Pumpkin Tamales With Black Bean Filling Recipes

PUMPKIN TAMALES WITH BLACK-BEAN FILLING

Steps:

• Combine anise seeds and water in a small saucepan. Simmer over medium heat until reduced to 1 cup. Place the chilies in a small bowl and cover with boiling water. Soak until very soft, 10 to 20 minutes. Drain and remove the stems. Place the anise mixture, chilies, garlic and beans in a food processor. Process until smooth.
• Heat the oil in a medium-size, heavy skillet over medium heat. When very hot but not smoking, add the bean puree, watching out for spatters. Simmer, stirring and scraping the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon, until the mixture is thick, about 15 minutes. Season to taste with salt. Cool to room temperature.
• Follow the directions for basic tamales, adding the pumpkin puree to the lard a little at a time with the masa harina mixture. Beat in the cinnamon and sugar with the salt.

TAMALES DE FRIJOL (OAXACAN BLACK BEAN TAMALES)

Steps:

• Make the filling: In a large bowl, cover the beans with cold water by about 2 inches and soak overnight. The next day, drain the beans and transfer to a large pot. Add the onion, garlic, avocado leaves, salt and enough cold water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to maintain a simmer. Cook, skimming any foam, until the beans are very tender, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
• Cool for 15 minutes, then set a large strainer over a large bowl and drain. Transfer the beans, onion, garlic and 1 cup cooking liquid to a blender or food processor. Blend, adding more liquid as needed to get the machine going and to form an almost smooth puree. The consistency should be soft and spreadable, but not soupy. Season to taste with salt and cool to room temperature. Discard the avocado leaves and any remaining cooking liquid.
• While the beans cool, prepare for tamales: Heat the oil in a small saucepan until just smoking, then remove from the heat and set aside to cool completely. If you don't have plastic rounds for a tortilla press, cut off the edges of a gallon-sized resealable plastic bag to form two 10-inch squares of plastic. If you don't have a press, get out a heavy flat-bottomed large skillet.
• Heat a banana leaf on a griddle or large flat pan over high heat, turning and pressing flat until pliable and shiny, 15 to 30 seconds. Transfer to a work surface. Repeat with the remaining leaves, stacking them to keep them all warm and soft.
• In a large bowl, tear the masa into smaller chunks then add the salt and gradually add the cooled oil while kneading in. Continue kneading with both hands by punching down the mixture, then squeezing it between your fingers before gathering it into a mass and pushing it back down. Knead until the oil isn't visible and the masa is very smooth and soft.
• Assemble the tamales: Roll a 1/3 cup masa into a ball and flatten between the plastic by hand into a 1-inch-thick disk. Press in a tortilla press or against the counter using a skillet to form a tortilla-thin round (scant 1/8-inch-thick). Peel off the top plastic, keeping the masa on the bottom piece. Spread the bean filling evenly over the masa's entire surface in a thin layer (about 3 tablespoons). Using the plastic, lift the left edge and fold an inch in towards the center, then peel back the plastic and flatten it against the counter. Repeat on the right. Spread filling over the folded edges (about 1 teaspoon per side). Using the plastic, lift up the bottom third and fold it over the center as if folding a letter. Cover with filling (about 1 teaspoon), then use the plastic to lift the top and fold it over to enclose. Center an avocado leaf on top. Place the tamal upside down on a soft banana leaf and place another avocado leaf on top. Trim the leaves to fit if needed. Wrap in the banana leaf, folding in one long side, then the bottom, then the other side and rolling to enclose the end. Repeat with the remaining ingredients.
• Fit a steamer or colander into a large, deep pot and add enough water to almost reach its bottom. Stack the tamales flat in the steamer, leaving an empty space in the center. Cover with the reserved remaining banana leaves and then the lid. Bring the water to a boil and steam, replenishing with hot water as needed, until the masa is cooked through, about 1 1/2 hours. To test, unwrap a tamal and cut through the center to make sure there's no raw masa.
• Keep warm in the steamer off the heat until ready to serve. After unwrapping, the avocado leaves should be discarded before eating. The tamales can be cooled completely, then wrapped individually and frozen for up to 6 months. To serve, thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then resteam in the banana leaves or unwrap and pan-fry in oil until hot and crisp.

BLACK BEAN TAMALE PIE

Steps:

• In a large skillet, cook the beef, onion and green pepper over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in beans and salsa; set aside. , In a large bowl, combine the muffin mix, milk, egg and 1 cup cheese. Pour into a greased 9-in. pie plate. Bake at 375° for 5-6 minutes. , Spoon beef mixture over crust, leaving a 1/2-in. edge. Bake for 15-18 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake 1-2 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Serve with sour cream and olives if desired.

PUMPKIN TAMALES

Steps:

• In a large bowl combine the masa, pumpkin and sugar. Add the vanilla, mace, cinnamon, and raisins and mix until well blended.
• To assemble the tamales, place 2 - 3 heaping tablespoons of the masa mixture in the net of the smooth side of the corn husk.
• Fold the sides of the husk in toward the center and tie the tamale at both ends.
• Prick the husk several times using the tip of a very sharp knife. Repeat for the remaining tamales.
• Steam the tamales for 45 - 50 minutes.
• Serve with a dollop of crema.

BEAN TAMALES (TAMELES DE FRIJOLES)

Steps:

• Place corn husks in a bowl, cover with boiling water, and soak for a few hours. Drain, place on a work surface, and cover with a clean, damp towel.
• Place ancho chiles in a saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil over medium heat and cook until soft, about 10 minutes. Drain.
• Combine ancho chiles, garlic, cumin, salt, pepper, and a little water in a blender; blend salsa until smooth. Strain through a sieve.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1/2 the salsa and cook, 3 to 5 minutes. Add refried beans, stir well, and cook until most of the liquid has evaporated, about 5 minutes. Set aside.
• Beat lard with an electric mixer until fluffy. Add masa and beat until well combined. Add remaining salsa and continue beating until dough has a uniform red color.
• Select 1 wide corn husk. Spread about 2 tablespoons masa mixture onto the the corn husk, filling it up to 2 inches from the bottom and 1/4 inch from the top. Place 1 tablespoon of beans and 1 jalapeno slice in the center of the masa mixture. Fold sides of husk together, one over the other. Fold the bottom of the husk over the seam of the 2 folded sides. Repeat with remaining husks.
• Place a steamer insert into a saucepan and fill with water to just below the bottom of the steamer. Bring water to a boil. Add tamales with the open side up and cook until filling is heated through and separates from the husk, about 1 hour. Let tamales rest for 15 minutes before serving.

CORN AND BLACK BEAN TAMALES

Steps:

• Beat masa harina, water and lard in large bowl with mixer on low speed 3 min. or until well blended. Gradually beat in broth. Add sour cream; beat 5 min. or until light and fluffy. Place half the dough in medium bowl; mix in beans, chipotle peppers and 1/2 cup cheese. Add corn, poblano chiles and remaining 1/2 cup cheese to remaining dough; mix well.
• Place 1 corn husk on flat surface. Spoon 1 Tbsp. corn mixture onto husk about 1 inch from one end; spoon 1 Tbsp. bean mixture 1 inch from other end. Fold husk over fillings, then tie in center with thin strip of additional corn husk before tying at both ends. Repeat with remaining husks and filling.
• Line bottom of steamer with half the remaining husks; place tamales in steamer. Cover with remaining husks to completely enclose tamales. Cover tamalera; steam 50 min. or until fillings pull away from husks, adding more water to pot when necessary.

BLACK BEAN TAMALE BAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Heat oil in a cast iron skillet until shimmering. Add onion, green pepper, and salt. Cook and stir until soft, about 5 minutes. Add ground chuck and garlic; cook until meat is browned, about 5 minutes. Drain fat if desired. Add beans, chile cooking sauce, and tomatoes. Cook until sauce thickens slightly, about 5 minutes.
• Bring water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add cornmeal and salt; cook until thick and creamy, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Add corn, Monterey Jack cheese, and jalapeno. Stir well and spread over meat mixture.
• Bake in the preheated oven until top is golden and filling is bubbling, about 45 minutes. Remove from oven and let stand for 15 minutes before serving.