Tomasitas Red Chile Food

TOMASITA'S RED CHILE

Steps:

• Rinse the chile pods 5 times, then let soak in water in a bucket or large bowl for 5 hours or so.
• After the chiles have soaked for 5 hours, discard the water. Put the chile pods in a blender. Tamp the pods down into the blender, then add water to the top. Blend well into a paste.
• Put the paste in a large saucepan over medium heat.
• Make a roux. Put the oil in a saucepan, over medium heat, heat up slightly, add the flour and stir constantly. The flour should get toasted and brown, but do not burn it, about 5 minutes.
• Drizzle the roux into the red chili and mix to combine. This will make it thicker and change the color slightly, but it should not get white in color. The chili and liquid should just look darker and less bright than the red chili without any roux. Add enough roux and water to get the chili to the right consistency, which should be like gravy. You may not use all the roux.
• Add the garlic and salt. Leave the chili in the pot to simmer for 20 minutes, stirring regularly. Do NOT bring it to a boil, as that may burn the flour in the roux. Add more salt and garlic if needed and serve.

TOMASITA'S GREEN CHILE

Steps:

• Put the New Mexico green chile in a large saucepan over medium heat. Do not let boil.
• Make a roux. Put the oil in a saucepan, over medium heat, heat up slightly, add the flour and stir constantly. The flour should get toasted and brown, but do not burn it, about 5 minutes.
• Drizzle the roux into the green chile and mix to combine. This will make it thicker and change the color slightly, but it should not get white in color. The chile and liquid should just look darker and less bright that the green chile without any roux. Add enough roux and water to get the chile to the right consistency, which should be like gravy. You may not use all the roux.
• Add the garlic and salt. Leave the chile in the pot to simmer for 20 minutes, stirring regularly. Do NOT bring it to a boil, as that may burn the flour in the roux. Add more salt and garlic if needed and serve.

RED ROASTED TOMATILLO SALSA WITH CHILES

Steps:

• Set an ungreased griddle or heavy skillet over medium heat. If using dried chiles, break off their stems. Toast the chiles a few at a time. Set them on the hot surface, press flat for a few seconds with a metal spatula. They'll crackle a little and become freagrant), then flip and press down to toast the other side. Transfer the toasted chiles to a bowl, cover with hot water, and set aside for 30 minutes, stirring regularly to ensure even soaking. Drain the chiles, discarding the liquid.
• On a heavy, dry skillet or griddle over medium heat, roast the unpeeled garlic, turning occasionally, until blackened in spots and soft, about 15 minutes. Cool, slip off the papery skins, and chop roughly.
• Preheat the broiler. Place the tomatillos on a baking sheet, and place about 4 inches from heat. When the tomatillos have blistered, blackened, and softened on one side, turn them over, and roast on the other side. Cool completely on the baking sheet.
• Scrape the tomatillos and their juices into a food processor or blender, and add the rehydrated chiles and garlic, and puree to the desired consistency. Transfer salsa to a serving bowl, and add enough water to give the salsa an easily spoonable consistency, about 3 to 4 tablespoons. Season with salt, and add 1/4 teaspoon sugar (optional) if you want to soften any tartness.

RED CHILE TAMALES

Steps:

• In a mixer or by hand, combine masa, lard, salt and baking powder until well blended.
• Deseed the chile pods, then soak the pods in hot water until soft.
• Puree the soft chile pods.
• Boil roast with salt, pepper and garlic until beef is cooked through.
• Remove beef; shred.
• Reserve the beef broth.
• Mix red chile puree with shredded beef.
• Add reserved beef broth until moist.
• Spread masa in a corn husk.
• Place about 1 1/2 ounces beef in the center of the masa.
• Fold over sides of tamale, then wrap tamale in wax paper.
• Place tamales in steamer pot, cover and cook 45 minutes or until the tamales are firm.

TAMALES DE CHILE ROJO (RED CHILE TAMALES WITH MEAT)

Steps:

• Sort through the husks to get 20 large ones and place in a large bowl, along with 10 additional smaller husks. Add enough boiling water to cover and weigh down with a plate to soak until softened, at least 30 minutes or up to 3 hours. Drain and wipe dry.
• Mix the harina de maíz nixtamalizado azul and baking powder in a large bowl and gradually add 1 1/2 cups broth while mixing and kneading with your hands. Add the remaining broth as needed to achieve a smooth dough that feels neither moist nor dry. It shouldn't stick to your fingers but should hold together in a single mass.
• Beat the vegetable shortening in a large bowl by hand or with an electric stand or handheld mixer on medium-high speed until it becomes very smooth and brighter in color, 3 to 5 minutes. Beat in the salt until incorporated. Add the masa by the handful and beat, on low speed if using an electric mixer, until evenly incorporated. Beat on medium-high speed, scraping the bowl occasionally, until fluffy, about 5 minutes. The mixture should be the texture of buttercream. To see if the dough is ready, fill a small cup with water and drop in a 1/4 teaspoon dough. It should immediately rise and float.
• To assemble the tamales: Place a large corn husk on your work surface or in your hand. Using the back of a spoon or a small palette knife, spread about 1/3 cup masa (2 ounces) in a rectangle (about 5- by 6-inches) in the center, leaving a few inches empty on the long sides. Add 3 tablespoons meat filling (2 ounces) in a line down the center of the masa. Wrap the tamal: Hold the long sides of the husk and bring them together, so the masa meets in the center and encloses the filling, then fold those sides of the husk together over and around the enclosed filling. Fold the pointed end over the tamal to secure and place on a sheet pan. Repeat with the remaining ingredients, stacking the folded tamales on the pan.
• To steam the tamales: Place a few coins in the bottom of a tamalera or other deep steamer pot and add enough water to come to the bottom of the steamer insert and no higher so the water won't touch the tamales. The coins will stop clattering if your water runs low and let you know that you need to replenish with more hot water. Arrange the tamales upright in the steamer, open-side up, leaving a space in the center. The tamales should be touching. Cover the tops with the remaining corn husks, then cover the steamer with the lid. Bring the water to a boil and steam for 1 hour, pouring in more water through the empty center as needed.
• To test for doneness, remove one tamal, unwrap and cut through the center. There should be no raw masa remaining, and the tamal should peel away easily from the husk as you unwrap it. If not, continue steaming, checking for doneness every 15 minutes. When cooked, remove from the heat and let stand in the steamer for 15 minutes before serving. The tamales can be kept warm in the steamer off heat for up to an hour. Steamed tamales can be cooled completely, wrapped tightly, and frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then steam again in husks or unwrap and pan-fry until heated through, about 15 minutes.