Best Chile Cheese Tamales Recipes

CHEESE WITH ROASTED CHILE TAMALES

Steps:

• MAKE TAMALE MASA:, Place 1 pound of lard in a large stand mixer with a flat beater and mix until fluffy; scraping sides so the lard stays in the center of the mixing bowl. Add half the baking powder and half the salt and mix all together., Add half the masa and mix together. Slowly add half the broth to the masa and mix until combined. The mixture should be about the consistency of smooth peanut butter. If not, add more broth as necessary. Test the masa by taking a small piece (1/2 teaspoon) and dropping it into a cup of warm water. If it floats, it is ready. If it sinks, add a little more lard, beat for another minute, and test again. Repeat this process until the masa floats. Pour the masa mixture into a bigger bowl. Repeat the process with the remaining ingredients., Cover the masa and set aside while you prepare filling., For filling, heat olive oil, add flour and stir for 3 minutes. Add diced green chiles and garlic powder and stir for 5 minutes., Add suero, salt, and ½ cup of shredded cheese, and simmer for 7 minutes, stirring until cheese melts and mixture thickens. Let mixture cool before filling tamales., PREPARE OJAS (CORN HUSKS):, Soak corn husks in water for an hour before using, rinse well with running water to take off any dust or corn husk fibers. To keep corn husks pliable and easy to work with, keep in water while filling tamales. Place a handful of wet corn husks in a colander to drain before using., SPREAD MASA:, Place the wide end of the husk on the palm of your hand. The narrow end is at the top. Starting at the middle of the husk, with the back of a spoon, spread 2 tablespoons of the masa in a rectangle or oval shape, using a downward motion towards the wide-bottom edge. Do not spread the masa to the ends; leave about a 2-inch border on the left and right sides of the husk., FILL CORN HUSKS:, Spoon 1½ tablespoons of filling down the center of the masa, sprinkle with 1 tablespoon cheese. Fold both sides to the center; finish off by bringing the pointed end of the husk toward the filled end. Make sure it's a snug closure so the tamale will not open during steaming. Secure by tying a thin strip of corn husk around the tamale. This will keep the tamale from unwrapping during the steaming process, especially if the husk is too thick and will not stay folded., STEAM TAMALES:, Use a deep pot or tamale steamer to steam tamales. If using a tamale steamer, fill with water up to the fill line. Set the tamale rack over the water. Place tamales upright with fold against the sides of the other tamales to keep them from unfolding. Cover pot with a tight fitting lid. Set heat on high and bring to a boil, about 15 minutes. Lower heat and simmer for 2½ to 3 hours. Keep lid on tightly. To test if done, place one tamale on a plate and take off the corn husk. If it comes off without sticking to the tamale, they're done.

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.

ROASTED CHILE AND CHEESE TAMALES

Steps:

• The day before making tamales stir together masa, shortening, baking powder, salt and water in a large bowl until combined. (Add additional water as needed. It should be about the cnsistency of peanut butter.) Cover with a damp towel and refrigerate for at least 8 hours. Remove masa from refrigerator and kneed to soften. Spread about 1/3 cup masa on the upper half of each corn husk; top with equal amounts of cheese,poblano and a sprinkle of jalapenos. Fold in sides, and bottom of husk; tie the folded end with small stips of corn husk to secure, if you like. (Tamales may be frozen at this point for up to 3 months). Place folded end down in a steamer basket and cook, covered, for 1 hour. Remove from heat and let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

CHILE-CHEESE TAMALES

Steps:

• Place the husks in a deep saucepan; cover with water. Bring to a boil over high heat. Remove from heat; set a plate over the husks to keep them submerged. Soak 1 hour.
• Prepare the filling: Place 2 cups corn in the bowl of a food processor; pulse to a medium-coarse puree. Add the lard; pulse five or six times. Add the masa harina, sugar, salt, and baking powder; pulse until combined. Process until the mixture is light, fluffy, and evenly combined, about 1 minute; scrape down the sides of the bowl once or twice.
• Transfer the mixture to a bowl; stir in the remaining 1 cup corn until combined. Chill the filling until ready to assemble.
• Remove a large husk from the water; pat dry. Unroll, and tear along the grain to make 1/4-inch-wide strips (you need two per tamale). Remove another large piece; pat dry. Place on a work surface, pointed end facing away from you; scoop 1/4 cup batter into the middle; spread into a 4-inch square, leaving a 1 1/2-inch border. Place some chile strips down the center; sprinkle with 2 tablespoons cheese. Pick up the long sides of the husk so the batter encases the filling. Bring the sides together to form a cylinder. Fold the wide end under; tie with a husk strip. Tie the pointed end near batter; fray the exposed husk. Repeat with the remaining husks, batter, poblanos, and cheese.
• Fill a wok or large skillet with 2 inches water. Line the bottom of a bamboo steamer basket with husks; set the basket in place. Lay the tamales in the steamer over high heat. When steam puffs out, reduce heat to medium. Steam 1 hour 15 minutes; add water to the pan as necessary. Check for doneness by unwrapping a tamale; the mixture should release easily and feel soft. If it sticks, rewrap; steam 15 to 20 minutes more. Remove from heat; let stand 15 minutes; tamales will stay warm about 1 hour.

GREEN CHILE AND CHEESE TAMALES

Steps:

• Start by soaking the corn husk in some hot water. Use a heavy bowl or pot to weigh down, set aside. In a large bowl, combine the masa harina, salt and baking powder. Gradually add in the warm chicken broth and work in until dough forms. In another glass bowl, melt the shortening or manteca (lard), then work well into the masa mixture. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside.
• In a pot, combine the clean tomatillos, onion, and chile serrano. Fill with enough water to cover, cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, stir and cook for an additional 20 minutes. Drain the water and transfer to the blender, add cilantro and 1 teaspoon of salt, blend until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the diced green chiles, taste for salt. Set aside.
• Prepare a large steamer pot with water, set aside. Once everything is in place, shake of excess water from husk. Take one husk (about 5 inches across) and using the back of a spoon spread enough masa to cover the surface (not too thick). Add a strip of cheese and cover cheese with salsa verde mixture. Fold in the sides, then fold down the flap and wrap tightly with foil paper. Stand up in steamer pot with open side up. Reserve extra salsa verde to garnish cooked tamales.
• Once all tamales are done, bring to a quick boil in steamer, then reduce heat to medium. Steam for 1 hour, checking for water every 20 minutes. After 1 hour, pull out 1 tamale and let cool slightly, if the husk pulls away easily from masa, they are done. If not, steam for another 15 minutes. Let tamales cool slightly before eating. Yields 15 to 18 large tamales. Garnish the tamales with extra salsa verde!
• Note: If you do not have a steamer, you can use a regular large pot. You want insert a plate, bowl, or metal steamer upside down into pot. The idea is to keep the tamales up and out of the water on the bottom of pot. Steam as usual. Tamales and salsa are both freezer friendly!

CORN, CHEESE AND CHILE VERDE TAMALES - PATI JINICH

Steps:

• HowToSection To make the fresh corn masa: Array
• HowToSection To make the filling: Array
• HowToSection To assemble the tamales: Array
• HowToSection To cook the tamales: Array