Ray Garcias Masa Stuffing Recipes

MASA STUFFING

Steps:

• In medium skillet over moderately high heat, heat oil until hot but not smoking. Add celery, onion, garlic, and jalapeño and sauté until softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Add oregano and sauté 1 minute more. Transfer vegetables to medium bowl and set aside.
• In large bowl, whisk together masa, salt, cumin, baking powder, and pepper. In separate large bowl, using electric mixer, beat butter until light and fluffy, about 30 seconds. In 3 additions each, alternately beat in masa mixture and 2 cups stock, beating after each addition until just combined. Add eggs and beat until smooth. Fold in sautéed vegetables and corn.
• If baking inside turkey: Use immediately to stuff turkey and spread remainder in baking dish as directed in recipe .
• If baking entire recipe as side dish: Preheat oven to 450°F and butter 3-quart casserole or 9- by 13-inch baking dish. Transfer stuffing to dish and drizzle with 1/2 cup stock. Cover with aluminum foil and bake until heated through, about 30 minutes. Uncover and bake until top is slightly crisp and golden, about 10 minutes longer. Serve immediately.

RAY GARCIA'S MASA STUFFING RECIPE

Steps:

• Roast the potatoes: Heat the oven to 425 degrees. Prick the potatoes all over with a fork. Place on a foil-lined, rimmed baking sheet and roast until a knife easily pierces them, 40 minutes to 1 hour. Remove and set aside until cool enough to handle, then peel and run through a ricer to mash.
• Roast the marrow: Once the potatoes are removed from the oven, place the marrow on a foil-lined, rimmed baking sheet and roast just until the bones begin to brown and the marrow softens, about 15 minutes. Remove and push the marrow out of the bones. Cut the marrow into small pieces and set aside. Discard or save the bones for another use. Reduce the oven temperature to 275 degrees.
• Roast the poblanos: Place the chiles on a rack set over a gas stove-top burner heated over high heat. Roast until the skin on all sides of each chile is charred, about 5 minutes, turning frequently. (If you have an electric or ceramic stove top, roast the chiles in the oven using the broiler setting until charred on all sides.) Wrap each pepper in plastic wrap and set aside until the peppers are cool enough to handle, then peel the skin (the skin should stick to the plastic wrap). Rub the plastic wrap against the skin to loosen and remove it. Stem and seed each pepper, thinly slice. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, gently mix together the masa with the mashed potatoes and garlic oil. Slowly add water until the mixture has the consistency of muffin batter, about 1/3 cup of water. Fold in the bone marrow.
• Pour the mixture into an 8-inch square baking dish. Place the dish in a larger roasting pan. Place the pan into the 275-degree oven, and add boiling water to the roasting pan until it comes 2/3 up the side of the baking dish. Cook until the masa mixture is set, 1- to 1 ½ hours. Remove from heat and set aside until completely cool. Cut the cooked masa into 1-inch cubes.
• Meanwhile, in a large skillet heated over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Add the onions and cook until softened, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in the sliced chiles and chard stems and cook until tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in the oregano and cumin, and season with ¾ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper, or to taste. Remove from heat and set aside to cool, then stir in the cilantro.
• Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Butter a 13-inch by 9-inch baking dish.
• In a large bowl, gently toss the vegetable mixture with the masa cubes. Stir in the Swiss chard leaves, along with the cheeses.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs and broth. Pour over the large bowl of stuffing and toss gently to moisten. Transfer the stuffing to the buttered dish and cover with foil. Bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and continue to bake until the top is golden-brown, about another 30 minutes.