Tamales De Pollo Chipotle Chicken Tamales Recipes

RED CHICKEN TAMALES (TAMALES ROJOS DE POLLO)

Steps:

• Place corn husks in a bowl, cover with boiling water, and soak for a few hours. Drain, place on a work surface, and cover with a clean, damp towel.
• Place chicken in a pot, season with salt, and cover with water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, reduce heat, cover, and simmer until chicken is cooked through, 20 to 25 minutes. Drain chicken and shred with 2 forks.
• Heat a griddle over medium heat and toast ancho and mulato chiles until fragrant, 3 to 5 minutes. Place in a bowl and cover with boiling water. Soak until soft, about 25 minutes. Combine ancho and mulato chiles, garlic, cumin seeds, and about 1/2 cup of the soaking water in a blender; blend until a thick, smooth, mole-like sauce forms, adding more water if necessary.
• Heat 1 tablespoon lard in a saucepan over medium heat and add the sauce; cook for 3 to 5 minutes. Add shredded chicken and cook until flavors are combined and chicken is heated through, about 5 minutes.
• Place remaining lard in a large bowl; beat with an electric mixer until creamy. Add masa harina, chicken broth, baking powder, and 1 1/2 teaspoon salt, and beat until all ingredients are well combined. Test if the masa is ready by dropping a small ball of masa into a glass of cold water; if it floats, it's ready, if not, keep working the dough a little longer.
• Select 1 wide corn husk. Spread about 2 tablespoons masa mixture onto the the corn husk, filling it up to 2 inches from the bottom and 1/4 inch from the top. Add 1 tablespoon of the chicken filling in the center of the masa mixture. Fold sides of husk together, one over the other. Fold the bottom of the husk over the seam of the 2 folded sides. Repeat with remaining husks.
• Place a steamer insert into a saucepan and fill with water to just below the bottom of the steamer. Bring water to a boil. Add tamales with the open side up and cook until filling is heated through and separates from the husk, about 1 hour. Let tamales rest for 15 minutes before serving.

TAMALES DE POLLO - CHICKEN TAMALES

Steps:

• Preparing the corn husks:.
• Remove the corn husks from their package.
• Place into a large bowl and pour boiling water over them.
• Since they will float, to keep them submerged, set another bowl full of water on top of them.
• Leave for several hours or overnight.
• Chicken Tamale Filling:.
• Heat oil in a large heavy skillet and saute the yellow onions, garlic, green onions, tomatillos, bell pepper, and all chiles, until they are soft and hot but not yet beginning to brown.
• Add the chicken meat, cilantro, chili seasoning, lime juice and zest, and sugar.
• Stir well.
• Add enough chicken stock, broth or bouillon to stand at least an inch deep over the top of the ingredients.
• Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a rapid simmer and then add salt and pepper to taste and adjust seasonings.
• You may wish to add more sugar and lime juice or a pinch of dry chili flakes if you want a bit more heat.
• Cool and use to make tamales now or freeze for use later.
• Basic Tamale Dough:.
• Mix the masa, baking powder, salt, and cumin thoroughly together.
• In another bowl, beat the butter and fat together until very light and creamy, about 5 minutes.
• Gradually beat in 3 tbsp of masa mixture, then 3 tbsp water until light and fluffy, about 1 minute.
• Continue beating in the masa and water, alternately, until the dough is very smooth and of spreading consistency, about 5 minutes.
• Cooking and Making the Tamales:.
• When ready to begin folding your tamales, remove the corn husks from the water, drain, and pat dry.
• Put in a plastic bag to stay moist and remove only a few at a time as you need them.
• Lay one corn husk on a flat surface in front of you.
• Put about a tbsp of prepared masa dough on the corn husk and flatten with the back of the spoon.
• The dough should be no more than 1/4 inch thick.
• Leave at least a 1/2 inch border on each long side of the corn husk that has no masa and at least 1-1/2 inches at the top and bottom.
• Put about a tbsp of the chicken filling in a line down the center of the masa.
• Bring the 2 long sides of the corn husk over the masa and filling and overlap them a bit.
• Then fold the two ends over.
• You may leave the tamale like this and simply put it in the steamer, folded side down or you may use thin strips of corn husk or thin kitchen twine to tie them shut.
• The most convenient way to cook tamales is a conventional steamer. However, you can improvise.
• Fill the bottom of the steamer with water up to the level indicated and bring to a boil.
• Line the top of the steamer with corn husks, covering the bottom and sides well.
• Stack the tamales upright, with the tied down flaps upwards.
• For the best results they should be packed firmly but not tightly, because the husks swell out as the dough cooks.
• Cover the tamales with more corn husks.
• Cover the top of the steamer with a thick cloth (a piece of old toweling is best) to absorb condensation.
• Cover the steamer with a tight fitting lid.
• Let the tamales cook for about 2-1/2 to 3 hours over a medium flame.
• Keep the water bubbling, but not boiling violently.
• To test the tamales for doneness, remove one from the center, and one from the side of the steamer.
• As you open the husk, the dough should come away easily from the husk and be completely smooth.
• Once cooked, tamales are very good tempered.
• They are great to eat right away and they also do very well being gently reheated in an ungreased frying pan.
• Just keep turning them so that they are heated through evenly and the husk browns but does not burn.
• They can be refrigerated and will keep well stored that way for about a week.
• However, it is best to freeze them.
• To reheat, they can be wrapped in foil, put into a 350°F oven still frozen, and heated through for about 30 minutes.

TAMALES DE POLLO (CHIPOTLE CHICKEN TAMALES)

Steps:

• Place the corn husks in a large bowl and add enough warm water to cover. Weigh down with a plate if needed and soak until softened, at least 1 hour and up to 3 hours.
• Meanwhile, whisk the harina de maíz nixtamalizado, salt and baking powder in a large bowl. Add the lard and rub into the dry ingredients with your fingers until thoroughly incorporated and the mixture is sandy. Add 2 1/2 cups broth, 1/2 cup at a time, and mix and knead in each addition with your hands until fully incorporated before adding the next. The dough should be soft and tacky but not sticky. If needed, continue adding broth 1/4 cup at a time, kneading well after each addition.
• To assemble a tamal, remove a husk from the water and pat dry. Use your fingers or a palette knife to spread a handful of masa (about 1/4 cup) in the center of the husk, covering about two-thirds of the husk with masa about 1/4-inch thick. Leave at least 3 inches clear at the pointed end and at least an inch on the other sides. Put 1 heaping spoonful of the chicken tinga filling lengthwise down the center of the masa. Wrap by bringing the right side of the dough over the filling and folding in half. Continue rolling tightly to the long end of the husk, then fold the pointed bottom end over the tamal towards the open top. Set aside folded ends down. Repeat with the remaining ingredients.
• Prepare a large steamer by setting a steamer insert or rack above gently boiling water. Stack the tamales flat seam side down on the insert, leaving an empty space in the center. Cover with remaining husks, then the lid. Steam, replenishing the water as needed, until the tamales are firm and the masa comes away easily from the husk, about 45 to 55 minutes. Remove from the heat and keep warm in the steamer until ready to serve. Steamed and cooled tamales can be wrapped individually and frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and steam until heated through to serve.

MEXICAN CHICKEN TAMALES/ TAMALES DE POLLO

Steps:

• 1. If you are planning to make these tamales it is a good idea a month or two in advance to start collecting all the skin from the chicken that you purchase and freeze in baggies. The flavor from the the fat of the rendered chicken skin is amazing ask any Jewish delicatessen. Delicious...When you have a sizeable amount about a pound or two take out defrost put into a large fry pan and slowely fry on medium until all of the fat has rendered out. Save the fat in a jar and store in a cool dry place until ready to use prefably in the fridge. The little cracklins or fried up chicken skin are super delish. If you are lucky enough to live in New York City you can find the chicken fat in jars ready to cook with. On to the chicken. Put the giblets, and chicken parts into a very large soup pot add the water, onion, spice cloves, (2 only) bay leaf, cilantro, garlic and salt bring to a gentle boil. When boiling reduce heat and cook for 2 hours until chicken if falling of the bone. Shut off heat and let cool this should be done the day before. When cool enough to handle remove chicken from bone discard skin and bones and livers. Shredd chicken and dice giblets store in a large container and set aside in the refrigerator. When the chicken broth is cool enough to handle strain and store in the fridge as well there should be enough for at least 6 to 8 cups. If you are going to be short you can add store bought broth such as college Inn or Swanson. Note: If you are planning to make your tamales today then clean and remove all the corn silk from the corn husks now and put into a deep pot with very hot water to soak. weight them down with a heavy object so the will be under water. Leave saoking until ready fore use. About forty to fifty large corn husks should be enough soaking. If you will be making the tamales tomorrow then do this step firt before anything else. soaking the husks first & leave in the water until ready for use.
• 2. The Sauce, rinse and dry tomatoes. Take a large cookie sheet spray pam or spread a little canola oil on the cookie sheet. Rub tomatoes with a little canola oil and put under the broiler. I know I did not mention this in the ingredients but sometimes I take one medium seeded jalapeno and char with the tomatoes just for a little kick (only one)You can also char your 3 large poblano peppers at this time with the tomatoes. Sometimes depending on the weather i will char everything out on my grill. Turning until I have an even char on all the veggies. when done seperate the tomatoes from the poblanos cover the poblanos and let them sweat for a while like 30 minutes. Take your tomatoes skin and all and put into a blender with the garlic and the spices and jalapeno if using, and blend until you have a nice semi smooth sauce. Now into a deep fry pan or deep pot heat your chicken fat and add your sliced onions saute until translucent about 4 minutes. Next add the blended sauce and saute on medium high heat until somewhat reduced. Season again after tasting the sauce salt and pepper and add your shredded chicken. I like to add a little more cumin powder, and garlic powder to this just a sprinkle for added flavor even though i do not have the extra spice sprinkle in the above ingredients recipe. Thats just the way I cook. After the 30 minutes have passed take out the sweated poblanos carefully remove the chared skin and slice open remove the seeds and the core. Slice each poblano into 8 strips and set aside. To make the removal of the charred skin a little easier use a paper towel and wipe the skin away ferom the pepper. Do not rinse under water. you will wash away the delicious grilled flavor of the pepper. Save for the assemble of the tamales.
• 3. Mixing the Masa. If you have a heavy duty electric mixer such as an artisan mixer by Kitchen Aide use your dough hook. First beat the lard or chicken fat fora about 4 or 5 minutes it is good to beat enough air into the fat.(It makes for a fluffier tamale) The lard will turn an off white when this happens begin to add the masa or maseca alternately with very warm cupfulls of the strained chicken broth do this until your masa is of a thick creamy consistency like a thick creamy polenta. The masa or Maseca corn mixture should be tasted to see if it has enough salt. Set aside you are now eady to assemble your tamales.
• 4. Making the tamales. Remove your husks from the soaking water and towel blot dry. Cover with dish towels so they do not dry out. Take a butter knife and spread a fairly good tablespoon and a half of masa on a corn husk. spread to the bottom half of the husk leaving the the top half that looks like a triangle clean. Spread as if spreading a little less than a 1/4 inch of masa on the corn husk. Do not spread all the way to the ends leave a little space on each side. Next take a nice size heaping tablespoon of warm chicken sauce with chicken and lay down the middle of the or center of the husk be generous putting enough chicken and sauce in the tamale. Now take one slice of you prepaired poblano stips and lay across the chicken. Fold one side of the husk over the other so that the masea is completely coverd then take the top part (the pointed end and fold back down behind the back of the tamale. This will secure the tamale and less chance of it opening. lay seam down until you have done all of them this way. Stack the tamales in a tamle steamer or a pot fitted with an inverted bowl on the botton and a multi preforated pie tin or circular preforated screen to stack your tamales on. I remeber my grandmother improvising and setting a large mug in the middle of the screen and stacking the tamales open end always standing up and leaning a little to a slant against the mug and positioning all her tamales in a cicular position around the mug. She always made sure the water was very hot water almost boiling in the bottom of the pot or steamer. Remember these tamales never touch the water they steam and never get emersed in water. Steam for about an hour and 15 minutes Test to see if the tamales are done if the dough seperates easy from the husk the tamles are done. Freeze in bags of 6 or 12. They freeze well. To re heat frozen tamales steam again in a steamer for 15 to 20 minutes or heat in the microwave. Enjoy.
• 5. PS I have no photo of these at this time. I have not made since last year. When I make I will upload a picture of them. They look almost exactly as the pork tamales i have posted only these are made with chicken and the sauce is not as dark as the pork tamales. ood luck everyone. Enjoy.