Corn Fungus Tamales Tamales De Huitlacoche Recipes

EASY CORN TAMALES

Steps:

• Working in batches, add the corn kernels to a blender or food processor and puree until smooth.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar until pale. Add the egg, salt, and baking powder. Mix to incorporate. Add the flour and pureed corn and mix until blended and forms a loose smooth dough.
• Put a corn husk lengthwise in front of you with the wide side closest to you. Spread 3 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. Pick up the 2 long sides of the corn husk and bring them together. Roll both sides of the corn husks in the same direction over the filling.
• Repeat with remaining corn husks and dough. Arrange the tamales, seam side down, in a steamer and add 1/2-inch of water. Cover with a tight fitting lid, bring to a simmer and steam for 1 hour, adding additional water, as needed to maintain 1/2-inch of water in the pan. Remove the tamales from the steamer to a serving platter and serve.

HUITLACOCHE - MEXICAN CORN TRUFFLE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a frying pan.
• Add the onion and garlic and fry gently until translucent - about 3 minutes.
• Add the poblano strips and fry for an additional minute.
• Add the huitlacoche and salt, cover the pan and cook over medium heat, shaking the pan from time to time for about 15 minutes.
• The fungus should be tender, retaining some moisture, but not soft and mushy.
• Stir in the epazote and cook uncovered for another 2 minutes.
• NOTE: If the huitlacoche is too dry, sprinkle on 1/4 cup water before covering; if it is too juicy, remove the lid before the end of the cooking time and reduce liquid over higher heat.

CORN TRUFFLE (HUITLACOCHE) QUESADILLAS

Steps:

• Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat; stir in onion, garlic, jalapeno pepper, and epazote and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Stir corn truffles into onion mixture; cook and stir until truffle liquid has evaporated, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and keep warm.
• Heat a large griddle or skillet over medium heat until hot. Moisten both sides of two tortillas with water and place them, stacked together, onto the hot griddle; cook until the bottom tortilla is crisp, about 2 minutes. Flip the stacked tortillas and cook the other tortilla until crisp, about 2 minutes. Separate the two tortillas; place them separately, uncooked side down, onto the hot griddle. Cover the crisp side of one tortilla with 1/5 of the Oaxaca cheese; place 1/5 of the corn truffle mixture over the cheese, then lay the crisp side of the second tortilla on top to cover the truffle mix.
• Cook, turning once, until both tortillas are crisp and cheese is melted, about 3 minutes; repeat with remaining tortillas, cheese, and corn truffle mixture. Cut each quesadilla into four wedges to serve.

TORTILLAS WITH MEXICAN CORN TRUFFLES - CHALUPAS DE HUITLACOCHE

Steps:

• To make tortillas: Combine tortilla flour and water in a large bowl and knead with your hands until a uniform dough forms, about 1 minute.
• Pinch off enough dough to form a 3/4" ball. (Dough should be moist but not sticky when formed into a ball. If necessary, knead a little more tortilla flour or water into dough.)
• Form remaining dough into 3/4-inch balls, transfer to a plate, and cover with plastic wrap until needed to prevent drying out.
• Very lightly oil comal (griddle or pizza pan), then heat over medium-high heat until hot, about 2 minutes.
• Press 1 ball of dough between plastic squares in tortilla press to form a 3-inch tortilla (about 1/16 inch thick).
• Peel off 1 plastic square, then, holding tortilla in your palm, carefully peel off other square and gently transfer tortilla to comal/griddle.
• Cook until edges just loosen from comal and small brown spots appear on underside, 30 to 45 seconds.
• Turn over and cook, pressing flat with a metal spatula if necessary, until brown spots appear on underside, about 45 seconds.
• Turn over again and cook, pressing down with spatula, until tortilla inflates slightly (this may not always happen), 10 to 15 seconds.
• Wrap tortilla in folded tea towel to keep warm and moist.
• Make more tortillas, stacking them in the tea towel.
• Make topping: Heat lard in a large skillet; cook garlic, chili, and 1/2 cup onion until softened, about 3 minutes.
• Add huitlacoche and 1/4 teaspoon salt; cook, stirring frequently, until heated through (about 5 minutes).
• Assemble chalupas in batches just before serving: Warm remaining 2 tablespoons lard (if using) to liquefy.
• Heat comal/griddle (or pizza pan) over medium heat until hot; heat 8 mini tortillas, brushing tops lightly with some of lard (about 3/4 teaspoon each).
• While heating tortillas (1 to 2 minutes total), top each with about 1/2 teaspoon salsa, a sprinkling of reserved raw onion, and a rounded teaspoon huitlacoche mixture.
• Transfer chalupas to a platter, then sprinkle with queso fresco and serve immediately.
• Keep griddle warm and repeat procedure when ready to serve the next batch of chalupas.