Savory Chicken Tamales Recipe
Ingredients
| Corn husks | 70 , dried | |
| Hot water | ||
| Vegetable oil | 2 Tablespoon | |
| Onion | 1 Cup (16 tbs), chopped | |
| Sesame seeds | 1/4 Cup (16 tbs) | |
| Ground cinnamon | 1/2 Teaspoon | |
| Garlic | 1 Clove (5gm), minced | |
| Whole peeled tomatoes | 1 Can (10oz), undrained | |
| Chipotle and adobo sauce | 1 Can (10oz) | |
| Water | 1/2 Cup (16 tbs) | |
| 1 broiler-fryer chicken (about | ||
| Cut up | 3 Pound | |
| Salt | 2 Teaspoon | |
| Vegetable shortening | 1 Cup (16 tbs) | |
| Masa harina | 3 Cup (16 tbs) | |
| Chicken broth | 2 Cup (16 tbs) | |
| Boiling water | ||
Directions
1. Place corn husks in large pot; add very hot water to cover. Top husks with plate and heavy jar to keep submerged. Let stand at least 3 hours or overnight.
2. Heat 2 tablespoons (30 mL) lard in deep 10-inch (25-cm) skillet over medium heat until hot. Add onion and sesame seeds; saute until onion is soft and seeds are golden, about 4 minutes. Stir in cinnamon and garlic; add tomatoes, chilies and 1/2 cup (125 mL) water.
3. Add chicken to skillet; sprinkle with 1 teaspoon (5 mL) salt. Heat over high heat to boiling; reduce heat to low. Simmer, covered, until chicken is very tender, about 1 hour. Remove chicken with tongs to plate; let stand until cool enough to handle.
4. Skim and discard fat from tomato mixture; cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until reduced to 3 cups (750 mL), 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to blender container; process until smooth.
5. Remove and discard skin and bones from chicken; cut into 3/8- to 1/2 -inch (1- to 1.3-cm) cubes.
6. Drain com husks; rinse and rub each husk under running water to remove any silk and debris. Drain well; pat dry. Wrap in towel to keep pliable.
7. Beat 1 cup (250 mL) lard in large mixer bowl until light and fluffy, 5 to 10 minutes. Beat in masa harina, 1/4 cup (60 mL) at a time; beat until thoroughly blended. Beat in remaining 1 teaspoon (5 mL) salt. Gradually beat in stock, using just as much needed to form dough that just holds together.
8. For each tamale, spread heaping tablespoon dough in center of 1 corn husk to form 3-inch (8-cm) square. Top with about 2 teaspoons (10 mL) tomato mixture and 4 to 6 chicken cubes.
9. Fold right, then left edges of husk over filling. Fold wide end of husk over filled area; fold pointed end over and tuck into center of folded wide end. Turn tamale seam-side-down. Make 50 tamales in all.
10. Line large steamer basket with remaining corn husks. Stack tamales in basket, seam-sides-down. Cover tamales with kitchen towel.
11. Place steamer basket over 3 to 4 inches (8 to 10 cm) boiling water; cover with lid. Adjust heat to maintain gentle boil. Steam tamales about 40 minutes. Remove 1 tamale from center of basket and carefully unwrap; if dough pulls easily away from husk, it is done. If necessary, steam 5 or 10 minutes longer and test again.
2. Heat 2 tablespoons (30 mL) lard in deep 10-inch (25-cm) skillet over medium heat until hot. Add onion and sesame seeds; saute until onion is soft and seeds are golden, about 4 minutes. Stir in cinnamon and garlic; add tomatoes, chilies and 1/2 cup (125 mL) water.
3. Add chicken to skillet; sprinkle with 1 teaspoon (5 mL) salt. Heat over high heat to boiling; reduce heat to low. Simmer, covered, until chicken is very tender, about 1 hour. Remove chicken with tongs to plate; let stand until cool enough to handle.
4. Skim and discard fat from tomato mixture; cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until reduced to 3 cups (750 mL), 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to blender container; process until smooth.
5. Remove and discard skin and bones from chicken; cut into 3/8- to 1/2 -inch (1- to 1.3-cm) cubes.
6. Drain com husks; rinse and rub each husk under running water to remove any silk and debris. Drain well; pat dry. Wrap in towel to keep pliable.
7. Beat 1 cup (250 mL) lard in large mixer bowl until light and fluffy, 5 to 10 minutes. Beat in masa harina, 1/4 cup (60 mL) at a time; beat until thoroughly blended. Beat in remaining 1 teaspoon (5 mL) salt. Gradually beat in stock, using just as much needed to form dough that just holds together.
8. For each tamale, spread heaping tablespoon dough in center of 1 corn husk to form 3-inch (8-cm) square. Top with about 2 teaspoons (10 mL) tomato mixture and 4 to 6 chicken cubes.
9. Fold right, then left edges of husk over filling. Fold wide end of husk over filled area; fold pointed end over and tuck into center of folded wide end. Turn tamale seam-side-down. Make 50 tamales in all.
10. Line large steamer basket with remaining corn husks. Stack tamales in basket, seam-sides-down. Cover tamales with kitchen towel.
11. Place steamer basket over 3 to 4 inches (8 to 10 cm) boiling water; cover with lid. Adjust heat to maintain gentle boil. Steam tamales about 40 minutes. Remove 1 tamale from center of basket and carefully unwrap; if dough pulls easily away from husk, it is done. If necessary, steam 5 or 10 minutes longer and test again.
Chef
