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Pipián Verde — Pumpkin-Seed Sauce

Pipián Verde

Pumpkin-Seed Sauce

Pipián verde leans on a full 1 1/2 cups of toasted pumpkin seeds blended to a creamy paste, brightened with a raw purée of tomatillo, serrano, cilantro, and epazote.

75 min
Serves 8
Family Recipe
Focus

✦ Antes de Empezar

Before you cook

Can I use pork instead of chicken?

Yes — the recipe calls for either cooked chicken or pork, so use whichever you have; just fold it in during the final step to heat through.

Ingredientes· 9
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Nutty Base

  • 2 cupsRaw Green Pumpkin Seeds (Pepitas)toasted
  • 2 tbspSesame Seedstoasted

Green Base

  • 1 lbTomatilloshusked, washed, roasted
  • 2-3Serrano Chilesroasted
  • 1/2 onion + 3 cloves garlicWhite Onion & Garlic
  • 1/2 cup cilantro + 1 sprig epazoteFresh Cilantro & Epazote

Finish

  • 5 cupsChicken Broth
  • 2 tbspVegetable Oil or Lard
  • to tasteSalt

Instrucciones

6 pasos
  1. Tuesta las semillas

    Toast the seeds

    Toast the pumpkin seeds lightly until they begin to pop. Cool and blend with 2 cups broth to a creamy paste.

  2. Licúa lo verde

    Blend the greens

    Blend the tomatillos, serranos, onion, garlic, cilantro, and epazote separately.

  3. Fríe la pasta

    Fry the paste

    Fry the pumpkin-seed paste in lard for 8 minutes, stirring continuously.

  4. Añade el puré verde

    Add the green purée

    Add the green purée and cook 8 minutes over moderate heat.

  5. Cocina a fuego lento

    Simmer gently

    Add the broth gradually and simmer gently 12 to 15 minutes without a hard boil.

  6. Añade la carne

    Add the meat

    Add the meat, heat through, and adjust salt. The sauce should be rich from the seed oil yet fresh and herbal.

✦ Herramientas Tradicionales ✦

Authentic Culinary Gear for this Recipe

Heritage Mexican cooking relies on dedicated craft tools to develop authentic blisters, toasts, and emulsified textures.

High-Shear Blender

Heavy-Duty Vitamix / Blender

Essential for pulverizing toasted chiles, seeds, raisins, and Mexican chocolate into velvet mole.

Tortilla Craft

Cast Iron Tortilla Press (8")

Heavy calibrated leverage to press fresh heirloom masa dough into thin, supple rounds with zero sticking.

Heritage Pantry

Heirloom Masa & Dried Chiles

Single-origin Mexican dried chiles (Ancho, Guajillo, Pasilla) and heirloom nixtamalized corn masa.

✦ Recommended gear reflects genuine kitchen utility standards. Outbound links support our independent culinary archive.