Corn Cheese And Chili Tamales With Tomatillo Avocado Salsa Recipes

ROASTED CORN AND TOMATILLO SALSA

Steps:

• Peel back the corn husk, remove the silk, enclose the corn once again and grill the corn for 4-6 minutes over a hot flame. While the corn is roasting, add the tomatillos and red pepper to the grill and quickly char their exterior. Remove everything from the grill and allow to cool. When cool peel back the husk and, using a sharp knife, remove the corn kernels from the cob. Discard the cob. Cut the red pepper into a julienne and combine the corn, tomatillo, red pepper, jalapeno, garlic and cilantro in a bowl. To the bowl, add the oil, vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper and allow to marinate for several hours before serving.;

CORN, CHEESE, AND CHILI TAMALES WITH TOMATILLO-AVOCADO SALSA

Steps:

• Make Salsa:
• Cook first 4 ingredients in heavy large skillet over high heat until charred in spots but still firm, turning occasionally, about 5 minutes. Transfer to processor; using on/off turns, chop coarsely. Add all remaining ingredients. Blend to coarse puree. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; chill.)
• Make Tamales:
• Selecting the largest and cleanest husks, place half of husks in large bowl; fill bowl with warm water. Weigh husks down with plate; soak husks until soft, separating occasionally, about 2 hours. Form 36 ties by tearing several husks into 1/2-inch-wide strips.
• Char chilies directly over gas flame or under broiler until blackened on all sides. Place in medium bowl; cover tightly with plastic. Let stand 10 minutes. Peel, seed, and chop chilies.
• To make dough, blend Masa Harina, butter, sugar, and 1 teaspoon salt in processor until coarse meal forms. Add broth and blend in (mixture will be crumbly). Transfer masa mixture to large bowl. Blend 2 1/2 cups corn, 1 cup cheese, baking powder, pepper, and 1 1/4 teaspoons salt in processor until coarse puree forms. Stir puree, then 2 1/2 cups corn into masa.
• For each tamale, open 1 large softened husk. Place 1/3 cup tamale dough in center of husk. Make depression in center of dough; fill with 1 tablespoon chilies, then 1 tablespoon cheese. Using moistened fingertips, press dough over filling to cover; shape filled dough into 3-inch-long log parallel to 1 long edge of husk. Fold 1 long side of husk over filling and roll up to enclose. Tie ends of filled husks tightly with husk strips.
• Add enough water to large pot containing steamer insert to reach bottom of insert. Layer tamales in steamer insert. Bring water to boil; cover pot. Steam until tamales are firm, removing insert and adding boiling water to pot to maintain water level as needed, about 1 hour. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cool slightly. Refrigerate. Before serving, re-steam 45 minutes to heat through.) Serve tamales in husks with salsa.

CORN, CHEESE AND CHILI TAMALES WITH TOMATILLO-AVOCADO SALSA

Steps:

• Salsa:.
• Cook tomatillos, onion, garlic and chilies in heavy large skilllet over high heat until charred in spots but still firm, turning occsionally, about 5 minutes.
• Transfer to food processor or blender.
• Using on/off setting, chop coarsely.
• Add all remaining ingredients.
• Blend to course puree.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Cover and Chill (can be made up to 24 hours ahead).
• Tamales:.
• Selecting 18-20 large clean husks, place in large bowl and fill with warm water.
• Weight husks down with saucer and soak until soft, separating occasionally, about 2 hours.
• Form 36 ties by tearing several husks into 1/2 in wide strips.
• Char chilies directly over gas flame or under broiler until blackened on all sides.
• Place in medium bowls, cover tightly with plastic.
• Let stand 10 minutes.
• Peel, seed and chop chilies, set aside.
• To make dough, blend Masa Harina, butter, sugar and 1 teaspoon salt in processor until coarse meal forms.
• Add broth and blend in (mixture will be crumbly).
• Transfer masa mixture to large bowl.
• In food processor blend 2 1/2 cups corn, 1 cup cheese, baking powder, pepper and 1 1/4 teaspoon salt until coarse puree forms.
• Stir puree into masa mixture until blended.
• Add 2 1/2 cups corn to masa mixture.
• For each tamale, open 1 large softened husk. Place 1/3 cup tamale dough in center of husk.
• Make depression in center of dough and fill with 1 tablespoon chilies and 1 tablespoon shredded cheese.
• Using moistened fingertips, press dough over filling to cover and shape into 3 inch long log placed parallel to long edge of husk.
• Fold 1 long side of husk over filling and roll up to enclose.
• Tie ends of filled husks tightly with husk strips.
• Add water to large pot containing steamer insert to reach bottom of insert.
• Layer tamales in steamer insert.
• Bring water to boil and cover pot.
• Steam until tamales are firm (about 1 hour).
• Be sure to maintain water level in pot, adding adding boiling water to pot as needed.
• Remove steamer insert when adding water to pot.
• May be made 1 day in advance, cooling slightly before refrigerating.
• Before serving resteam for approximately 45 minutes to heat thoroughly).

TOMATILLO & AVOCADO SALSA

Steps:

• Place tomatillos and water in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Drain, reserving liquid.
• Place tomatillo, avicado flesh, jalapeno, green onions, cilantro, sour cream and salt in a blender or food processor.
• Process until smooth. Thin with reserved cooking liquid if necessary, should be pancake batter consistency, refrigerate.

TOMATO, CORN AND AVOCADO SALSA

Steps:

• Mix together corn, olives, tomatoes, onion, red pepper, and jalapeno pepper in a large bowl. Gently fold in diced avocado, olive oil, lime juice, and salt.

CORN AND AVOCADO SALSA

Steps:

• Place the corn in a large pot with enough water to cover, and bring to a boil. Cook until kernels are tender but crisp, about 5 minutes. Drain, and cool in cold water. Use a knife to scrape kernels from the cobs.
• Place kernels in a medium bowl. Stir in avocados, red onion, bell pepper, and garlic. Add cumin, red pepper flakes, and cilantro. Mix in vinegar, olive oil, and lime juice. Season with salt and pepper.

CHICKEN TAMALES WITH TOMATILLO-CILANTRO SAUCE

Steps:

• Poach and shred the chicken:
• Combine the onion, garlic, salt, and water in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Add the chicken breasts, bay leaves, and oregano and decrease the heat to a simmer. Cook the chicken, partially covered, for 35 minutes, or until cooked through. To check for doneness, slit the chicken in half to make sure the interior is no longer pink.
• Allow the chicken to cool in the broth. When cool enough to handle, remove the chicken from the pan. Strain and reserve the broth. Shred the chicken by hand by pulling apart the fibers of the chicken with your fingers and set aside.
• Make the Tomatillo-Cilantro Sauce:
• Combine the tomatillos, jalapeños, cilantro, garlic, and water in a blender and purée until well blended.
• Heat the oil in a sauté pan over medium heat.
• When the oil is hot, add the onion and sauté until the onion is limp and translucent, about 8 minutes. Add the tomatillo mixture. Season with salt and pepper. Cook for about 5 minutes, or until the sauce thickens.
• Add the shredded chicken to the sauce and stir to coat. Allow to cook for 3 more minutes. Check the seasoning and adjust if needed. Set aside.
• Prepare the corn husks
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil then remove from heat. Add the corn husks, making sure to submerge them under water, and cover the pot. Soak the corn husks in the pot for 20 minutes. They should be soft and flexible, and take on a deep beige color. Remove the corn husks from the water and wrap them in a damp paper towel until you are ready to use them.
• Prepare the tamal dough:
• To make the masa, combine the masa harina with 2 cups of the reserved chicken broth and mix well. The masa should have the consistency of a stiff dough. Set aside.
• Put the lard in a mixing bowl. Beat the lard with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 1 minute. Add half of the masa and beat until well blended. Add the 3 tablespoons of the reserved chicken broth and the remaining masa and continue beating until a teaspoon of the dough dropped into a cup of cold water floats, about 10 minutes. If after 15 minutes of constant beating your dough does not float, move on (despite it not floating, the dough will be fine).
• Sprinkle the baking powder and the salt over the dough and mix in well.
• Assemble the tamales:
• Place a corn husk lengthwise in front of you with the wide side closest to you. Spread 2 tablespoons of the dough all over the bottom half (wide side) of the corn husk, leaving about a 1-inch-wide border on the left and right sides.
• Place 2 heaping tablespoons of the filling lengthwise down the center of the dough. Pick up the two long sides of the cornhusk and unite them. Allow the dough to surround the filling by pinching together the corn husk where the dough comes together. Roll both sides of the corn husks in the same direction over the tamal. Fold down the empty top section of the cornhusk and secure it by tying a thin strip of corn husk around the tamal (the top will be open).
• Repeat this process until all the corn husks or tamal dough are used up.
• Steam the tamales:
• Create a tamal steamer by crumpling a large piece of aluminum foil into a large ball. Place the foil ball in the center of a large saucepan and arrange the tamales "standing up" around it. You can stand tamales in front of each other; just make sure that the open end of the tamal is facing upward.
• Pour in 1/2 inch of water. Cover tightly with a lid and simmer for 40 minutes.
• Serve:
• Serve warm accompanied by Mexican crema.

AVOCADO AND ROASTED TOMATILLO SALSA

Steps:

• Heat a heavy cast-iron skillet or griddle over medium-high heat. Place tomatillos in pan and toast until charred on 1 side, about 10 minutes for a medium or large tomatillo. The color in the middle should be fading from pale green to olive. Turn tomatillos over and continue to grill until charred on the other side, about 10 minutes, but not for so long that they burst. Transfer to a bowl and allow to cool.
• Place chile(s), garlic clove and onion slice in skillet and toast, turning often, until chile is lightly charred and garlic is charred in spots and softened. The onion should be lightly colored on both sides but not charred black (that will make it bitter). Remove from heat. Peel the garlic and transfer, with the onion and chiles, to a blender. Add tomatillos and any liquid that may have accumulated in the bowl.
• Add remaining ingredients to blender and blend until smooth. Taste, adjust seasoning, and serve.