Black Bean Tamales Food

TEX-MEX BEEF & BEAN TAMALES #RSC

Steps:

• Make the masa dough for the tamales: Beat one stick of butter with 2 tablespoons sugar until fluffy. Add the egg and beat until mixture is smooth.
• Place the corn kernels in a food processor or blender with the buttermilk and the salt and process until smooth. Add corn to the butter/egg mixture and beat until well blended.
• Stir the baking powder into the masa (harina de maiz). Add dry ingredients to the corn/butter mixture, mixing until well blended. Stir in 3/4 cups grated Monterrey Jack cheese. Set aside.
• Place the bacon in a heavy skillet and cook over medium heat until crispy. Remove from heat and set aside for another use, leaving rendered fat in the skillet.
• Cook the chopped scallions and tomatoes in the bacon fat until soft and fragrant. Add the ground beef and cook over medium heat, stirring, until browned. Add the can of black beans (with liquid) and cook, stirring, until liquid is evaporated. Remove from heat and set aside. Taste for seasoning and add more garlic salt if desired.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the softened cream cheese with the ranch dressing.
• Fill and Wrap Tamales: Place a 7 by 12 inch rectangle of Reynolds Wrap Non-Stick foil on the counter, with the non-stick side facing up.
• Spread about 1/3 cup of the corn masa dough into a 3 x 5 inch rectangle in the center of the foil. Spread 1 tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture on top of the masa. Place 1/4 cup of the beef and bean mixture on top of the cream cheese. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon grated Monterrey Jack. Top with another 1/3 cup masa, and spread it to cover the filling.
• Fold one short end of the foil up over the filling. Fold the two long sides in over the filling. There will be one end that is still open. Lift the tamale with the open end facing upwards and twist foil to close that end.
• Make 3 more tamales in the same way.
• Place tamales in a steamer basket, and place the basket over a pot with 2 inches of simmering water. Tamales should not touch the water. Cover tightly with a lid and steam tamales for 1 hour, checking water level from time to time.
• Let tamales cool for 15-20 minutes before serving. Serve with extra cream cheese mixture on the side.
• Tamales can be made ahead and reheated in the oven or in a steamer. Unwrap tamales before reheating them in the microwave. This recipe makes 4 large tamales. You can divide the ingredients into smaller amounts to make 8-10 smaller tamales, or even 16 appetizer-size tamales.

CORN AND BLACK BEAN TAMALES

Steps:

• Beat masa harina, water and lard in large bowl with mixer on low speed 3 min. or until well blended. Gradually beat in broth. Add sour cream; beat 5 min. or until light and fluffy. Place half the dough in medium bowl; mix in beans, chipotle peppers and 1/2 cup cheese. Add corn, poblano chiles and remaining 1/2 cup cheese to remaining dough; mix well.
• Place 1 corn husk on flat surface. Spoon 1 Tbsp. corn mixture onto husk about 1 inch from one end; spoon 1 Tbsp. bean mixture 1 inch from other end. Fold husk over fillings, then tie in center with thin strip of additional corn husk before tying at both ends. Repeat with remaining husks and filling.
• Line bottom of steamer with half the remaining husks; place tamales in steamer. Cover with remaining husks to completely enclose tamales. Cover tamalera; steam 50 min. or until fillings pull away from husks, adding more water to pot when necessary.

BLACK BEAN TAMALE PIE

Steps:

• In a sealable plastic bag or shallow dish, combine the black beans, sherry, and lemon juice.
• Marinate in the refrigerator 2 to 12 hours.
• Drain before using.
• Spoon the olive oil into a heavy nonstick or well-seasoned skillet over moderately high heat.
• Add the corn, toss once, then let brown very well, about 5 minutes.
• Toss again and continue browning for a minute or two.
• Add the jalapeno, garlic, cumin, oregano, 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, and the pepper.
• Cook a minute or two, then pour in 1/4 cup of the water to deglaze the pan.
• Turn out into a large bowl and toss in the tomatoes, scallions, and cilantro.
• The recipe may be prepared a day ahead to here.
• Bring 3 cups of the water and the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons salt to a boil in a large, heavy saucepan over high heat.
• Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, stir together the cornmeal and remaining 2 cups cold water.
• Add the cornmeal mixture to the boiling water and stir constantly until the mixture returns to a boil.
• Reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring frequently, until the mixture is as thick as mashed potatoes, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in 1 cup of the yogurt.
• Cook over very low heat, stirring frequently, until again as thick as mashed potatoes, about 8 minutes.
• Spread about 2/3 of hte cornmeal batter in the prepared casserole (keep the remainder covered over hot water to keep warm), making a 1 inch raised edge all around.
• Spoon the drained black beans on top and press in lightly.
• Sprinkle 1 1/2 cups of the cheese over the beans.
• Add all of the corn-tomato mixture and spread into an even layer.
• Spoon the remaining cornmeal mixture over the top in dabs and spread to make an even layer that covers the top (it's ok if some of the vegetables show through).
• Spoon the remaining yogurt and the canned tomato sauce in alternating diagonal lines.
• Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup cheddar.
• Bake about 1 hour, or until deep golden brown on top.
• Remove from the oven and let stand for atleast 15 minutes before serving.
• Cut into squares, remove them with a spatula, and serve hot, with a dolllop of sour cream, a couple black olives and radish slices, and a sprig of cilantro, if desired.
• If making ahead, cool to room temperature, cover with foil, and refrigerate. To reheat sprinkle the casserole with 2 to 3 tablespoons water and cover with foil. If at room temperature, bake at 350 for about 45 minutes. If cold, add about 15 minutes.

TAMALES DE FRIJOL (OAXACAN BLACK BEAN TAMALES)

Steps:

• Make the filling: In a large bowl, cover the beans with cold water by about 2 inches and soak overnight. The next day, drain the beans and transfer to a large pot. Add the onion, garlic, avocado leaves, salt and enough cold water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to maintain a simmer. Cook, skimming any foam, until the beans are very tender, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
• Cool for 15 minutes, then set a large strainer over a large bowl and drain. Transfer the beans, onion, garlic and 1 cup cooking liquid to a blender or food processor. Blend, adding more liquid as needed to get the machine going and to form an almost smooth puree. The consistency should be soft and spreadable, but not soupy. Season to taste with salt and cool to room temperature. Discard the avocado leaves and any remaining cooking liquid.
• While the beans cool, prepare for tamales: Heat the oil in a small saucepan until just smoking, then remove from the heat and set aside to cool completely. If you don't have plastic rounds for a tortilla press, cut off the edges of a gallon-sized resealable plastic bag to form two 10-inch squares of plastic. If you don't have a press, get out a heavy flat-bottomed large skillet.
• Heat a banana leaf on a griddle or large flat pan over high heat, turning and pressing flat until pliable and shiny, 15 to 30 seconds. Transfer to a work surface. Repeat with the remaining leaves, stacking them to keep them all warm and soft.
• In a large bowl, tear the masa into smaller chunks then add the salt and gradually add the cooled oil while kneading in. Continue kneading with both hands by punching down the mixture, then squeezing it between your fingers before gathering it into a mass and pushing it back down. Knead until the oil isn't visible and the masa is very smooth and soft.
• Assemble the tamales: Roll a 1/3 cup masa into a ball and flatten between the plastic by hand into a 1-inch-thick disk. Press in a tortilla press or against the counter using a skillet to form a tortilla-thin round (scant 1/8-inch-thick). Peel off the top plastic, keeping the masa on the bottom piece. Spread the bean filling evenly over the masa's entire surface in a thin layer (about 3 tablespoons). Using the plastic, lift the left edge and fold an inch in towards the center, then peel back the plastic and flatten it against the counter. Repeat on the right. Spread filling over the folded edges (about 1 teaspoon per side). Using the plastic, lift up the bottom third and fold it over the center as if folding a letter. Cover with filling (about 1 teaspoon), then use the plastic to lift the top and fold it over to enclose. Center an avocado leaf on top. Place the tamal upside down on a soft banana leaf and place another avocado leaf on top. Trim the leaves to fit if needed. Wrap in the banana leaf, folding in one long side, then the bottom, then the other side and rolling to enclose the end. Repeat with the remaining ingredients.
• Fit a steamer or colander into a large, deep pot and add enough water to almost reach its bottom. Stack the tamales flat in the steamer, leaving an empty space in the center. Cover with the reserved remaining banana leaves and then the lid. Bring the water to a boil and steam, replenishing with hot water as needed, until the masa is cooked through, about 1 1/2 hours. To test, unwrap a tamal and cut through the center to make sure there's no raw masa.
• Keep warm in the steamer off the heat until ready to serve. After unwrapping, the avocado leaves should be discarded before eating. The tamales can be cooled completely, then wrapped individually and frozen for up to 6 months. To serve, thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then resteam in the banana leaves or unwrap and pan-fry in oil until hot and crisp.