Stuffed Corn Husks Recipes

STUFFED CORN HUSKS

Steps:

• 1. Remove the husks from the corn and set aside. Scrape the kernels from the cobs and reserve the cobs. 2. Put the kernels in the container of an electric blender or food processor and blend or process very briefly at low speed. Do not liquefy. Scrape from the blender into a bowl and add the egg, sugar, salt, cream cheese, butter, baking powder, and cornmeal. The mixture should be on the heavy side. 3. Divide the mixture into 12 and place each portion on a double husk, roll to enclose, and then wrap in aluminum foil. 4. Place a layer of corncobs in the bottom of a large pot and add the water. Place the packages on top of cobs, cover, and steam for 45 minutes, or until done.

FIRE ROASTED SNAPPER WRAPPED IN GREEN CORN HUSKS WITH CHARRED CORN-CHARRED JALAPENO SALSA, AND JALAPENO PESTO

Steps:

• Remove the very outer husks from the corn. You will need 8 for wrapping the fish. Soak the husks for about 30 minutes. Peel back the inner husks, remove the silks, and close the husks around the ears, and soak for 30 minutes. Heat the grill to high. Grill the corn until the kernels are golden brown and slightly charred, about 15 minutes. Remove the kernels from the corn and place in a bowl. Save the cobs for the pesto, recipe below.
• Brush the jalapenos with oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill until charred all over, about 6 minutes. Dice chiles, including skin and seeds, and add 2 peppers worth to the corn with the onion, lime juice, honey, 2 tablespoons canola oil, cilantro and season with salt and pepper. Save the remaining jalapeno for the pesto
• Remove the corn husks from the water and pat dry. Brush the snapper on both sides with oil and season with salt and pepper. Place 2 husks flat on a work surface with the tapered ends facing out and the broad bases overlapping by about 3-inches. Place 1 fillet in the center and bring the longs sides up over the fish, slightly overlapping and pat down to close. Tie each end of the bundle with string and trim the ends to about 1/2-inch beyond the tie. Brush the bundles on both sides with oil and place on the grill. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side or until the fish is just cooked through.
• Brush cut side of limes with some canola oil, place on the grill, cut side down and grill until slightly charred, about 1 minute. Serve alongside the fish.
• Combine cilantro, grilled and diced jalapenos, garlic, pine nuts, salt and pepper in a food processor and process until coarsely chopped. With the motor running, slowly add the oil and process until emulsified. Scrape into a bowl.
• Scrape milk and any remaining kernels from grilled corn by standing cobs in bowl and running a knife blade down the cob. Stir the milk and scrapings into the pesto and serve.

STUFFED CORN HUSKS

Steps:

• Remove corn from husks, trying not to tear the husks.
• Fill the husks with shrimp, scallops and parboiled lobster or crab claws. Sprinkle with wine and scallions, and salt and pepper.
• Bring husks back together and tie top with a piece of husk. Place on hot grill for 15 minutes, turning several times.

CARNITAS TAMALES (SHREDDED PORK STUFFED CORN HUSKS)

Steps:

• Soak corn husks in warm water to cover for at least 2 hours or until pliable. Heat oil in a large saucepan and sauté onion until tender. Stir in red sauce, shredded pork, and remaining ingredients except tamale dough and olives. Bring to a boil reduce heat. Simmer for 15 minutes. Add a little pork liquid if mixture becomes too dry. Prepare Tamale Dough.Drain corn husks and pat dry with paper towels. Spread 1/4 cup dough across the center of each husk, from one edge to within 1/2 inch of other edge. Spoon 2 tablespoons of the pork mixture into the center of the dough top with an olive. Roll husks around the filling, starting with the dough edge. Then, fold each end up toward the center to make a packet. Secure with strips of corn husk or string, as needed.Set tamales on a rack in a large stockpot, Dutch oven, or steamer. Pour boiling water into the pot to just under the rack level. Place a coin in the pot to rattle when water boils too low. Cover the pot and keep water simmering over low heat for 1 hour. Tamales freeze well.

SEA BASS GRILLED IN CORN HUSKS WITH COMPOUND BUTTER

Steps:

• To make the Compound Butter -- Beat room temperature butter with a fork until creamy. Once it is smooth, add remaining ingredients and blend until all the ingredients are distributed evenly throughout the butter. Place a square of plastic wrap (like Saran Wrap) on the counter and mound the butter in a line down the center. Shape the butter into a cylinder and wrap the plastic around the butter, rolling it back and forth to shape. Twist the ends tightly and pull them at the same time, this forms a perfectly round, smooth log. Refrigerate or freeze until firm.
• To prepare the fish -- Soak 12 of the larger outer husks in hot water for 5 minutes. Put two soaked husks on work surface, one on top of the other. The two layers will keep the fish from burning. Place fish fillet centered in the cradle of the husk.
• Season the fish well with salt and pepper. Now, place a slice of compound butter (approx. 2 tsp.) on top of the fish.
• Place another husk on top of the fish and tuck into bottom husk. Make the pouch as gap-free as possible. Secure both ends of the packet with soaked cotton string.
• Grill packets over medium heat. They'll poach and steam in the packets so you don't need to turn them over.
• Cook about 10 minutes per inch of thickness.
• To serve, present fish in the grilled corn husk. Remove one knot and pull back top husk (like it's on a hinge).
• Doneness: If you're unsure about the timing test for doneness, use an instant read thermometer. Insert it through the packet into the thickest part of the fish. It's done when temp hits 125 - 130°F.
• Nutritional Information per serving: Calories 130: Total Fat 7(G): Calories from fat: 49%: Sodium 257(MG): Carb 0(G).

TRADITIONAL CORN HUSK TAMALES

Steps:

• To prepare chile paste:.
• Break caps off all red chiles and shake seeds out. Soak red chiles in hot water until soft. Blend or process chiles into a paste using a small amount of water in which they were soaked to help it move in the food processor or blender. Put paste through a sieve to remove the skins. Throw skins away. This may be made way ahead of time and refrigerated until you make the tamales.
• To prepare meat:.
• Use the cheapest roasts you can find! Try to cook the meat the day before assembling tamales, keeping it in the refrigerator until tamale-making time. Cut meat into large chunks. Cover meat with water in a very large pot. Add 6 to 12 garlic cloves and 2 or 3 tablespoons salt. Cook meat, covered, for 3 hours or until meat is tender and falling apart. Remove meat from juice and shred. SAVE THE JUICE. Mix meat sauce with the meat.
• To prepare meat sauce:.
• Melt 2/3 cup lard or Crisco and add 2/3 cup flour. Boil for 2 minutes. Pour over shredded meat and mix. Add chili paste, one cup at a time, to taste. Add 1 tablespoon of cumin. Add salt and pepper to taste.
• To mix masa:.
• Place 12 pounds masa (room temperature) in a very large pan and mix with 1 1/4 cups lard or Crisco, 2 tablespoons salt, 2 tablespoons baking powder, 1 cup chile paste and 2 cups meat broth.
• Mix with hands. Add more meat broth (about 1 cup). Add more chile paste for color if desired. Work all ingredients together with hands for about 10 minutes. The dough is ready when a small lump floats slowly to the bottom of a glass of water.
• To assemble tamales:.
• Soak corn husks in hot water until soft. Using the larger husks, place each husk waxy side up (ribbed side down). Spread masa onto each husk out to the wide edge. Place a small portion of meat in the center of masa. (You may place a stuffed green olive on the meat if you care to.) Roll husks and fold back, wide sides to center, then tapered flap up.
• Set a wire rack or vegetable steamer in the bottom of a large kettle. Put water in kettle just up to the bottom of the rack or steamer. Set tamales in kettle standing on end. Pack them in, allowing room for expansion of masa as they cook. Steam for about 20 to 40 minutes, or until masa pulls away from corn husk easily.

CARNITAS TAMALES (SHREDDED PORK STUFFED CORN HUSKS)

Steps:

• Soak corn husks in warm water to cover for at least 2 hours or until pliable. Heat oil in a large saucepan and sauté onion until tender. Stir in red sauce, shredded pork, and remaining ingredients except tamale dough and olives. Bring to a boil reduce heat. Simmer for 15 minutes. Add a little pork liquid if mixture becomes too dry. Prepare Tamale Dough.Drain corn husks and pat dry with paper towels. Spread 1/4 cup dough across the center of each husk, from one edge to within 1/2 inch of other edge. Spoon 2 tablespoons of the pork mixture into the center of the dough top with an olive. Roll husks around the filling, starting with the dough edge. Then, fold each end up toward the center to make a packet. Secure with strips of corn husk or string, as needed.Set tamales on a rack in a large stockpot, Dutch oven, or steamer. Pour boiling water into the pot to just under the rack level. Place a coin in the pot to rattle when water boils too low. Cover the pot and keep water simmering over low heat for 1 hour. Tamales freeze well.

TOMATOES STUFFED WITH GRILLED CORN SALAD

Steps:

• Pull back corn husks, leaving them attached at base of ear. Remove and discard silk; pull husks back over corn. Place ears in large bowl; cover with cold water. Let soak 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cut off and discard top third of tomatoes. Using a paring knife, cut around wall of tomato to loosen flesh. Gently squeeze out seeds; discard. With a melon baller, scoop out tomato interiors, leaving the wall intact. Coarsely chop interiors; transfer to a large bowl.
• Heat grill to high; lightly oil grates. Drain corn; arrange ears on grill. Cover and cook, turning occasionally with tongs, until husks are slightly charred and corn is tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove ears from grill. Holding bottom of hot ears with a towel, peel back husks and cut kernels off cob; transfer to bowl with tomatoes.
• Add scallions, all but 2 tablespoons goat cheese, vinegar, and oil. Season with salt and pepper; toss to combine. Spoon filling into hollowed tomatoes; sprinkle with remaining goat cheese and, if desired, bacon.