter · from $49 a year →

The whole pairing
Pillar IV
Origin and lineage are part of membership.
Where the dish comes from and how it came to be — on every recipe.
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