Classic Tamale Batter Food

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.

OAXACAN BLACK-BEAN TAMALES

Steps:

• Reconstitute the corn husks.
• In a small saucepan, combine the black beans, avocado leaves, lard, onion, and 3 cups water. Set saucepan over high heat. Bring the liquid to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low. With lid slightly ajar, simmer until the beans become very tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Add additional water as necessary if the beans begin to dry out during the cooking process.
• Remove and discard the avocado leaves from filling. Generously season filling with salt. Remove pan from heat, and set the filling aside to cool.
• Using a potato masher or a large spoon, coarsely mash the filling until it becomes thick enough to easily hold its shape when placed in a spoon.
• Assemble 16 tamales with the tamale batter and the black-bean filling, using large husks for wrappers and ties, and reserving smaller ones to line the steamer basket and cover the tamales.
• Prepare the steamer, and steam the tamales. Let the tamales stand until the batter has firmed. Serve the tamales warm with the chopped-tomato-and-serrano salsa.

BUTTERY FRESH CORN TAMALES

Steps:

• Reconstitute the corn husks.
• Place 2 cups corn kernels in the bowl of a food processor, and pulse into a medium- coarse puree. Add the butter, and pulse 5 or 6 times. Add the masa, sugar, salt, and baking powder; pulse until thoroughly combined. Process until the mixture is light, fluffy, and homogenous, about 1 minute, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl once or twice.
• Transfer mixture to a medium bowl, and stir in remaining 3/4 cup corn kernels until combined. Chill corn filling until ready to use.
• Assemble 14 tamales with the corn filling, using the large husks for wrappers and ties, and reserving the smaller ones to line the steamer basket and to cover the assembled tamales.
• Prepare the steamer, and steam the tamales. Let stand until the batter has firmed. Serve tamales with sour cream and Chopped Tomato and Serrano Salsa.