CHICKEN & PORK TAMALES

By Sandy Mika
@mikasldy

I make tamales probably only once a year but when I do I make a lot ! I no longer use the husk to wrap them in, that takes way too long, and I make too many for that, plus I don't really have any help any more. I use parchment paper to wrap them in now, I found that it is easier and faster , and it keeps the tamale more moist. You can use the husk for these if you like I just prefer the parchment paper. I think its less work if you prepare everything the day before.

Rating:

★★★★★ 3 votes

Comments:

11 Comments

Prep:

10 Hr

Cook:

6 Hr

Method:

Steam

Ingredients

1 or 2: fresh picnic hams( the amount depends on how many you want to make
20 lb: chicken (i use thighs)
1 lb: dried ancho peppers
4 to 6 c: tomatillo / jalapeno sauce
2: onions (1 for pork, 1 for chicken)
2: green peppers (1 for pork, 1 for chicken)
1 c: chopped cilantro 1/2 cup for pork , 1/2 cup for chicken
10 clove: garlic 5 for pork, 5 for chicken
1 tsp: each, adobo powder,cumin, salt, pepper
3 pkg: sazon
2 Tbsp: salt
1/2 c: sofrito
1 can(s): tomato sauce
: corn husks or parchment paper for wrap
6 c: masa
3/4 c: lard
1 1/2 tsp: baking powder
2 tsp: salt

How to Make CHICKEN & PORK TAMALES

Step-by-Step

1simmer chicken in one pot and pork in another, and add onion, green pepper, garlic, cilantro, adobo, cumin, salt & pepper to each pan.
2simmer chicken till done remove from pan , cool , shred and remove fat, skin and bones, set aside, keep the broth.
3simmer pork about 4 hours till very tender, remove from pan shred pork, set aside. keep the broth. Mix chicken and pork together, set aside.
4rinse ancho peppers put in a large pot and fill with water, bring to a boil and simmer about 1/2 an hour, till peppers are soft. remove from heat and let cool.
5when peppers have cooled ,tear pepper open and remove stem and seeds ,put peppers in food processor and set aside. Strain seeds from the water ancho peppers cooked in, reserving the water. add about 2 or 3 cups of ancho water to food processor and process till smooth, you can add more water if needed. set aside. reserve 2 or 3 tbs for the masa.
6heat a large pan add 3 tbs oil and heat oil and add about half a cup of sofrito and a small can of tomatoe sauce , about 1/2 tsp adobo powder and 1 pack sazon. cook 2 or 3 minutes, add ancho paste , 1/2 tsp cumin and 2 tbs salt, add 4 to 6 cups of tomatillo/ jalapeno sauce. cook 5 minutes stirring constantly.
7pour over chicken and pork and mix well, add broth a cup at a time, if it needs more , you want a saucey mix, the pork and chicken absorb a lot of the juices, simmer for about 15 or 20 minutes. set aside.
8prepare the masa or use the already prepared masa for tamales. I prefer the prepared, I do add ancho paste and broth and some lard to the prepared also.
9to make masa : in a large bowl beat lard for 1 minute,add 2 or 3 tbs of ancho paste, mix well. in a separate bowl mix together masa , baking powder and salt. alternating add masa and broth to lard beating well after each addition, add just enough broth to make a thick creamy paste,(about consistency of thick peanut butter) add broth just a little at a time.
10spread masa on husks or parchment paper not too thin or too thick, add filling and wrap up folding the top and bottom over to close. with husks you can leave the top open, but you need to pay more attention to how you stack them in the steamer pot.
11stack in steamer pot and steam for at least 1 hour.
enjoy 8]
I make the masa as I need it, and I make a large amount of tamales, everything can be adjusted as you need. You can do any filling that you like, I always just play around and add what I like 8]