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You are here: Home / Soups / Clemole Rojo de Pollo

Clemole Rojo de Pollo

Douglas Cullen, This blog generates income via ads and affiliate links which earn us a small commission.

Red Chile Mexican Chicken Stew / Soup

I’m not sure if I should call clemole a stew or a soup. I’ll let you decide. Clemole is whole chicken legs and thighs cooked with large chunks of corn, chayote, zucchini squash and green beans in a red guajillo chile and tomato broth. It’s hearty, mildly spicy and filling. Really warms you up on a cool day.

Clemole Rojo de Pollo

Whether you consider it a soup or a stew you will surely consider it delicious. It’s quite common in Mexico to prepare soups that contain large chunks of corn, vegetables, or meat that you have to use your fingers to eat. This isn’t a delicate dish. You also may know this soup as Mole de Olla.

Let’s Get Cooking

Start by gathering all of your ingredients.

Chicken Clemole Ingredients

Prepare the Soup Base

Break open the chiles and remove the seeds and veins and discard.

Removing Seeds from Guajillo Chiles

Place the chiles in a pan and just cover with water. Bring the water to a boil and then turn off the heat and allow the chiles to reconstitute for 15 minutes. Notice how the chiles have plumped up and become pliable.

Soaked Guajillo Chiles

Place the tomatoes in a pot and just cover with water. Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to medium. Cook for 15 minutes.

Boiling Tomatoes

Blend the chiles and tomatoes together to form a loose paste. This will be the base for the broth.

Blended Guajillo and Tomato Soup Base

Prepare the Soup

While you are preparing the guajillo chile and tomato base, put the chicken in the pot with 8 cups of water, the whole onion, and the head of garlic. Cook over low heat for 15 minutes. Don’t brown the chicken before cooking

Chicken Onion Garlic in Pot

Add the corn, chayote, and epazote. Cook for 15 more minutes.

Chicken Corn Epazote in Pot

Add the zucchini and green beans.

Chicken and Vegetables Cooking in Enamel Pot

Now it’s time to add the chile tomato base. Place a large strainer over the pot. Pour in the base. NOTE: If you don’t have a strainer that is large enough to span your pot, it’s easier to strain it into a bowl and then pour the base into the soup.

Straining Guajillo Tomato Base

Use a large kitchen spoon to press the base through the strainer. Discard the pulp.

Pulp from Strained Guajillo Chiles and Tomato

This is how your soup will look when you first add the chile tomato base.

Cooking Clemole Rojo de Pollo

Bring your soup to a boil. Notice how the broth takes on a darker heartier red color. Skim off the foam that rises to the top. Reduce the heat to medium and cook for 20 minutes. Add 1 tsp. of salt and then add salt until it’s to your taste.

Removing Foam from Clemole Soup

Discard the onion, epazote, and head of garlic before serving.

Serve

You can serve your clemole in either individual bowls or place it in a large serving bowl and serve it family-style at the table. Serve with a warm stack of corn tortillas and sliced lime to squirt into your soup.

Clemole Rojo de Pollo Closeup

Provecho!

Clemole Rojo de Pollo
Print Pin
5 from 2 votes

Clemole de Pollo (Mexican Chicken Stew)

Mexican style chicken stew with a red guajillo chile and tomato broth prepared with white corn, chayote, zucchini squash, green beans, and epazote.
Course Soup / Stew
Cuisine Mexican
Keyword chicken dish, chicken soup, chicken stew
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 6 servings
Calories 252kcal
Author Douglas Cullen

Ingredients

  • 6 pieces of chicken legs and/or thighs
  • 2 ears of white corn
  • 2 chayotes
  • 1 white onion
  • ⅓ lb. green beans
  • 2 medium zucchini squash calabacita
  • 6 roma tomatoes
  • 6 sprigs of fresh epazote or 2 tbsp. dried
  • 1 head of garlic
  • 4 to 6 limes
  • 8 cups water
  • 1 tsp. salt + as needed
  • 18 corn tortillas warmed

Instructions

  • CHILE TOMATO BASE
  • Break open the chiles and remove the seeds and veins.
  • Place the chiles in a pan and just cover with water.
  • Bring the water to a boil and then turn off the heat and allow the chiles to reconstitute for 15 minutes.
  • Add the whole tomatoes to a pot and cover them with water.
  • Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
  • Blend the tomatoes and chiles with a little bit of the water you used to soak the chiles to form a loose paste.
  • Set aside the chile tomato base.
  • SOUP
  • Put the chicken in the pot with 8 cups of water, the whole onion, and the head of garlic. Cook over low heat for 15 minutes. Don't brown the chicken before cooking.
  • Add the chunks of corn, chayote and epazote. Cook for 15 more minutes over low heat.
  • Add the chunks of zucchini squash and green beans.
  • Strain the blended guajillo chile tomato base directly into the pot.
  • Bring to a boil and remove any foam that rises to the top.
  • Reduce the heat and cook for 20 minutes.
  • Add 1 tsp. of salt. Then add as much salt as needed to your taste.
  • Discard the onion, epazote and head of garlic before serving.
  • Serve with sliced lime.

Nutrition

Calories: 252kcal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 391mg | Potassium: 718mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 875IU | Vitamin C: 60.6mg | Calcium: 150mg | Iron: 2.5mg

More Mexican Soups

  • Chicken Tortilla Soup
  • Black Bean Soup
  • Quick Potato Soup
  • Cream of Cilantro Soup
  • Lentil Soup
  • Sopa de Fideo

More Mexican Soup Recipes

  • Caldo de Camarón
  • Caldo de Pollo con Arroz
  • Lentil Soup
  • Chicken Tortilla Soup

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Fabiola Rodriguez says

    January 29, 2017 at 8:10 pm

    5 stars
    Qué rico! That looks really good!

    Reply
  2. Victoria H says

    March 21, 2022 at 2:28 am

    How many chilies? They aren’t listed.

    Reply

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D. Cullen Profile Picture

Hola, I am Douglas. Let me share my love of Mexican Cuisine with you that developed over 20+ years of living in Mexico.

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D. Cullen Profile Picture

Hola, I am Douglas. Let me share my love of Mexican Cuisine with you that developed over 20+ years of living in Mexico.

More about me →


Most Popular Recipes

  • Classic Salsa Verde
  • Restaurant Style Salsa
  • Traditional Sopa de Fideo
  • Red Pork Pozole
  • Chicken Tinga
  • Agua de Jamaica
  • Tres Leches Cake
  • Beet Salad with Feta Cheese and Citrus Balsamic Viniagrette
  • Red Enchilada Sauce
  • Mole Poblano

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