chicken tamales
A friend taught me how to make these, and I taught her how to make egg rolls.
prep time
cook time
method
Steam
yield
Lots
Ingredients
- CHICKEN FOR THE TAMALES
- 1 - whole chicken 5 lbs
- 1 - onion
- 2 stalks celery
- 2 - carrots
- 4 cloves garlic
- 8 - chicken bouillon cubes
- 4 - garlic bouillion cubes (may be found in the hispnic isle)
- 4 - onion bouillion cubes (i like to add these for more flavor to the broth, they also may be found in the hispanic isle)
- RED SAUCE
- 15 - chiles, dried ..i like to use a combination of new mexico and guajillo
- 5 cloves garlic
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons shortening
- MASA
- 8 cups masa harina (in the hispanic isle)
- 8 cups chicken broth (from the cooked chicken)
- 4 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 & 2/3 cups shortening
- HUSKS
- - soak your corn husks in water for atleast a hour
- CHEESE AND PEPPER TAMALES
- - i use a canned jalepeno (or fresh)
- - queso fresco cheese (cut into about 10 to 12 slices)
How To Make chicken tamales
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Step 1Place chicken and all ingredients in a large stock pot. Cover with water and let cook on low for 3 hrs or so. Once done remove chicken and veggies. Let chicken cool then remove from bones and shred. Save the broth for the masa.
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Step 2For the sauce. Roast peppers in the oven on 350 for 2 to 5 minutes. Watch them closely. Remove and soak them in hot water for 30 minutes. Remove stems and seeds. Put peppers and 2 1/2 cups water in a blender,add garlic,cumin and salt. cover and blend till smooth. In a saucepan stir flour and shortening until browned, stir in pepper mixture. simmer uncovered on medium to low for 5 to 10 minutes.
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Step 3Masa(recipe is also on the bag) Mix masa, baking powder and salt in a bowl. Work broth in a little at a time.(your hands are your best tool for this) To make a soft moist dough. Beat shortening in a bowl till light and fluffy add to masa until it has a spongy texture.
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Step 4Add the red sauce to the chicken. And you are ready to start making your tamales.
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Step 5Take a husk and add about 1/4 cup of masa smooth it out over the large end of the husk to about half way up. Add about 2 to 3 Tbsp of chicken(less or more depending on how much meat you want)or your slice of cheese and jalepenos if you're making cheese and pepper tamales, fold one side half way over then the other,then fold down the top part of the husk. Repeat many times.
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Step 6You will need a steamer to cook them in. Stand the tamales upright in your steamer basket,make sure you have them packed in tightly,sometimes if I'm making just a small batch I will put a glass microwave safe bowl in to take up space. Let steam for 1 hour on medium heat.Make sure you put alot of water in the bottom of your steamer. The one I use I got at an Asain market(well, took it from my exhusband lol)
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Step 7They should be packed in like this.
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Step 8Thank you to my wonderfull daughter for helping me take the pictures and editing my recipe..lol
- Last Step: Don't forget to share! Post a picture of your finished recipe here and on your favorite social network. Don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes!
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