Friday, February 11, 2011

Recipe: Chicken Tamale in Green Sauce from Mama Hot Tamales

Being a graduate student has its perks. Sometimes it's pretty random, like the time Mama from Mama Hot Tamales came to Caltech show us how to make tamales.

Chicken Tamales with Green Sauce (Salsa Verde)

Chicken Tamale



IMG_4503Masa Recipe:
1 - 5lb bag of Maseca
1 ltr of corn oil
1 tbsp baking soda
3 tsp of salt
Enough chicken broth to bring the masa to the consistency of cookie dough

To prepare the masa/dough: combine the maseca, baking powder, and salt. Add chicken broth, knead well with your hands to form dough. In a separate bowl pour cooking oil and add dough, 1/2 cup at a time, to the cooking oil, and mix until thoroughly combined.


Take about 30 corn husks and soak in warm water until soft, then separate.

To Prepare Meat: Cook 1 to 1.5 lbs of chicken for approximately 1.5 hours. Let cool down then shred. Put aside into a bowl.

The recipe for the salsa verde is not given here, so you might want to find that somewhere else or just buy some.

Depending on the size of the corn husk leaves, place 1 or 2 husks cupped in one hand, with the broad side facing you. Spread approximately 1/4 cup of masa on the center of the leaves, then place approximately 2 oz of shredded chicken and 1 tbsp of the green sauce over the chicken. Leave about 1 inch of the husk on the right and left and about 3 inches from the top.
IMG_4500

Use the broad part of your thumb to press the masa smoothly in place. Fold the sides of each corn husk to the center.

To secure the tamales for steaming, either fold the ends of the husks over at the top and bottom or tie the ends with a thin piece of corn husk.


Place tamales upright in a steamer or a large pot with a rack. Pour boiling water to just under rack level. Cover and cook, with simmering water over low heat for about 1.5-2 hours.

I've had Mama Hot Tamales before at downtown's Tamale Festival, but I wasn't able to try this one. Since Caltech students are competitive, by the time I'm done with taking photos, all the tamales were gone :P

1 comments:

Lori Lynn

Hi Fiona - we love making tamales. Too bad you didn't get one! I bet hers we terrific...

It was nice to see you in San Diego, I've been eating Korean food ever since, even for breakfast today!
LL

Gourmet Pigs   © 2008. Template Recipes by Emporium Digital

TOP