Jocón

Ingredients

• Chicken, cut into serving pieces -- 2 1/2 to 3 pounds
• Water -- 4 cups
• Salt -- 2 teaspoons
• Pumpkin seeds (pepitas) -- 1/4 cup
• Sesame seeds -- 1/4 cup
• Corn tortillas, chopped, soaked in water, drained -- 2
• Tomatillos, hulled and chopped -- 1 cup
• Cilantro, chopped -- 1 bunch
• Scallions, chopped -- 1 bunch
• Jalapeño or serrano chile pepper, chopped -- from 1 to 5

Method

1. Place the chicken, water and salt into a large pot over medium-high flame. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
2. Remove the chicken to a bowl and strain and set aside the broth. Let chicken cool, then remove the meat from the bones and shred it with your fingers. Set aside.
3. Heat a dry skillet over medium flame. Add the pumpkin and sesame seeds and toast, stirring, until lightly browned. Remove to a coffee grinder and grind to a fine powder.
4. Add the sesame and pumpkin seeds, tortillas, tomatillos, cilantro, scallions and chile peppers to a food processor or blender. Add 1 cup of the reserved broth and process until smooth. If using a blender you may have to do this step in batches.
5. Return the chicken to the pot. Pour over pureed sauce and add 1 to 1 1/2 cups of the remaining broth to give it a sauce-like consistency.
6. Heat over medium-low flame and simmer for an additional 15-25 minutes. Adjust seasoning and serve.

Jocon Variations

• Leave the chicken pieces whole if you prefer.
• If you can't find pumpkin seeds, simply use 1/2 cup of sesame seeds. And if finding sesame seeds is a problem, you can substitute a slightly smaller amount of tahini.
• Cubed pork can be substituted for the chicken. There is no need to shred the pork, but you may need to simmer it longer for it to become tender.
• Use any remaining broth to make rice to accompany the meal.