Rajas Con Queso Mini Tamales Food

CHEESE WITH ROASTED CHILE TAMALES: TAMALES DE QUESO CON RAJAS

Steps:

• Place corn husks in clean kitchen sink with plug to hold water, pour very hot water over husks and let soak. Take husks out of water and allow to drain in dish drainer (try to stand them straight up so that the water will drain easier).
• For the Masa: Place all dry ingredients in mixer and blend. Pour hot shortening into dry ingredients slowly and blend until evenly distributed about 2 minutes. Pour 1 quart of the hot chicken broth into mixture slowly so as not to splash. Mix on medium until incorporated. Slowly add additional broth to mixture until it is a slightly thicker consistency of hummus (spreadable). Mix on high for about 5 minutes to make it light and fluffy. Stir in the chiles.
• Mix all the cheese together and then make logs the size of a frankfurter, about 5 inches long and 3/4-inch thick. Cover and refrigerate.
• Take masa and husks to your area to begin spreading the masa. Take a husk and make sure that you have the smooth, shiny side up and put about 1 1/2 tablespoons of the masa and spread it with a metal spatula across the center of the husk and then down to about a 1/4-inch from the end and you should have at least 2-inches from the top. Chef's Note: I normally stack a few then I put a cheese log in and roll them up and place them in the steamer.
• When you have completed all of the stuffing and rolling, place them in the steamer and put on the stove top. Bring the steamer to a rolling boil and turn down to a medium boil and let cook for about 2 to 2 1/2 hours till done.

RAJAS CON QUESO MINI TAMALES RECIPE - (4.8/5)

Steps:

• Tamale dough: Place the lard in the bowl of a stand mixer and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add the masa harina and beat 2 minutes. Add the baking powder and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt; continue beating until incorporated, about 5 minutes. Add the hot broth and continue beating until the dough is soft and fluffy (it should pull away from the side of the bowl easily). Cover with a damp kitchen towel and let sit about 10 minutes. Place the corn husks in a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium and simmer until softened, about 8 minutes. Drain. Filling: Roast the poblanos over the flame of a gas burner, turning, until charred, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let cool. Peel the poblanos with your fingers and discard the stems and seeds, then coarsely chop. Melt the butter in a medium saute pan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, corn and poblanos and cook 2 more minutes. Add the crema; when it starts bubbling, reduce the heat to low and stir in the cheese until melted. Season with salt and set aside to cool. Tear 4 corn husks into 1/2-inch-thick strips to use as ties; set aside. Assemble the tamales: Hold an open corn husk in one hand; spread about 2 tablespoons dough on the husk, leaving a 1 1/2-inch border on all sides. Spoon 1 tablespoon of the filling down the center, then fold in the long sides of the husk to cover the filling and fold up the narrow short end (leave the wide end open). Tie a strip of corn husk around the tamale to hold the folded flaps in place. Repeat to make 12 tamales. Place the tamales, open-side up, in a steamer basket set in a large pot. Add enough water to cover the bottom of the pot by several inches, but not enough to touch the tamales. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium low; cover the pot with a kitchen towel and a lid and steam until firm, 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes, adding more water to the pot if needed. The tamales should pull away from the husks without sticking; if they're still sticky, continue cooking. Let stand at least 10 minutes before serving.

POBLANO AND CHEESE TAMALES (TAMALES DE RAJAS CON QUESO)

Steps:

• Place corn husks in a bowl, cover with boiling water, and soak for 30 to 60 minutes. Drain, place on a work surface, and cover with a clean, damp towel.
• Line a heavy cast iron grill pan or griddle with aluminum foil and place over high heat. Arrange poblano peppers in a single layer on top. Grill until chiles are blackened, turning as necessary, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer into a resealable plastic bag and let them steam, 10 to 15 minutes. Peel off skin, seed, and cut them into strips.
• Place tomatillos in a pot and cover them with water. Bring to a boil and cook until they change color, about 5 minutes. Drain and place in a blender. Blend until smooth.
• Heat 1 tablespoon lard in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and cook until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add blended tomatillos and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until flavors are well combined, about 5 minutes. Add poblano peppers and cilantro and boil for an additional 5 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool, about 10 minutes.
• Beat remaining lard in a large bowl with an electric mixer until creamy. Add salt and continue beating for a few minutes. Add masa harina and baking powder and beat well until combined. Add chicken broth, 1/4 cup at a time, until the dough has a smooth and workable consistency that is not too wet, similar to cookie dough. 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 or 2 small ones. Spread about 2 tablespoons masa mixture onto the corn husk, filling it up to 2 inches from the bottom and 1/4 inch from the top. Add 1 tablespoon of the tomatillo sauce and a piece of Monterey Jack cheese 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 15 minutes. Let tamales rest for 15 minutes before serving.

RAJAS CON QUESO

Steps:

• Roast the chilies over an open flame or on a griddle until blackened but not charred. Wrap the chilies in a towel and place them in a plastic bag for about 10 minutes. Remove the chilies and with the help of a kitchen towel rub the skins off. The chilies should be firm. Cut them in 1/2-inch strips discarding all the seeds and the ribs. Do not rinse them. Heat the oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the chilies and the onions at the same time. Stir often. When everything is soft add all the sour cream and the chicken bouillon granules to taste. When the cream is hot turn off the burner and add the cheese. Cover immediately. Enjoy with warm tortillas and white rice.

RAJAS CON QUESO GORDITA

Steps:

• Roast the poblanos and Anaheim chiles on a hot grill until charred. Let them sit in a sealed container for 10 minutes, then peel them and cut into strips.
• Heat the oil, then saute the onion with the jalapenos and serranos until soft, about 10 minutes.
• Blend the cream cheese with 3 cups water and add it to the pot of chiles. Add the roasted peppers, salt, pepper and cumin. Let simmer for 10 minutes. Fill Gorditas with finished product. Top with shredded cheese and serve with Refried Beans.
• For the gorditas: In a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, add the flour, baking powder and salt; mix to combine. Add the shortening and mix for about 5 minutes. Slowly add the warm water and milk; mix until the dough is firm but soft and won't stick to your fingers. (You might not use all the liquid, or you might need to add more.) Let rest for 10 minutes.
• Portion the dough out into 2.2-ounce balls and refrigerate overnight.
• Press the dough balls into tortillas by hand. Toast the tortillas on a griddle over medium-high heat. Slice open the tortillas.
• In a pot over medium heat place pinto beans, salt and 6 cups cold water, and let simmer until softened, about an hour.
• In a pan, heat canola oil, then add 3 cups pinto beans (save the remainder for another use) and stir for about 5 minutes. Add warm water and let simmer, about 10 minutes. Use a hand blender to blend until pureed.

RAJAS CON QUESO

Steps:

• Roast the chilies over an open flame or on a griddle until blackened but not charred.
• Wrap the chilies in a towel and place them in a plastic bag for about 10 minutes.
• Remove the chilies and with the help of a kitchen towel rub the skins off.
• The chilies should be firm.
• Cut them in 1/2 inch strips discarding all the seeds and the ribs.
• Do not rinse them.
• Heat the oil in a large pan over medium heat.
• Add the chilies and the onions at the same time.
• Stir often.
• When everything is soft add all the sour cream and the chicken bouillon granules.
• When the cream is hot, turn off the burner and add the cheese.
• Cover immediately until cheese melts.

RAJAS CON QUESO - A MEATLESS TACO FILLING

Steps:

• Rub the outside of the peppers with lard and place on heated skillet or griddle (I like cast iron).
• Turn the peppers to avoid burning.
• Cook until the skin begins to bubble on as much of the surface as possible.
• **ALTERNATE METHOD-- Submerge the peppers in an oil filled deep fryer for anywhere from 30 to 60 seconds (Again, you want to bubble the skin, not burn it).
• Immediately, place the bubbled peppers in a plastic bag and twist it to close it (I use the produce bag from the grocery store).
• Let the peppers cool until they are only slightly warm.
• Remove the skin from the peppers.
• Remove the stem, ribs and seeds from the peppers.
• Dice the peppers into roughly ¾-inch squares.
• In a non-stick skillet, add the diced peppers and most of the salsa.
• Bring the salsa to a boil and let it boil for 5- 10 minutes, stirring constantly as it boils (this is to reduce the salsa).
• Reduce the heat slightly and slowly incorporate the cheese, constantly stirring the salsa-cheese mix.
• *NOTE-The cheese has liquid in it, and as it melts, your mixture will become more"fluid" again.
• Continue to stir and reduce the mixture until its consistency (while still warm) is like cooled, heavy syrup.
• The cheese to salsa ratio will affect the thickness of the mixture and amount of cooking time needed to reduce it.
• After reducing the mix to the desired consistency, spoon it onto a warmed tortilla and eat it like a soft taco.
• I have garnished mine with a fresh cilantro/onion mix and/or Mexican table cream.
• You could add cooked, pulled chicken to your tacos, as well.
• If you have any leftovers, this dish refrigerates well.
• Chilled, it has a consistency like queso fresco or fresh mozzarella.
• Reheat your leftovers in a non-stick skillet over low heat.
• Prep time includes making the salsa.