Pork Tamales With Roasted Tomatillo Chile Salsa Recipes

RED-CHILE PORK TAMALES

Steps:

• Reconstitute the corn husks.
• In the jar of a blender, combine chiles, garlic, pepper, and cumin. Add 1 1/2 cups water, and blend until a smooth puree forms.
• Strain mixture into a medium saucepan. Add the pork, 1 3/4 cups water, and salt. Place over medium heat; cook, stirring frequently, until liquid has reduced to consistency of a thick sauce and meat is very tender, 50 to 60 minutes. Using a fork, break up the meat.
• Place the classic tamale batter in a large bowl. Add 3 tablespoons sauce; combine.
• Assemble twelve tamales with the batter and the pork filling, using large husks for wrappers and ties, and reserving smaller ones to line basket and cover the tamales.
• Prepare the steamer, and steam the tamales. Let stand until batter has firmed. Serve tamales with the salsa.

ROASTED TOMATILLO-CHILE SALSA

Steps:

• Preheat broiler. Place tomatillos, garlic, and Hatch chile on a rimmed baking sheet. Broil, turning occasionally, until charred, about 10 minutes.
• When cool enough to handle, squeeze garlic from skins into a blender. Scrape and discard charred skin from Hatch chile, remove seeds, and add chile to blender with tomatillos, garlic, and chipotles. Process until combined. Add salt, sugar, and cilantro. Pulse until smooth.

SMOKY CHIPOTLE SALSA

Steps:

• Heat a 10-inch cast-iron or nonstick skillet over medium-high. Add garlic and tomatillos. Cook tomatillos, cut side down, until well browned, about 4 minutes. Flip vegetables and cook until tomatillos are browned and completely soft and garlic is browned.
• Transfer garlic and tomatillos to a blender or food processor, along with chiles in adobo sauce and water. Process to a coarse puree, about 5 seconds. Transfer to a medium bowl and let cool. Thin with a little more water if necessary. Season with salt.