Layered tamale with green salsa

2 servings

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
12Servings
2Ears fresh yellow unshucked corn
2cupsMasa harina or finely ground yellow cornmeal
cupWarm water
½cupVegetable shortening
¼cup(1/2 stick) butter, softened
½teaspoonSalt
½teaspoonBaking powder
1cupMonterey Jack Cheese, shredded
4ouncesChopped mild green chilies, drained
¼cupFresh parsley
¼cupFresh cilantro
¼cupGreen onion, chopped
1Medium-sized sweet red pepper, chopped
½teaspoonChili powder
¼teaspoonGround cumin
4To 5 drops hot pepper sauce

Directions

Green Salsa Fresh Cilantro sprigs Shuck corn, saving husks; set aside. Remove & discard silks. Place husks in a large saucepan, cover with water and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low & simmer 10 minutes. Drain in colander.

Cool

Generously oil a 1-½ quart souffle dish. Arrange husks, pointed end up in an over lapping spoke design to completely line the bottom and sides of dish. Husks should extend about 2" past the rim. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside.

Cut corn from cobs. Set aside in a bowl and reserve. In a large bowl, beat together masa, water, shortening, butter, salt and baking powder to make a batter. Beat batter on medium speed 5 minutes; fold in cheese. Remove ⅓ of the batter to the bowl with the corn & stir to combine. Spoon corn mix into prepared dish. Smooth to level.

Place half of remaining batter into food processor bowl fitted with a chopping blade; add the chilies, parsley, cilantro and green onion.

Mix until smooth. Spoon mix on top of corn (2 nd layer). Rinse the processor bowl. In the processor with chopping blade, use the rest of the batter, the red pepper, chili powder and hot sauce. Process until smooth. Spoon mix on top. (3rd layer) Fold in husks. To keep husks down, weight top of tamale with a 4" square of aluminum foil filled with ½ cup raw rice or beans. Fill an 8 quart saucepan with 1-½" water and insert a wire rack. Place dish on rack. Over high heat bring to boil; reduce to low, cover tightly and steam for 1 hour. Remove from pot. (It will expand during cooking and shrink on cooling.) Let cool 1 hour. Remove foil. Invert plate over and unmold. Invert again to get it right side up. Peel back husks. Cut in wedges.

Green Salsa:

In a large bowl combine: 1 sweet green pepper, chopped fine 2 Tomatillos, chopped fine (or 2 ripe tomatoes) ½ cup finely chopped green onion 1 4 oz. can of green chilies ¼ cup chopped cilantro ½ tsp. grated black pepper

Stir in: 1 cup light olive oil ⅓ cup white wine vinegar ¼ cup water a dash of hot sauce

Mix until well blended

From: Country Living July 92 Shared By: Pat Stockett