Chili Verde Pork Tamales

Chili Verde Pork Tamales

Recipe Type: main
Author: Victoria
After playing with this recipe for about a year now, I am now confidant to share this with you all. I was back and forth with the choice of meat to use until my husband made it clear that pork was his favorite for the green sauce. I recommend taste testing your chilli’s before you add them to your sauce. Depending on where your chili’s come from, it will make a difference in heat. Some can be extremely hot while others can be very mild. I used 8 large jalapenos for this recipe because they were med in heat. You may want to use only a couple if you are looking for mild. This recipe made 32 tamales. Overnight the Corn husks so planned accordingly.
Ingredients
  • Basic Tamale Dough
  • 1 large bag of dried corn husks (soak overnight in hot water)
  • 1 1/3 cup or 10 oz Pork Lard or vegetable shortening if you choose. If you are not a vegetarian, you will enjoy the rich flavor the lard will add.
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • 3 ½ cups dried masa harina (instant corn masa flour) for tamales mixed with 2 ½ cups of hot water
  • 1 ½ cups chicken broth (I recommend homemade with spices out of chicken thighs)
  • Chili Verde Sauce
  • 15 medium Tomatillos, husks removed and cleaned thoroughly
  • 7 Poblanos
  • 4 to 8 Jalapenos depends on heat level you are wanting
  • 2 small yellow onions cut in large chunks
  • 4 large garlic cloves
  • 3 cups fresh cilantro, stems included
  • Juice of 3 limes
  • 1 to 2 teaspoon salt (test to desired taste)
  • 1 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
  • 3 ½ Lbs Pork shoulder/butt, boneless if you find it or ask your butcher to do it for you (trim the excess fat)
  • Plus ½ cup of broth
Instructions
  1. FOR THE CORN HUSKS
  2. Fill your sink or a very large roasting pan with hot water. I separate all the husks and remove the ones that are to small or torn. Submerge them into the hot water and put something heavy on them to keep them submerged. Do this the night before so they will be ready the next day.
  3. THE PORK SHOULDER
  4. Set the oven at 325. Cut the pork shoulder in about 3 inch cubes. Try to trim it from excess fat, but do not try to remove all the fat. This is what will give it LOTS of flavor. Set aside while preparing the Verde sauce.
  5. The Tamale Dough
  6. In a stand up mixer, on med high mix the lard, baking powder and salt till light and fluffy. (About 2 mins) Next start adding the prepared masa in 3 parts, turn the speed down to low and slowly add 1 cup of the chicken broth. Mix until smooth then add the other half cup of broth. Taste if more salt is desired. The consistency should be like a very thick cake batter, not runny! Place in the fridge for about an hour. When ready to form the tamales, remove from fridge then rebeat the masa and add another ½ cup of broth.
  7. THE VERDE (GREEN) SAUCE
  8. Use a grill if possible, if no grill then set your oven to broil. Place the first 5 ingredients on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or aluminium foil. (Tomatillos, jalapenos, poblanos, onion, garlic) You may need to use 2 cookie sheets for this and do in separate batches. This will need your attention so no walking away or distractions during this step. If doing in separate batches, do the chilies first. When one side gets a nice dark chard, flip them over and try to get it all evenly charred. When finished, place them in a bowl and seal with foil to sweat them out. This will help to remove the skin easily when cooled. When charring the tomatillos and onions, do a quick char on top then remove then right away. You want them to be firm. The garlic cloves broil with the skin on till soft.
  9. When the chillies have cooled, peel the charred skins off and remove seeds and steams. Be sure to wear gloves or you may have burning fingers! Add all the ingredients in a blender and blend till smooth. If it is to hot, add more cilantro and lime to help tone it down. Yield 8 cups
  10. In a dutch oven (a roasting pan can be used with aluminium foil to seal tightly as possible) add the pork and 4 cups of the verde sauce and ½ cup of chicken broth. Mix till coated then seal. Place in the heated oven for 3 hours. I like to check every hour and give it a stir. It is finished when the meat falls apart effortlessly. Using two forks, shred all the meat and mix well with the sauce. If sauce is to thick, add more broth to desired consistency. Let cool while you finish the masa.
  11. Make the Tamales
  12. Tear 32 long thin strips from the cornhusks. One at a time, choose a cornhusks with the wider end towards you. Spread about 1/4 cup of the batter into about a 4-inch square, leaving at least a 1 1/2-inch border on the side toward you and a 3/4-inch border along the other sides (with large husks, the borders will be much bigger). Spoon about 2 heaping tablespoons of the filling down the center of the batter. Pick up the two long sides of the cornhusk and bring them together. If the uncovered borders of the two long sides you’re holding are narrow, tuck one side under the other; if wide, roll both sides in the same direction around the tamale. Finally, fold up the empty 1 1/2-inch section of the husk to make a tightly closed bottom leaving the top open, and secure it in place by loosely tying one of the strings or strips of husk around the tamale. As they’re made, stand the tamales on their folded bottoms in the prepared steamer. Don’t tie the tamales too tightly or pack them too closely in the steamer. They need room to expand.
  13. Time to steam
  14. Steaming 32 tamales can be done in batches in a collapsible vegetable steamer set into a large, deep saucepan. To steam them all at once, you need a tamale steamer that you can find in any Mexican grocery store. After you have placed all the tamales upright in the steamer, use cornhusks to over the tamales and I go extra by placing a dampened small dish towel on top of that with a secure lid. This will protect the tamales from direct contact with the steam and to add more flavor. Steam over a constant medium heat for about 1 1/4 hours. Pay attention that all the water doesn’t boil away and, to keep the steam steady, pour boiling water into the pot when more is necessary. Tamales are done when the husk peels away from the masa easily. Let tamales stand in the steamer off the heat for a few minutes to firm up. Enjoy with the extra left over Verde salsa.
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Grilled Chicken Leg Quarters with Cilantro Chimmichurri

Grilled Chicken Leg Quarters with Cilantro Chimmichurri

Recipe Type: Main
Author: victoria
Who doesnt love chimmichurri? There are a variety of herbs you can use to make this delicious sauce. Be sure to let marinate as long as possible to really get the flavor to be intense.
Ingredients
  • 6 garlic cloves, minced
  • 4 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 2 teaspoons grated lime zest plus 2 tablespoon juice
  • 2 teaspoon plus ¼ cup olive oil
  • 1 ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 4 chicken leg quarters, trimmed
  • 3 heaping tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
  • 3 heaping teaspoons chopped fresh oregano
Instructions
  1. Combine garlic, salt, sugar, lime zest, 2 tsp oil, cumin, pepper, and cayenne in a bowl and mix to form paste. Reserve 2 tsp garlic paste for dressing.
  2. Pat leg quarters dry with paper towel. With skin side up, slice4 parallel diagonal slashes in chicken. With 1 across drumstick, 1 across leg joints and 2 across thighs. Should be deep enough to reach the bone. Make one more slash on other side of drumstick. Rub remaining garlic paste all over chicken and into the slashes. Refrigerate chicken for a least 1 hour or even better overnight.
  3. Turn all the burners on to high and let it get very hot. Then turn primary burner to medium and others to low. Place chicken on cooler side of grill skin side up. Cover and cook until underside of chicken is lightly browned, 9 to 12 minutes. Flip chicken and cover and cook until leg joint registers 165, 7 to 10 minutes.
  4. Transfer chicken to hotter side of grill, skin side down and cook covered until skin is well browned, 3 to 5 minutes. Flip chicken and continue to cook until leg joint is 175 about 3 minutes longer. Put to a plate and let rest for about 5 minutes.
  5. While resting, whisk remaining ¼ cup oil, lime juice, cilantro, oregano and reserved galic paste together in bowl. Spoon half of dressing over chicken and serve. Yummy!

 

Vietnamese Chicken Meatballs in Lettuce Wraps

Vietnamese Chicken Meatballs in Lettuce Wraps

Recipe Type: Main
Author: victoria
Found this recipe in my cookbook by Food & Wine. My husband devoured 12 of them! So delicious and fairly easy to make. Using chicken thighs are a must for this recipe.
Ingredients
  • 1 pound skinless, boneless chicken thighs, trimmed of visible fat and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
  • 3 tablespoons Asian fish sauce
  • 3 small shallots, finely chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 stalk of fresh lemongrass, tender white inner bulb only, minced
  • 3 tablespoons chopped cilantro, plus 1/3 cup leaves for serving
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped mint, plus 1/3 cup leaves for serving
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 head Boston or red leaf lettuce, leaves separated
  • 1 small seedless cucumber—peeled, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise
  • 1 small red onion, halved and sliced
  • 2 avacados sliced
  • Asian chili sauce, for serving
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 400°. Position a rack in the top third of the oven. In a food processor, pulse the chicken until coarsely ground; transfer to a bowl. Add the fish sauce, shallots, garlic, lemongrass, chopped cilantro and mint, cornstarch, salt and pepper and mix with your hands.
  2. Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread the sugar on a plate. (you don’t have to use sugar, great without it too) Using slightly moistened hands, roll the chicken mixture into 1 1/2-inch balls. Roll the meatballs in the sugar until they are evenly coated. Transfer the meatballs to the prepared baking sheet and bake them for 15 minutes, until they are lightly browned and cooked through.
  3. Meanwhile, arrange the lettuce, cilantro and mint leaves, cucumber, avacado and onion. Transfer the meatballs to the platter and serve with chili sauce.

 

Cilantro Marinated Pork Chops

Cilantro Marinated Pork Chops

Recipe Type: Main
Author: Victoria
This is an interesting combination of flavors that I tried by Pork loving Michael Symon. It’s an overnight must or up to 2 days. If you love cilantro, you will love this recipe.
Ingredients
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 2 teaspoons coriander
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Grated zest of 1 lime
  • ½ cup chopped cilantro
  • 2 thick cut Pork Chops (about 1 to 1 ½ inch thick)
Instructions
  1. Combine the mustard, salt coriander, cumin, paprika, lime zest, and cilantro in a large zip lock bag and add the chops. Shake and massage the bag to coat the pork evenly and refrigerate overnight or up to 2 days. (The longer the more intense flavor of the herbs)
  2. When ready to cook, let the pork sit out for about 10 minutes before grilling.
  3. Heat your grill till about medium high and grill the chops until medium, about 4 to 5 minutes per side. Remove from grill and let rest for about 5 minutes. It’s ok if slightly pink in the center, means it will be juicy! It tastes great topped with arugula and a little olive oil.