Mole Verde Chicken Spinach Casserole

1. 1

   Place olive oil and mole paste in a medium saucepan, on medium heat. Gradually whisk in 1 cup stock until smooth, breaking up the mole paste. Stir constantly; sauce will thicken. Then whisk in remaining 1 cup stock.

2. 2

   Preheat oven to 350u00b0.

3. 3

   To the mole sauce in the pan, add shredded chicken, corn, canned chiles, salt, and minced habanero (careful not to get it on your fingers -- it burns!); stir to mix well and heat through.

4. 4

   Meanwhile, lightly oil a 10x10 or 9x13 casserole pan. Cover bottom with a layer of corm tortillas (about 4. You can curve them up the sides of the dish if that fits better.) Sprinkle a light layer (1/3 c) of shredded cheese on top of the tortillas. Cover the cheese with about half the fresh spinach.

5. 5

   Turn heat to low (on saucepan) and stir in yogurt. Mix until smooth, then remove from heat.

6. 6

   Ladle half the mole-chicken mixture into the prepared casserole dish, on top of the spinach layer.

7. 7

   Repeat the layer of 4 tortillas, 1/3 c shredded cheese, the rest of the fresh baby spinach, and the rest of the mole-chicken mixture.

8. 8

   Top with 1/3 c shredded cheese.

9. 9

   Bake covered for 15 minutes and uncovered for 10 minutes. Allow to rest about 5 minutes out of the over before cutting.

10. 10

    Serve with fresh cilantro, sliced avocado, lime wedges, and freshly ground black pepper.

11. 11

    (FOR THE DAIRY-FREE OPTION: omit shredded cheese, or substutute a dairyless option. You may add extra corn and/or spinach. Use 6 oz dairy-free sour cream or cream cheese instead of yogurt. If making two casseroles (one dairy-free and one regular), split the mole-chicken mixture into two saucepans before adding 4 oz yogurt to one and 4 oz dairy-substitute to the other.).

No additional tips available.